I absolutely love the food here. This would be one of my favourite Italian restaurants!! The seafood pasta was spot on; not too oily and super full of flavour! Despite not being a fan of pizza, I love the pizza here... Would definitely recommend trying this place out!
Came here for pizza and pasta tonight.
The service was quick and friendly.
I ordered a salami pizza and also a pasta. The pizza was really tasty that I managed to finish it all! The pasta was smooth and creamy.
I would definitely return
Had a Calabrese pizza together with chips here and the pizza was amazing. Hoping to come back soon just to get it again. Great traditional crust and a good balance of toppings to crust. The chips were also surprisingly good.
It took a while for the pizza to arrive, but it was worth it. Yummy, fresh. A little too salty to be honest but when combined with the chips and drinks it was good. Rococos is one of those places I go to whenever I’m not sure what I feel like - there’s so many options, and it’s always good.
Great location for a casual date night
LOVED:
🔸Tasty char to the grilled seafoods
🔸Great sauce on the pasta, light, refreshing and slightly tangy, nice on a warm day
🔸Generous amount of seafood on the pasta
🔸Calamari was soft and tender, not at all chewy
🔸Lychee martini was super tasty
🔸Spacious with lots of tables available
TIPS/FEEDBACK
🔹The salmon was quite dry in the pasta and there was only one scallop
We made a reservation for a Friday night. The restaurant was packed and had a casual bustling atmosphere. We were seated immediately. For entrees we ordered the herb garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, smoked eggplant arancini and fried saganaki skewers. Oh my goodness everything was delicious! The herb garlic bread was crunchy, soft and thick and the cheese was oozy. The arancini was smokey and well-seasoned. The saganaki skewers came with olives in between and a side of romesco sauce - flavours were well-balanced and we really enjoyed them.
For mains I had the grilled seafood spaghetti and the prawn spaghetti. Both pastas were cooked al dente. The grilled seafood was smokey and cooked to perfection. Both plates had a generous heaping of seafood. We also had a side of chips which was missed from our order but delivered quickly after we asked for it. Chips came with a generous side of aioli and some really tasty tomato relish. Service was amazing. A great place for a casual night out for some delicious food.
Large spacious, bright modern restaurant. While prices are a little expensive, we can trust on consistent good classic Italian food.
We ordered:
Lasagne: Hearty, traditional and flavorful. Came fresh from the oven. A classic for a reason 8/10
Chicken & beetroot salad. Fresh, well seasoned above average salad. Beetroot was delish (but expensive). 7/10
Mushroom Gnocchi. Pillowy soft gnocchi. Mushrooms were full of flavor. Highlight of the day 10/10
Calamari and Chorizo. Calamari was average, chorizo was overly dry. Probably wouldn’t order again 5/10
Strawberries and cream for desserts: Fresh and vibrant meringue was great! 8/10
Service is normally professional but this time there was a mixture Eg. One of our table’s dishes wasn’t put through. May have just been a busy weekend.
I do not usually give out 5's but i could not help myself. Went here a few nights ago for my mothers birthday and the whole family loved it! Would certainly go back again!
One of the best Italian restaurants in Hawthorn. I love the pasta here 🙌🏻 You’re always guaranteed great serving sizes, food and friendly service ❤️
Found myself at Rococo on a Wednesday night for dessert and coffee. They struggled to find us a table indicating the popularity of the place.
The desserts were to die for. We had the Pistachio Italian donuts. The plating was very attractive and the donuts tasted as good as they looked. They went well with the great coffee. We will be back.
Rosamund Halgreen Sagnelli
+5
Great Service, the waiter was very helpfull. The food was both visually appealing and very tasty! We were a group of nine, the service was quick (awesome) and time just flew.
I honestly could not rave about this place more if I tried! I'm obsessed. I chose Rococo as my birthday dinner destination and unsurprisingly, it ticked absolutely every box! Myself and my partner were taken to a perfect window seat with ample space to spread out and enjoy the evening.
We ordered an amazing (and immense) feed! Things kicked off with the garlic and herb bread, as well as the marinated eggplant (both insanely delicious). We paired our starters with the Gin cocktail and a standard G&T. For mains, we ordered the pumpkin pizza and potato pizza, as well as the mushroom risotto and a side of fries! Whilst we couldn't finish it all, every single bite was absolutely sensational. Would recommend the pumpkin pizza most of all!
Might I add as well.. it was all entirely vegan!! I am so impressed that Rococo offers a completely vegan menu with such a wide range of tasty options! You truly don't miss out here. It's one of the spots I'd certainly recommend to fellow plant-based eaters (and of course, everyone else too)!
To end the night, we'd ordered the Frangelico dessert to share. Before I knew it, I saw sparklers coming way!! They even re-lit them as I wanted to take a photo/video! It was so special that they made the extra effort to celebrate my birthday. The desert itself: not too sweet, just right.
The staff were incredible, the service was super timely and perfectly spread-out. I couldn't have asked for more.
Pros: garlic bread looked and tasted scrumptious (definitely add the mozzarella)!! The pasta was flavourful and delicious. Carbonara was nice and creamy. Steak came with salad, sauce and potatoes (which were quite well made) for a value cheap price for everything. Iced coffee was deconstructed and fancy and the mocktails were refreshing and delightful!
Cons: salmon in the linguine had a fishy taste. Steak was subpar, not as juicy and was a bit dry given I asked for medium rare.
3.5
Nice cafe food and beautiful spot on Glenferrie Rd. Good place to go for a brunch with friends and grab a coffee:)💫. Love the egg on toasts. The staffs are friendly.
Came here for the first time after seeing so many good reviews. We had risotto with chicken, grilled seafood pasta , linguini alla rococo. Risotto was very good, linguini was a bit spicy and the seafood pasta was average. We also had two desserts, Italian donuts and the other one I forgot the name. The other one was really good and beautifully presented. Will come again next time to try their pizza and gnocchi.
Jessica Sargeant (Unbeleafablefood)
+5
Wow! We were blown away by the extensive vegan menu at Rococo! So many choices for us including vegan wine and vegan desserts!
We ordered the Caprese Insalate, Garlic bread, Char grilled Broccolini pizza, Macoroni and the chopped Cos salad. All vegan!
All the dishes were wonderful, we were so happy! My favourite was the pizza, the dough was beautiful and the vegan cheese was tasty!!
I definitely have to go back to try more vegan options!! The team is so friendly and we loved the outdoor seating area too.
I have one word 'WOW'. Went here for dinner last night and it was a friend's birthday and I thought it was just another Italian place but how wrong was I. I don't give out 5s often but when I put a spoon of food in my mouth and its a flavour explosion I have no reason not to. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce was perfectly balanced 👌 Well looked after service wise aswell. Great Sangria 🍷
After hearing so many fab reviews from friends and colleagues, we finally tried the place out. Loved the ambience and the food. The pizzas are awesome and try the chicken beetroot salad for sure. Will definitely be visiting again soon.
The Brunchabout Diaries
+5
Rococo is known for being a great all-rounder: good for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I got the Ham Benedict for brunch at Rococo this time round. I really loved the slight crunch provided by the nuts on top and the chutney offering on the side was a tasty surprise with the hollandaise.
Rococo has heaps of seating and always has a great buzz.
Edit: Came back here for dinner - and as always, Rococo delivers. We got the Mac and cheese croquettes (which had a nice spicy sauce with it) and a thin and crispy Capricciosa pizza.
Best staff ever. We had my bf’s birthday dinner here. The manager, waitress who served us and the cashier are all very nice friendly and helpful. Of course the food is good as usual. Highly recommended if you have some special requires like birthday surprise. I’m sure they can do an excellent job! Thanks guys :)
The goats cheese ravioli with garlic prawns was a pasta dish to die for. I should have got some crusty bread to mop up that delightful sauce.
This restaurant really surprised us with their food!!! The first time we visited this restaurant was not planned, we just passed by and saw the restaurant looked good. Although the restaurant was busy, staffs were still very friendly and provided very good service. We actually have been this place for brunch and were very satisfied with the food so we went back there for dinner which was pizzas and pasta. The food we have ordered, none of them has disappointed us! This restaurant now is in our top 5 favs ❤️
Had my graduation dinner at Rococo recently and i had a great time! Iv been here once before and had a great experience but this time it was better. Food was amazing and the staff were lovely! The ambiance is cozy and inviting. I’ll be back for sure!
Really good food and service! A great place to go to when you want a nice atmosphere and food that isn’t too expensive. I have been many times to both the Hawthorn and St Kilda locations and have liked every dish I’ve tried.
Love! Love! Love! We have been here a few times. Every time we ordered different pizzas and gnocchis. We haven’t had any disappointing pizzas. We love the hand made gnocchi! Staff are very friendly. The venue is very nice. It has been consistently satisfying for every experience we had. Love it! ❤️
Polite staff and modern, and attracting interior! Food was great to share, and you can split bills. Definitely recommend the meatball pizza and the gingerbread milkshake!
Went here for breakfast, after trying to get a table at AXIL. What a difference!!! Rococo staff were great. Knowledgeable in their restaurant layout. Easy, no pretentious fussing. And the food is great here. Fresh ingredients and happy staff... I will be back. AXIL have a lot to learn from Rococo.
I met up with a friend for dinner on Friday night at Rococco, a spot that’s infamous for their pizza. We shared a gnocchi and Margherita both of which were really delicious, gnocchi perfectly cooked in stark contrast to one I’d had the previous night at another restaurant.
The service was nothing extraordinary but I enjoyed my passion fruit and apple mojito. The Nutella panna cotta was jiggly perfection and I particularly adored the crunchy decorative elements on the plate. Our other dessert was visually stunning but not the flavour bomb we experienced with the first one. I knew we should have selected the peanut butter dish for our second choice!
This is a family-friendly, all-rounder Italian restaurant that does well everything. They have a large menu with things you don't usually find in average Italian restaurants. Their food is tasty and their portions big -- size does matter to me. Even if you order just one dish, you won't leave hungry. My duck risotto was stupendous regarding flavour and the rice was perfectly cooked, not too chewy not too soft.
Very friendly, attentive staff.
Service can be on the slow side on weekends.
A bit pricey.
A favourite Italian option.
Prompt courteous service and lots of variety on the menu so good for families and diverse palates.
All options are high quality but I especially recommend the calamari salad!!
Friendly service with a dedicated vegan menu - suggestion: perhaps adding gluten signage on the menu as well.
I had the beetroot salad - beautifully presented and delicious, would order again.
Hubby loved the house fries and the broccoli pizza.
I had the mushroom risotto - generous portion but the texture was a little runny for me.
Had a cherry mock tail - delicious but I wish there was less ice.
I would return.
I had lunch there after a long absence. The place was spacious and bright. They have a great selection of food, small, medium and large plates as well as lots of choices of red-based or white-based pizzas. The good delicious and service was pleasant . The only thing I was unhappy about was that we were a party of three and our table was small and meant for two even though we made a booking! All walk-ins (party of 2 or 3) were given a table big enough to fit 4. If I do return I won’t be making a booking.
Great Italian food, tried the carbonara and the pizza which was amazing. The bacon was prolly a bit to thick cut for my taste. Also, the wine menu was a bit lackluster, and they also had a pretty bad selection. Would come again if I had no other choice for Italian, but still good aye.
Polite staff
Pizza was good
Tried pasta, Carbonara was ok but I’ve eaten better.
Liked the vibe of the restaurant it’s nice if you like a busy place.
Nice atmosphere, good food (enjoyed the pizza especially the thin crust ) , quite over priced I would say for their selection of bottled wines however this isn’t unusual . It would however
be nice/ an improvement if they added a $20-$30 price range option (just a thought ). We are big wine drinkers and would have ordered more if it wasn’t $50 plus per bottle .
The Manager and staff were friendly and helpful and looks happy and calm which makes a big difference to the over all feel of the place .
The only small downside I would say was that they did not have my booking from zomato ! ( a common problem stated the manager) he was very accomodating and offered us a nice table by the window. Overall a fabulous night ! Thankyou and we will be back :)
The food is amazing and also the ambience were very delightful and cozy with friends and family, will come back for more to try other dishes on the menu..^^
Love this place so much. Always greet by friendly staff and they surely know how to make their customers feel welcome - always ! Ambiance was great, comfort but be prepared to wait during weekend.
Love their pizza so much !!! Well baked aromatic pizza dough is one of the best in Melbourne. Prize range is good with generous amount of toppings. This place has been my favourite place whenever I have cravings on pizza, I will definitely think of Rococo !!
Dined here multiple times with friends and family and the food has always been amazing.
The woodfire pizza is my favourite in Melbourne, the pasta is sooooo delicious and the risotto is amazing too. Food is always super fresh and flavoursome. My mouth is watering just reminiscing about it..
Only fault I could have is drink service is a little slow when they’re busy, but that’s too he expected in such a popular venue! (Minor critique!)
Authentic Italian restaurant that is well priced for its quality food. Had risotto and a pizza which was a great combo with a glass of red wine. Speak nothing but the best of this place.
Extensive menu at reasonable prices. Large bustling dining room. Food was very good. Generous size and quality. Pollo Alla Milanese; excellent fried crumbed chicken breast medallions with a sugo sauce on the side and an Italian coleslaw (fennel, peas, mayo, parmesan, red onion) was excellent. Lasagne was excellent too; moist, cheesy and tomatoey. Service was friendly but staff failed to clear tables between courses and drinks delivery to table was slllooooooooowwwww. 15 minutes for a coke. 10 minutes for a white wine. Overall very good.
Everything is wonderful the service is great, friendly atmosphere and the food is delicious so and I would definitely say that this is a great place to have a party or a meet with your friends and family so this is why I gave a five star review!
We enjoyed a beautiful evening here on the weekend. Firstly the service was incredible throughout the night. Our waiters were super attentive and had great personalities. It was refreshing to see people taking pride in their work and ensuring all customers enjoyed a great evening. The menu was very large and offered a wonderful selection of antipasti, pizza and pasta options. We enjoyed a little bit of everything and would certainly go back to try more of the menu. Well done team! :)
Food was excellent with a really generous portion size. Staff were really friendly but remember, you don’t take someone’s plate away before the other people is finished. Overall really impressed
Came here Mother’s Day have been here plenty of times before - ordered garlic herb bread with cheese, macaroni with meatballs, handmade seafood tortellini and pork/fennel/broccoli pizza. Everything was delicious I can’t fault anything! The garlic herb bread with cheese is mouth watering. For Italian food - this is a fav!
This cafe has a great menu & is another great place to check out along Glenferrie Rd Hawthorn!
I had there smashed avocado which was one of the best I’ve had as they added beetroot and tomatoes to the dish which was delicious!
I’m also interested in try their lunch and dinner menu & as they have some great options!!
Great Service. From the second we came through the door we were friendly welcomed by the manager, smiles and great suggestion.
Nice Pasta and Vino special (super tasty). I had he fresh Rococo Juice which was superb. Will be back!
Thanks Rococo Team
Followthefoodmelbourne
+4
Rococo always seems to be that delicious, reliable Italian go-to restaurant in Hawthorn. My most recent experience here was last week when I came in with some friends for a late-night bite to eat.
We each ordered a main and shared a dessert. I always get a pizza when I come here and this night was no exception. Their prosciutto pizza was delicious! Great amount of cheese and prosciutto and a nice thin base. For dessert we shared their doughnut dish which was nice however the doughnuts were a little dry. Overall though, a great familiar feed that I would gladly repeat over and over again.
Great food and good service. Food comes fast and is really delicious. I recommend the meatball pasta, it is amazing. I feel like they try and turnover tables fast. We had the bill sitting on our table before some of us had finished eating.
Went to Rococos for brekkie the other day with a girlfriend! Got the veggie fritters - wasn’t feeling too adventurous and it was great! Added bacon of course! My girlfriend got the smash avo and she said it as yum. 2 critiques - 1. I was a little disappointed on the size of the dish, would have been nice if the fritter was bigger and if I got 2 eggs and 2, they need cold drip! Otherwise I was a happy camper :)
Rococo is somewhat of a Hawthorn institution, it’s nigh impossible to go along without meeting someone you know if you live in the area. I came here with my family one Sunday night for a dinner and will share that dining experience here. As always, I love dining in groups and sharing food so you get to taste a bit of everything!
I would highly recommend visiting Rococo!Each time I have dined here I am always happy with the quality of the food.
On my most recent visit I ordered a main serve of Linguini Alla Rococo (pictured). I was extremely happy with my meal and the main serve was very filling. I have also included a photograph of a selection of the Antipasti's my friends got while dining with me - they said they have no complaints about any of the items they ordered.
On some of my previous visits I have had the Rigatoni Sausage, a range of Antipastis and Cannoli Siciliani - all of which I would recommend. One evening I ordered the Calabrese D.O.C pizza as take away and this was also really nice.
They only downside is the climate inside the restaurant. On my recent visit it was very warm and humid inside and the air conditioners didn't seem to be able to relieve this.
First launched in 2005, Rococo brings both classic and contemporary Italian flavours to the table and with two locations, St Kilda and Hawthorn, they are a great place to visit for some modern Italian flavours. When travelling down Hawthorn's Glenferrie Road, it is difficult to miss Rococo. The large signage accompanied by the even larger restaurant will definitely catch your attention.
We celebrated my daughter's 21st birthday at Rococo last night and it was a great success. "Sunny" and his team did a splendid job of looking after my daughter and her friends. Even though the restaurant was packed, the service was excellent. The food was enjoyed by all her guests. The pizzas in particular were very popular. We shall certainly be going back again.
Had really good experience last night . Nice delicious food specially Carbonara Pasta (bit expensive) but its ok
Service was good .Waiter was really attentive .
We been to place yesterday lunch, it was nearly full. It has great anti paste food selection and good wine too.specially my pasta linguini prawn pasta , it was so delicious full of flavour and my friend has pizza which was really good as well . Service was ok . Beautiful seating on side windows .
George David Michaelides
+4
Fast becoming an institution in the area!
My favourite dish here is the pollo milanese, a simple crumbed chicken breast with some passata on the side and Italian coleslaw, douse it in lemon and you'll have a smile on your face !! Special mention to the brodo ( pasta soup entree ).
Delightful and spacious cafe on the slightly quieter side of Glenferrie Road. Plenty of indoor seating and a small outdoor section also available.
Staff are very friendly and polite.
"Eggs Fontine" was delicious. Bread was toasted to crunchy perfection and eggs were poached well. Spicy Chai was just right for a gloomy rainy morning.
First impressions on entry: spacious and professional. We came here for a milestone celebration and were engrossed in our conversations. Everything happened smoothly and was done well, but spoilt for choice in Melbourne's culinary scene as we are, this place had no hooks that stood out for me personally.
The big menu ensured there was something for every appetite. Soon after ordering the dishes began arriving and for a few moments everyone eyeballed everyone else's meal in appreciation. My entree size Spaghetti alla Busara was a little bland for me. The Spaghetti with Char-grilled Seafood by contrast had a lot of flavour and a decent amount of seafood. Along table everyone seemed to enjoy their meal, which ended with the highly recommended Strawberries & Cream for a rich and pretty dessert.
Floor to ceiling windows ensured there was plenty of light. The outdoor dining area looks pleasant on a balmy day. Polite and efficient service, this place is good for a casual meal or a group celebration.
Best italian food
Had salmon fillet and steaks and both were cooked to PERFECTION
Service was average . Will Come back for sure.
Highly recommended for Italian food lover , will not b disappointed
Food is nice, service is usually pretty good. They make some nice cocktails, quite an easy place to go with a group as they have a bit of everything. I go here pretty regularly and have always been happy!
Simple nice food
There's nothing special about this place except they consistently deliver the same quality this is a reliable venue where you can always get a reasonable meal
Charlie Daniels (Curious Charlie)
+4
They are what you'd expect, with a crunchy skin and creamy pasta within. At $4.50 each these were expensive! There needs to be at least three for the price. . Fancy Garlic Bread (Half Serve / 4 Slices) $5. Toasted bread with herbs, garlic and mozzarella melted on top. $5 A classic! Sure I could make it but not really, we don't have the space nor anything clean...
The pizza, the dessert, the ambiance, the customer service all absolutely amaZing. Love this place. The desserts are photo capture worthy and they taste beyond amazing.
My dining companion and I shared ‘The Rococo Pizza – proscuitto di parma, rocket, creamed artichokes, cherry tomatoes, parmesan ($24.00)’. My other dining companion picked the ‘Gnocchi Al Pomodoro - san marzano tomato, basil, fresh ricotta, pangrattato, garlic, parmesan, fresh herbs ($23.50)’.
The first time I came here for drinks, I ordered gnocchi and it was so-so. The second time I came here I ordered their Chargrilled Seafood Spaghetti and it was spot on. Fresh seafood cooked really well on clean sauce of garlic and olive oil but it was bursting with flavours. The husband ordered carbonara and it was tasty but not as good as the chargrilled seafood.
For dessert we ordered Italian Doughnut and enjoyed it.
Will definitely come back again!
Vanessa Espírito Santo
+4.5
Actually went to Rococo twice before this review, thanks to Liven :D Everything is great in this place: from cosy ambiance to great staff, food is just gorgeous
This review covers the two visits we've had to Rococo. The first visit was with the hubby's family celebrating my birthday during dinner and the second was as a guest of Rococo for lunch.
>> Interior
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The restaurant is located at the corner of Glenferrie Road and Hawthorn Grove and busks in the natural light let in by the windows. Parking is available on both the main street and at Hawthorn Grove where we parked (no limit on a Saturday). Limited seating is available outdoors with the interior being very spacious and can easily cater for a large group. On our second visit, we found out that the restaurant itself is expanding, having taken over the two stores next door on Glenferrie Road which were both marked with the signs citing 'Rococo'.
>> Service
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The service for the first visit, to put briefly was underwhelming. It was a busy night and the staff interacted with the table at the very bare minimum of getting our orders and delivering dishes to the table. Note the rating does not give any consideration to customer service for the second visit.
>> Food/Drinks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The menu is very extensive with an all day breakfast menu and lunch menu available during lunch time. And at night, a dinner menu which included most (if not all) of the lunch items. We loved the variety and choice to have a tapas/shared type meal to having a pizza night to having a pasta and risotto meal. All the food was executed very well with the pasta cooked perfectly; al dente but not the al dente where it feels 'hard'/raw, the slow-cooked italian meatballs; juicy and so tender (!), pizza; generous amount of toppings and crumbed calamari; perfectly golden and crisp.
No doubt that Rococo will become our 'go to' when we feel like italian close to home.
>> Dishes that make up this review (first visit)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spaghetti meatballs; slow cooked italian meatballs, tomato sugo, mozzarella di bufala, pangrattato, parmesan and fresh parsley ($27.50 main size)
Bucatini all'amatrician; bacon, tomato, garlic, fresh chilli, parmesan and parsley ($24.50 main size)
Pizza ai funghi; assortment of mushrooms, garlic, fior di latte and olive oil ($21)
Marinated eggplant; toasted almonds, creamed feta, sweet and sour capsicum 'agrodolce', fresh herbs (served cold) ($11)
>> Dishes that make up this review (second visit)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Linguine with pan fried prawns, garlic, chilli, baby spinach, basil and olive oil ($23.50 entree size)
Slow-cooked italian meatballs with tomato sugo, pesto di casa and parmesan ($12.50)
Melanzane arancini; smoky eggplant, parmesan with tomato sugo ($8.50)
Crumbed calamari; fennel salt, caper, mayonnaise ($8.50)
Tagliatelle bolognese; handmade egg pasta, traditional bolognese ragu, parmesan ($15 entree size)
Smashed avocado; grilled rye sourdough, medley of tomatoes, baby beets, goats curd, toasted seeds and two poached eggs ($17)
Follow me on Instagram for more photos: @fo0die (with a zero)
When looking for italian in the area I was pleasantly surprised to find Rococo. It definitely hit the spot for my pizza and pasta cravings.
We were able to get a table straight away and the service was great. Our food came out quite quickly which is always good when you're hungry.
The food was tasty although the serves were way too large to finish. My only other issue would be that they don't offer gluten free pizza bases. With so many people with special dietary requirements these days I feel most places should have more menu items to cater for them.
Standout Dish - Ricotta Gnocchi & Italian Coleslaw
Lovely place for weekend evening dinning. Food was delicious and would definitely come back again. A bit pricy and portion was a bit too big, and I can't finish the plate myself. Overall, a great spot for dates and occasions.
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