The Italian
The Italian is one city restaurant I always enjoy eating at and a spot that I highly recommend for local, interstate or international visitors, satisfying those who are looking for a great dining venue, excellent service and a delicious meal.
Receiving one Chef’s Hat in The Age Good Food Guide for the past 2 years, there’s lots to like about The Italian.
It’s located up the ‘big end of town’ which ensures it sees a ready clientele of money market players, movers, shakers and dealmakers but also welcomes your average restaurant goer, who enjoy the fine cuisine, wonderful setting and excellent hospitality.
The Italian has always been popular, even when situated across the road, but given the ability to design their restaurant to fit into a showcase space, some mention should made of their spectacular location, which reinforces its reputation as one of Melbourne’s best spots.
The Italian occupies a cavernous area on the ground floor of 101 Collins St with towering ceilings, a mezzanine dining level, comfy banquettes and a large outdoor courtyard area.
However while the space seems vast giving it almost a New York feel, the restaurant remains personal and intimate especially with its welcoming bar entrance that greets each guest with warmth and is a fantastic spot to start a night out on the town.
Food however, is the primary reason to visit.
Starters include: Vitello tomato, poached veal with tuna mayonnaise and grissini, beef fillet carpaccio with celeriac remoulade and Reggiano, The Italian tuna, salmon and ocean trout tartare, crumbed lambs brains with chicory and soft boiled eggs, grilled veal tongue, roacted cherry tomatoes, peppers and pesto ‘Baccala’ grilled salt cod croquettes with endive and aioli and more.
Mains include: Spaghetti blue swimmer crab with tomato and chili, fresh rigatoni with lamb shoulder and rosemary ragu, handmade veal agnelotti, prawn and scallop ravioli, gnocchi gorgonzola, a selection of fish such as Ligurian fish stew, pan-fried local snapper fillets, grilled Yellowfin tuna, whole fish cooked on the flat grill with fresh oregano and lemon, twice roasted duckling, barbequed boned quail with sage and silverbeet, crumbed veal ‘Cotoletta’ with melanzane parmigiana, beef fillet, potato croquette and black pepper sauce, char-grilled rib-eye with Shitake and Oyster mushrooms, pure blood Black Angus porterhouse with vine dried tomatoes and more.
The Italian. Perfect for that special night out or just to enjoy time and again their excellent cuisine and hospitality. I like it a lot.
The Italian: 101 Collins St, enter from Collins St or Flinders Lane (after hours).
Ph: 9654 9499
Mon- Fri: 7am – late, Saturday: 6pm – 11pm
http://travelinsider.qantas.com.au/the_italian_melbourne.htm
http://www.theage.com.au/news/restaurant-reviews/the-italian/2008/06/24/1214073198370.html
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760939/restaurant/CBD/The-Italian-Melbourne
