Hey y'all,

I have a lunch meeting in the city and I'm looking for a good place to take a client. I'm more so interested in Italian to be honest with a good lasagna, but also a good wine.

Can someone help me out on this one?

AJ

Yes, I recently tried out Rosati's in Flinders Lane (between Russell St and Exhibition). It's a large restaurant with a nice airy feel. And you can get lasagne!

Waiters restaurant upstairs in Meyer's place. Old school, big serves, delicious food, no wankers, not pretentious, relaxed and most enjoyable.

Hi guys,

I just got back from Rosati's in Flinders Lane (I took your advice melbournefan) and it was fantastic. Highly recommended for a nice Italian lunch. Great Risotto, and of course, great coffee.

Thanks for the help guys!

AJ

I think i've been to 'Waiters Restaurant'. It's this tiny place, with a real simple old decore ... but with good food! It's like it's a place that was opened in the 60's or 70's.. and hasn't been updated. Great and simple food, though :)

Hi guys,

Has anyone tried out the new Italian restaurant in crown? It's called Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons. I was walking past yesterday, and someone mentioned you can't actually book there, and they only accept walk ins. Looks quite "traditional" and must be good if it's a new restaurant at crown. Anyone been there?

AJ

Although it's not exactly in the CBD Scarpetta in Fitzroy is an excellent Italian restaurant. It's on Brunswick St.

UPDATE: So I had a beautiful dinner at Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons at Crown on Saturday night. It's not over the top expensive, about $100 per head (3 courses, and wine) and the food was fantastic. BUT the best part about the restaurant is the fact that they cut the bread right in front of you from large freshly baked loafs. AND they even do the same with the cured meats. So you know when you are ordering the prosciutto it's as fresh as can be. Entrees were very good, with a range of traditional Italian foods such as meatballs, risotto balls, seafood, antipasto etc. For main I had the Pasta with Crab baked in a bag. Sounds a bit weird, but was fantastic!!

Overall I'd give Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons a 4.5/5 and highly recommend it for anyone looking for Italian fine dining.

AJ

Pellegrini's too on Bourke St. Excellent plate of pasta for about $14 or whatever they decide to charge you on the day (the service is old school and can be brilliant or erratic). But it's good and cheap and has a great vibe.

Places to avoid - anywhere in New Quay Docklands - bland and overpriced!

Most Italian restaurants in Lygon St are pretty good

I'd disagree with that DArgy big time! I worked in Carlton for 3 years and tried a lot of places. A lot of the Italian restaurants on Lygon St are tourist traps. The food is way overpriced and is pretty average in quality. A tip from a local - never eat anywhere on Lygon St that has a spruiker out the front!

+1 Brian! i've lived in carlton for a while also and there's NOTHING WORSE that a cheesy bloody spruikers tying to pull me into their restaurant :( I mean SERIOUSLY ... trying to sleeze me into an establishment does nothing but make me NOT want to eat there. If your product is as good as you're trying to make it, then you won't need someone to grab you as you walk by. Many of those restaurants are tourist traps :( So true dude.

That said, i still like the street but don't go there for Italian food any more :( i go there for the shopping, for Borders, the cinema, the icecream, tiramisu and some of the awesome deli's (eg. the one opposite FCUK) for example.

So .. is there any other suburbs for nice Italian food, or streets, these days?

I'm pretty fussy with what I eat and always make an effort to cook something for the family at home, so when I eat out I expect something great. I don't actually mind the spruikers as you call them, if you've been to Europe you'll see that that is quite normal. It's the European way of welcoming you to their establishment. Here in Australia however it feels more like sleezey, pressure sales tactics : )

And on Lygon St it is pretty sleazy...

Has anybody been to Florentino's? Its always highly rated. I used to love The Latin which was on Latrobe but it closed down along with its sister The Tuscan

Bottego is lovely for special occasions.

Hi guys,

I thought I would revive this thread because I just got back from a trip to Sydney and had the very best Italian food I have ever had. I was recommended to go to a beautiful restaurant called Machiavelli on Clarence Street in Sydney. It was STUNNING. After a little more research I have discovered it has been around for a little over 20 years. All family run and owned, this amazing traditional Italian restaurant really brings a taste of Italy with it.

Details are:
Machiavelli Luxury Restaruant
123 Clarence Street Sydney
PH: (02) 9299-3748

SO after having what I consider the very best Italian outside of Italy, I was so disappointed to come to the realization that I have never been to anything like it Melbourne. Real traditional Italian food, where the salads don't come out pre-made, yet they are prepared in front of you by a 70yr old gentleman who clearly knows his stuff. Where even a basic spaghetti bolognese tastes special, and not like something from a can, and the prosciutto is hand sliced before your table to accompany your imported Italian red wine.

Can anyone help me please? Is there an traditional 'classy' Italian restaurant in Melbourne that can compete with Machiavelli?

AJ