Grossi Florentino, 20 years on, is still up there among the best of Melbourne’s Italian fine dining spots, combining stellar cooking with efficient, congenial service. Its beautiful mural-covered walls evoked the grandeur of its much-longer history - before the Grossi family bought it over in 1999, Cafe Florentino has been operating from this address since 1928.
Breadsticks with pesto butter were served whilst one perused the menu:
Amuse-geule: Fava beans with prosciutto crumbs.
Grilled asparagus, yolk, garlic, crushed almonds, with beetroot relish.
Ravioli, enfolding molten yolks, ricotta, with Amaretti & aged balsamic.
The raviolis were so delicately made, one gentle prick and the molten yolk will be released:
Coniglio (braised rabbit) with farro, roasted potatoes & saltbush. Best rabbit dish I’d ever had: fall-off-the-bone-tender meat and perfect balance of flavours.
Panna cotta, with raspberries, white chocolate, lychee and citrus.
Guy Grossi still runs the kitchen with a masterful touch - every dish came out perfect, served at the right temperatures and never failed to impress.
Address
Grossi Florentino (Upstairs)
80 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Tel: +61 3 9662 1811
Opening hours: Lunch from 12 noon Mon-Fri, Dinner from 6pm Mon-Sat. Closed on Sundays.
