Florentino Grill RoomPh: 9662 1811 ; 80 Bourke St, MELBOURNE 3000 www.grossiflorentino.comItalian, $$ +, ** for Food & Ambience Open Mon-Sat noon-3pm 6-11pm, Closed Sun Good Fri & Boxing Day; Licensed, BYO , Corkage $40 bottle; AE DC MC V EFT Chef Guy Grossi & Daniel Airo-Farulla (10-1-10) Owner Guy Grossi & Family (10-1-10) |
|
Photo: Tony Knox
Mietta's Review
A classic grill-room, good ingredients simply but correctly cooked, served by professional waiters wearing long white Florentino aprons. The dark club-like feeling of the room, with windows to Bourke Street, makes this a very pleasant experience. See also Grossi Florentino and the Florentino Cellar Room.
Other published opinions
Age Good Food Guide 2010 Score: 14/20
Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 13.5/20
Age Good Food Guide 2008
Herald Sun Dining Out Stephen Downes 4/10/05 Score 13/20 "Don't expect gastronomic surprises at Grossi FIorentino Grill. But do expect mostly wellcooked traditional food of comforting, mouth-filling flavours. It wouldn't be FIorentino if it were cheap, and the wine list is huge and horrendously expensive. Fortunately, four table whites and five reds are sold by the glass, and there is a reasonable selection of half-bottles."
Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide Best business lunches "Florentino Grill, a restaurant that has built its substantial history around the needs of city business people. And the food is excellent."
Age Epicure John Lethlean 12/4/05 score 15/20
Or perhaps ...
Balencea (03) 9867 4466, 454 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Barbagallo Trattoria E Pizzeria 9639 6222, 103 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Benito's 9670 5347, , 445 Little Collins St, Melbourne - Benito's feels like an old friend. The menu at breakfast and lunch is Italian, and in the early evenings it's antipasto and wine.
Bottega 9654 2252, , 74 Bourke St, Melbourne - The room is pleasant, the dishes are simple but well done, and are complimented by a thoughtful wine selection.
Caffe Cento Venti (03) 9650 5621, 120 Collins St, Melbourne - Caffe Cento Venti has it all; a bar, a cafe, an upmarket restaurant and an outdoor area under the plane trees at the Paris end of Collins Street.
Cafe Chinotto (03) 9650 8666, Federation Square, 2 Swanston St, Melbourne
Cafe Intimo (03) 9606 0130, 439 Little Collins St, Melbourne
Cafe L'Incontro (03) 9650 9603, Swanston St cnr Little Collins St, Melbourne - A standard cafe but the position nestled next to the Town Hall makes it all worthwhile on a fine day.
Campari House (03) 9600 1574, , NULL, 23-25 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Caterina's Cucina e Bar 9670 8488, Basement, 221 Queen St, Melbourne - Caterina's is only open lunches, it is primarily a businessman's dining room. Service is very good.
Florentino Cellar Bar 9662 1811, 80 Bourke St, Melbourne - The tiny tables support large plates of pasta, and the bar, the elbows of the drinkers. Dark wood lined and clubby.
Florentino Grill Room 9662 1811, 80 Bourke St, Melbourne - A classic grill-room, good ingredients simply but correctly cooked, served by professional waiters
Il Nostro Posto (03) 9670 9939, , NULL, 60 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Italy 1 (03) 9654 4430, , 27 George Pde, Melbourne - In a narrow laneway, off the Paris end of Collins Street, is Italy 1, a small and intimate restaurant
Journal Canteen 9650 4399, Shop 1 Level 1, 253 Flinders la, Melbourne - The new venture by Con Christopoulos (Degraves, European, Supper Club) is a smart modern cafe decorated as a reading room.
Locanda Cucina (03) 9662 0511, , NULL, 186 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Lucattini (03) 9662 2883, , NULL, 22 Punch Lane, Melbourne
Luce Rossa (03) 9663 3437, Level 1, Oddfellows Hotel, 33-35 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Lucia's Place (03) 9642 0943, 433 Little Collins St, Melbourne
The Mess Hall 9654 6800, 51 Bourke St, Melbourne
Mezzo Bar and Grill 9650 0988, , 35 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Negroni's Bar & Grill (03) 9614 1319, , NULL, 477 Collins Street, Melbourne
Nick's Bar (03) 9670 4506, 207-211 Queen St, Melbourne - Nick's is not new. It's an old-style trattoria with traditional Italian food served by friendly staff.
Ortigia 9670 0774, Shop 1, 443 Little Collins St, Melbourne - Mostly take-away this very popular pizza lunch spot at the legal end of town
Pellegrini's 9662 1885, 66 Bourke St, Melbourne - This classic Italian espresso bar is a joy and a treasure. Unchanged in decades and still serving large, honest dishes.
Piadina 9662 2277, rear, 57 Lonsdale St (Behind Bluebag), Melbourne
Pizza Napoli (03) 9654 7127, , NULL, 122 Russell Street, Melbourne
Sarti 9639 7833, , 6 Russell Pl, Melbourne - A lovely rooftop space with courtyard serving simple but well executed dishes. There's also a cheaper bar menu.
Scugnizzo 9670 5622, , 558 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Society (03) 9639 2544, , 23 Bourke St, Melbourne
Solarino 9663 2636, , Shop 7, 273 Little Collins St (Up Howey Pl), Melbourne
Sotto e Sopra (03) 9602 2285, , NULL, 353 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Sud Food & Wine Bar 9670 8451, , 219 King St, Melbourne - Tablecloths and a quality setting give this deep room, with its banquette seating, a sense of formality.
Tazio Birraria And Pizzeria (03) 9654 9119, 66 Flinders La, Melbourne
Treviso (03) 9670 8833, 4 Bank Pl, Melbourne
Wheat (03) 9642 0288, 534 Lonsdale St, Melbourne