Review The European - Melbourne

Fantastic place as always with attentive staff that offers genuine customer experience. Well done to team European 👌🏼seafood dishes were a delight. Will be back soon. Side note…please bring back the squid ink pasta with crab meat 😁

Old school Italian! A Melbourne institution. The gnocchi was amazing. Soft and pillowy. Best I’ve had. Polenta chips are also a must every time we come here or city wine shop. I was curious about the orange rose wine and they let me have a taste to see if I liked it. The wine was really unique, not too sweet and a bit dry. Just how I like it! Prices on the high side but well worth it for a treat!

Last time I came here for a lunch before the lockdown. Last night we came Here for drinks and I couldn’t help myself to order a dessert. It was so good. The staffs all very friendly and knowledgeable with the wine selections.

It’s always good here. Lovely atmosphere, sophisticated and delicious food, good wine list and top staff. Hard to beat at any time. Highly recommended.

Excellent service from the staff. I had the porterhouse steak and it was delicious. My wife had the grilled octopus and the steak tartate which she mentioned was the best she has ever tasted. Thank you all the European team. Great experience!!!!

Not perfect but the atmosphere this restaurant exudes makes up for it. We love that the furniture is a bit rickety, it's small and tight spaced inside, the waiters are very busy, it's noisy... it's perfect! We had a mid morning breakfast and just sat by the front doors and watched people coming and going whilst we enjoyed our coffees and Croque Monsieur and Toasted nut and seed egg and avocado. Without a doubt will return for lunch and a dinner too!

Great dinner. The Schnitzel is non standard but a nice cut of a chicken.

Coming to this establishment was a terrible decision. Instead of birthday cake, I was taken post theatre to The European. The cafe front door had a sign saying entry was only through the winery, however immediately after entering the winery we were bluntly asked why we did not go through the cafe door. There was barely anyone in The European, however we waited a disturbingly long time for the staff to decide who would seat us, continuously passing us off to the next person. This whole time all but one of the staff stared at us in disdain. I could understand this behaviour towards rambunctious young people, however not towards three formally dressed people, standing quietly out of the way. When finally sat, we were placed at an unset bay in what looked like a storage room and bathroom entrance- boxes lining the floors. This was because there were “no set tables in the European”, which made no sense as this table was also unset. Between the cold flares from staff, being placed in a storage closet, and the ridiculous price of $16 for a piece of slice, we caved and left. With the treatment it was evident we were not welcome in the eyes of the staff. The one waiter we were palmed off to seemed to express empathy when we walked out, and was the only positive element. Thank you Sir. The rest seemed almost smug as we left. It was quite a mood dampener, after hearing excellent things all week about wines and desserts, only to be made to feel deeply uncomfortable. I did not enjoy being made to feel like I was a nuisance on my birthday when my whole group of three adults was nothing but polite. I would not recommend attending unless you have an adult over the age of 40 with you. I am quite upset still by this treatment and experience.

Food was great but the waitress we had was abit rude. We were really full do we grabbed the rest take away. The container had half of what we asked to pack away. Abit dissapointed as its an expensive restaurant and was looking forward to a midnight snack!

Very few cafes in the Paris end of Melbourne open on a Sunday so full marks for that! Efficient staff and nice atmosphere. Pancakes were great. The croque monsieur was very average and like a 70s toasted sandwich. Will try again but good needs to match the hype and clientele.

Went here last night with a partner and absolutely loved the service and the food! The sardine entree was divine, full of flavour and very fresh. We ordered the chateaubriand for two and it was cooked to perfection. I would highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely return more than once. Thankyou!

I came across this lovely restaurant and just entered to have a sit. I decided to have a cup of coffee and then a small dish to eat for lunch. I really love the coffee and food here especially the atmosphere.

My partner took me to the European for dinner. The service was very good at our table but overall extremely disappointing.<br/><br/>There was an alcohol fuelled domestic argument between a man and a woman sitting near us and despite complaints to staff (including myself) the couple continued shouting! This made me personally feel extremely uncomfortable and it spoilt my dinner.<br/><br/>I had sardines for entree which were excellent, and my duck for main was delicious whilst hot, but then very chewy when cold. And the reason I couldn’t eat quicker was because of the awful arguing from an adjacent table. <br/><br/>My partners steak was well cooked good too.<br/><br/>But overall and after having been here twice before, I really found this experience unacceptable and intimidating. I was waiting for a fiat fight to erupt. Going to a fine dining establishment should provide staff with the ability to eject anti-social guests.

Not perfect but the atmosphere this restaurant exudes makes up for it. We love that the furniture is a bit rickety, it's small and tight spaced inside, the waiters are very busy, it's noisy... it's perfect! We had a mid morning breakfast and just sat by the front doors and watched people coming and going whilst we enjoyed our coffees and Croque Monsieur and Toasted nut and seed egg and avocado. Without a doubt will return for lunch and a dinner too!

Last night we dined at The European on Spring street for a family birthday. This elegantly fronted building is equally elegant on the inside and space was at a premium so our table of 6 was a cozy dining experience. <br/><br/>We were quickly encouraged into G&Ts which were a surprising short list of your classic brands. I wanted more choice here as gins my thing. The wine list itself was very European and the birthday boy was fortunately very much an expert in European wines and we tried some amazing bottles. Staff were also incredibly knowledgeable and let us try some we were unsure. I loved this level of expertise. <br/><br/>Food wise there were some incredible choice and some of the specials entrees sounded amazing. I chose the pork head croquettes as my entree while a popular choice for the rest of the table were the sardines. The croquettes were lovely and tender and nicely crisp on the outside with a delicious flavour. I liked the pairing with the gribiche sauce with capers adding plenty of zing. <br/><br/>For mains I ordered a black and white fettuccine with crab and fresh basil and tomato. It was subtle which you would expect for a crab dish and I liked the tomato pieces included here. The pasta itself was cooked a little more than I prefer. <br/><br/>I experienced FOMO at the look of the pan fried gnocchi and both the spaghetti marinara and the seafood paella were quite generous on the variety of seafood and received raving feedback from those who tried. <br/><br/>KD who avoids apple and pear due to their high fractose content was pleased to discover that the tarte tatin on the menu was made with quince. We all tried these on the table. Baked to dark and with a strong toffee element these were a delicious version of the classic tatin. The toffee was a serious “take out your fillings” chew but highly recommended. <br/><br/>Overall a fun night catching up with the family. With three bottles of wine, g&ts for 5 and a couple of stickies by the glass, coffee for some and two courses each allow approximately $120 per person.

I have real difficulty in understanding how this place gets a rating of 4.5. <br/>1. Service sucks- only few staff care to provide a friendly smile; look at the photo of a table of messy dishes—it’s been like that for half and hour and despite staff walking by frequently no one would take them away and clean the table for us; <br/><br/>2. food is just standard and with a price tag not worth its weigh at all; it claims itself as European and Italian but when we tried to order a spaghetti bolognese they don’t have on the menu!? <br/><br/>3. Oh btw the wooden chairs are shabby and the ones we sat on were all shaky and unsteady. <br/><br/>Will not go back at all and will not recommend this place to anyone.

European in Spring street. One of the most famous restaurants in Melbourne city. A lot of business men get together during the lunch time for meetings there. Was been there once and the food was average but it is a nice place to catch up with workmates

Have been here a few times, most recently for dessert on a Saturday night. We shared the bombe Alaska for two and it was simply delicious. My hot chocolate was impressive as a good one is hard to come by these days!

Went for business lunch. Amazing wine and food. Lovely spot for casual lunch as well and beautiful collection of wine. We had lunch special mani and the vegetarian risotto is so delicious.

My all time go to favourite restaurant. It serves the best food and desserts. My more recent favourites include:<br/>- Pancakes which is thick and crispy<br/>- Eggs benedict<br/>- Spaghetti Marinara (THE BEST IN TOWN!!)<br/>- Foie gras<br/>- Mushroom risotto<br/>- Any of their souffle <br/>- Creme brulee

Sunday brunch in Melbourne. The wait at Cumulus was 45 minutes so we thought we’d head here instead. It’s got a lovely old-fashioned feel about it, very… European. I had a delicious flat white to start off, and then a baked eggs with blood sausage and chorizo, as I’d hoped, it was rich and savoury.

A small cosy restaurant that packs each dish with such flavour! Favourites are the buffalo mozzarella, pan fried gnocchi, and duck leg cassoulet.

We ordered the pork rack and the steak. Both dishes were perfectly presented and the flavours were extremely well balanced. The service was impeccable.

Authentic European food, rich in flavour and freshly made. Steak was a tad chewy at its thickest, however rest of the order was on point. Amazing Melbourne establishment to check out.

We eat here very regularly, breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner we cannot fault it. Some of our favourites are steak tartare, salmon bilinis, whole roasted fish, crab risotto , charcuterie, eggs Benedict & pan fried gnocchi. These items are always in the menu in some form and are updated regularly. Great wine list, plenty on offer by the glass. Great coffee and lovely staff keep us coming back again and again it’s always our fallback with friends and family too.

Was looking forward to this based on the ratings. However, found it to be over-priced and unfriendly service. I understand that this cafe is catering to a different crowd to those on the north-side I typically frequent, but still... Disappointing.

I was astonished that my very tiny bowl of black and white linguini with soggy crab was $31. <br/>It was drab, had nothing fresh like parsley or lemon, the bread was not freshly sliced, had a hard crust on the surface like it had been sitting there all afternoon. It was absurdly overpriced. Melbourne you can do better.

Still the best breakfast venue in Melbourne in my opinion. The coffee is outstanding and the eggs Atlantic are worth coming out into the cold morning for. Everything tried in the menu is high quality, well cooked and presented with style and class. Service is also a highlight. Well done guys. I’ll be back soon.

It’s was good not great. Atmosphere is created by yourself. <br/>Service was ok waiter was very attentive. <br/>Food great to see service that care about sharing. Everyone had their plate with sides that was a nice touch.

We had a feast here and the dishes kept coming out. Every item was excellent and tasted amazing. The presentation of each plate was beautiful and appetising. But one dish stood out for me, charred octopus, fermented pepper. It was outstanding! <br/><br/>For appetisers we had <br/>Cypriot halloumi, onion agrodolce<br/>Charred octopus, fermented pepper <br/>Whipped cod roe, caviar, blini<br/>Raw tuna, avocado, tartare<br/><br/>Followed by<br/>Pate de foie gras with brioche<br/>Pan friend gnocchi <br/><br/>For desserts<br/>Blood orange creme Brûlée <br/>Bombe Alaska for two<br/>Petit fours <br/>

The wait staff were not good at all they completely ignored us most of the time. The man who cleared our plates kept smashing the cutlery on plates while clearing. Was fairly evident he didn’t want too be there. The food was not bad but few mistakes while ordering and undercooked steak.

Warning: say no to the offer of sparkling water - they are 11 bucks a bottle. Then they lay the 15% surcharge on it. $100 plus for a very basic brunch is utter insanity. Horrifically priced, even for Melbourne.

Not a recommended breakfast destination. Gloomy old fashioned interior, tacky, dirty bathrooms, uninspiring food, high prices. Definitely not worth what we paid. Only thing I couldn’t fault was the service.

Can not comprehend how it gets such a high review my steak was not wow at all and for $46 I can’t comprehend it what a shit meal!!! The oysters were amazing but that comes down to Blackman bay oyster produce not the European! Never again would I visit or recommend!!!!<br/>

A solid, reliable bistro at the top end of town, there’s good reason it’s scoring above 4 on Zomato. We chose the entrees on specials board - warm Mackerel and beetroot salad with chestnuts and the Heirloom tomato salad with goat curd. Both were fabulous. We then went old-school and shared the chateaubriand which came with a rocket pear salad/mushrooms/mash and horseradish with mustard.<br/>The food is straight up French/Euro bistro fare, expertly prepared. Great service. Old-school can be a pleasure to attend. Top Marks!

We were extremely lucky in finding a table, without a reservation, at this restaurant on a Friday night before the Theatre.  No doubt this place has been very popular with The Book of Mormon playing.  This place is extremely popular.<br/>Each of us ordered a red wine by the glass.  My French pinot noir was a delight and my partners Cab Sav. was, I understand, equally excellent.<br/>Both of us ordered a pasta dish.  I ordered the linguine, black and white with crab, prawns, mussels pipes basil and tomato.  I really enjoyed this dish even though the prawns were overcooked and so were the mussels.  However, I found the dish extremely salty and later I became extremely thirsty.  My partner ordered the spaghetti marinara and he found exactly the same issues.  The service was excellent and they considered our limited time for dinner.

My favourite restaurant in Melbourne, if not the world. Best gnocchi ever! Amazing oysters and wine selection, the sparkling Chardonnay is divine. The black and white linguine with crab meat is 10/10.

Horribly overpriced European style cafe in Spring street, while the food was nice paying $90 for brunch for 2 people is beyond a joke! There are so many places where the food is just as good and isn’t ripping off its customers. They are charging through the roof like your in Paris itself, and trust me - your no where near it here. And a 15% surcharge on Sundays. I would avoid this place unless your desperate for a coffee.<br/><br/>•Follow me, McFoodie Jones, as I explore Melbourne for hidden foodie treasures to stuff my face with•

Iconic Melbourne location. Had this place book marked for long time and we were around the corner so decided to go down and check it out. At first glance it looked like a run down restaurant. The service is first class and that's a sign of a good restaurant. The food was nice but not amazing. We got there for an early sitting and by the time we got up to leave I noticed the place full of people who are about to go out and enjoy their Saturday night. It was at that point I realised that this place is an institution and people have been coming here for generations and they enjoy coming to this venue as much as they enjoy the food.

A little taste of Europe .... Paris?<br/><br/>Perfect spot, Spring St, Paris end, Parliament House, Princess Theatre and the Windsor a stone throw away .... heavy double solid timber glass door, dimly lit, Bentwood chairs, central bar, "classic" timber smell ..... what a set up and challenge to park your car.<br/><br/>Just one of those perfect dessert and after dinner drinking spot.<br/><br/>4.5/10 $19.50 Mocha Souffle .... just a good pick .... thank you.<br/>7/10 $5.10 French (?) Earl Grey<br/>7/10 $13.50 Labet Pinot Noir<br/>$9.50 Frangelico <br/><br/>We'll do it again, just avoid Sunday 15% Surcharge and credit card charge too ..... 03/12/2017.

I love having a G&T at the European. It has a real old world charm about it and is the perfect spot for a date. The staff are delightful and there’s a lovely ambiance that comes with being in the Paris end of the CBD. A Melbourne icon for very good reason, I strongly recommend it for a post theatre nightcap

We had breakfast here and it was lovely. Very pleasant sitting outside and the meals were all a good size and enjoyable. Service was very friendly and efficient.

The food was really tasty with friendly service. However the 15% surcharge for a Sunday was a a bit extreme as well as it being 6.50 for a side of bacon. Would recommend but not on a Sunday and don't get any sides!!

Varied menu items and ample drinks list. Have been here for breakfast, dinner and desserts many times. Every time there is something new on the menu. Food never fails nor does the service.

The environment is comfortable and the service is quite good. Staff are very friendly. I love the white and black pasta. The steak is average, a litter bit over cooked we ordered medium rare, and the sauce is not matching very well. Desserts are very nice.

Went here yesterday (Sunday) for a birthday brunch. Atmosphere- check! Smiling welcome- check. Order taken with warmth- check. Food- high standard as usual, check. Table clearing - fingers in glasses to collect by one waitress. Plates collected and no asking what we thought by another! Gruff cold service- check. Bill comes- $86 + SUNDAY SURCHaRGE taking it to $98.90......a further 1.7% credit card charge if used!!! Amex higher again we are told. Ok so tell me this- what was that whole penalty rates case about then!!! Sorry The European, once a Melbourne must- now will be given a wide berth. Too cheeky by half!!!!

Great place for brunch. The place makes you feel like you are in Europe, so appropriate with its name. The crumbed soft eggs are absolutely amazing. The truffle & mushroom are so tasty on the perfectly toasted brioche soldiers.

Convenient spot just a couple doors down from Princess Theatre. Had post-show lunch and shared pumpkin arancini, tuna tartare, terrine and mushroom risotto. <br/>Arancini were fried balls of goodness with gooey cheese centre. Can't go wrong there! Tartare had tuna chunks rather than being finely diced and horseradish shavings gave it a mild kick. Terrine bit on the sweeter side but delicious with seeded mustard and charred bread. Risotto was flavoursome with heaps of mushrooms. Super comforting on a cold winter’s day! <br/>Would return for the food even though service was nice enough. Note 15% surcharge on Sunday and public holidays.

Delicious food and great service - my partner and I shared the chateaubriand steak which was cooked perfectly and came with a generous serving of sides and was delicious. I've heard that the pepper steak is very popular so will be back to try that.

have been to this place quite a few times, and i was never disappointed. love the decor, food, wine, and nice staff. the breakfast menu is also very interesting!

One of the best places in the city to go and have a drink. On a hot night it's worth going upstairs on the roof. Drinks are on the higher price side but the location alone is worth it.

A great place to stop by for a drink, I love sitting on the terrace outside under the gas heaters with parliament lit in the background and trams and people going by.<br/><br/>I have been here a number of times and the service has been inconsistent but never below average - the wine list is (of course) European, but the wines by the glass are thoughtfully selected and it would be hard to go wrong.<br/><br/>The octopus appetiser is amazing – succulent and tender but crispy char-grilled on the outside.  Eat the octopus appetiser

It really is no surprise that Spring Street is considered the Paris end of Melbourne. With the grandeur of Parliament House and the historic Princess Theatre, The European feels right at home. Within the Melbourne dining scene, The European is considered somewhat of an icon – and it’s a well-deserved reputation. Reminiscent of old world Europe, the restaurant feels as thought it’s been here for centuries. As soon as you step foot through the double doors into the bustling dining room, you’re reminded that this is somewhere special. <br/><br/>I’ve been coming to The European for years – for breakfasts, lunches, family dinners, dates, and even for coffee and a piece of their famous lemon tart after some shopping. But tonight we’re here for our book clubber’s 40th birthday dinner (and our book discussion). We are seated in the corner blue-velvet booth, with empty European wine bottles resting above us. You get a sense that people have enjoyed some quality wine and had some fun times at this place. <br/><br/>The menu offers exactly what the restaurant name suggests – it’s a mixture of all things European. Spanish, Italian and Greek dishes stand out as the major influences. The food is simple, honest and showcases excellent produce. We shared a few starters - Freshly Shucked Oysters with Shallot Vinegar, Sicilian Arancini, Kefalograviera Saganaki and Grilled Octopus with Chorizo and Potato. We then enjoyed our own mains. The Baked Whole Baby Snapper with Polenta Chips was a favourite. Both the Seafood Paella and Seasonal Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Oil were just divine. I know the Chateaubriand for two has a fine reputation here, if you can find someone to share it with.<br/><br/>The wine list requires some knowledge to navigate, as most of the wines are European. But with the assistance of the very knowledgeable sommelier – plus some input from a fellow book-clubber who is married to an Italian – we discovered a rosé from Campania and a red from Nero D’Avola in Sicily, both superb.<br/><br/>Dinner wouldn’t have been complete without some sort of birthday acknowledgment, so we popped a candle on a Bombe Alaska and soon after we started singing Happy Birthday, the entire restaurant joined in. Gelato and the cheese selection from their very own Gelataria Primavera and Spring Street Cheese Cellar next door ensured they were top notch. In true book club form, we were one of the last tables to leave, but in European style, this was at 1am – I love going out in the city. We contemplated a move upstairs to enjoy a night cap at the venue’s own Melbourne Supper Club or Siglo, but our kids’ Saturday commitments were reason enough to call it a night. And what a great night it was! Happy 40th birthday, Clare!

I remember The European from a few years back and recalled good vibes and good food. Safe to say, both are still very much existent! I love the seating/atmosphere. <br/><br/>I had the European breakfast and my friend had the pancakes. Yummm. We both shared delicious fries as well. Super satisfying brunch. Coffee was decent - my cap was good, but my friend got a flat white with a thick layer of foam, lol.<br/><br/>Will be back if I'm in that part of the CBD!

The food and atmosphere are lovely. Cosy with good service & dim lighting. Very intimate for date night. The houlumi with fig is an amazing combo.

Had my birthday dinner there food was superb and service was excellent! The aged stake on special menu was outstanding. Highly recommend it and we look forward to going back.

Fantastic place to come if you're seeing a musical at Princess theatre next door. Fast and friendly service with a very European ambience inside: semi-lit room, small tables with limited walking space and a long corridor to the back with very small toilets.<br/>Seasonal mushroom risottos were very tasty. Entree size was big enough for one person.<br/>Broccolini with pear and chili was one of the best sides I've ever had!!<br/>The bread with the house made aioli was a good appetizer. <br/>Soy hot chocolate and latte were a good way to finish the meal.

I have dined here on several occasions. The menu items are mind boggling. Excellent mains and sweets. Superb choice of wines. A bit expensive, perhaps, but worth it. The only let-down is the uneven service, which can range from excellent to non-existent.

Had a delightful after theatre supper with excellent petit fours. Returned for Sunday breakfast. Breakfast portions are smaller than normal. Disappointing that the preserves served are plastic cased commercial grade

Went for dinner last night.<br/>Got a big table for just 2 of us, so we could sit comfortably.<br/>For Entree: <br/>Zucchini flower & Moreton Bay bug salad. <br/><br/>I've finished the whole plate of bug salad! Nice dressing , fresh herbs (I think it's coriander), although u need some time to look for the bugs within the greens.<br/><br/>Tried a bit the zucchini flower. There's some pureed stuffing inside, nicely deep fried.<br/><br/>For Main Dishes:<br/>Porterhouse steak & Rabbit assiette <br/>Steak a bit chewy even ordered at medium rare, sauce is okay, but just didnt match too well with the recommended red wine.<br/>Rabbit assiette was a bit disappointed for me. They used 3 of the rabbit body parts to make the dish, shoulder, loin, and one more I forgot.<br/>One made to become leek little pie , which is not too bad for the flavour, crispy breadcrumb on the outside, warm and moist inside.<br/>The other two parts wrapped by cabbage and bacon respectively. But the rabbit meats are dry and tasteless like overly poached chicken breast. Despite there is pumpkin puree and mushrooms sauce as side, it couldn't help the texture and flavour. Couldn't finish at all.<br/><br/>For dessert:<br/>Cherry Souffle and ice cream.<br/>The presentation is great but they didnt use fresh cherries. And the main problem is , I dont know if the souffle is baked thoroughly or not. The texture should be like extra soft spong cake, but this one I would say it's more like pudding inside, a bit runny. Sweetness is acceptable but not the texture I expected to be.<br/><br/>Food: ***<br/>Deco: ****<br/>Service: ****

Had brekkie here with a friend. I ordered the spanish eggs and my friend had eggs on toast with avo. The coffee was ok and the juice ordered by my friend was out of a bottle. Would have probably expected fresh juice from an establishment such as this. My spanish eggs were way too oily and I don't think the black pudding was the best I've tasted. Once our meals were cleared we wanted a second round of coffees but noone came to take our order so we went next door. Bill was $50 or so which is not cheap for 2 breakfast meals. Was not overly impressed but the food was passable.

unpretentious place but service and coffee were really good ... wait staff was friendly and food was good without the fanfare which is the hype nowadays and most of the time a real let down

After another restaurant lost the reservation for our party of 7 we found ourselves stranded in the CBD not really sure where to go.  Fortunately a clued in person suggested The European so we wandered off to find a charming little restaurant.  The entrance is overshadowed by the theatre restaurant next door but don't be put off.  The menu is deceptively short while the wine list is extensive.  The staff were all lovely and attentive while not being overbearing.  <br/><br/>The food was scrumptious our little party chowed down on squid ink tagliatelle, ham hock, pepper steak, pork, fish and salad there was not a complaint to be had.  We finished off with equally tasty desserts including a cherry souffle and chocolate, caramel and hazelnut delish.  What started as a disaster became a highlight and I will happily be returning to The European.

I can't recall how long ago I first came to the European, or perhaps I would rather not as it reminds me of the all too scarily swift passage of time. I do note however that it seems not to have changed a jot in all these years. Perhaps that's why I love it so and frequently return. Lovely warm service, a not too extensive but satisfying menu and a well put together wine list complemented by a gorgeous location for a sunny afternoon lunch. Hoping it never changes

We've been here twice for lunch in December and both times the food, wine and service were outstanding. I had (different) vegetarian pasta both times and couldn't recommend the meals too highly. We sat outside both times and loved it. Can't wait to return.

The ambient, the quality of food and the service are all superb! <br/><br/>Pictures(no filters) speak a thousand words. <br/>👍🏻 Have to give it a try

You open the door to rustic romance, almost Sicilian with complimenting decor and lively atmosphere. The seating arrangement is quite compact so if you are headed in a group of 4 or more, I suggest reserving a table (can be done online) well in advance. The restaurant has an array of wine which a sommelier will gladly explain and suggest to suit your palette. Tables are well attended and looked after by staff. Portion of food is good to share, Cypriot Halloumi in Appetizers and Pan Fried Gnocchi Dell' Orto were my favorites from the night. The price for dinner is dear but so is the experience.

Amazing service and food! We ordered the mushroom risotto, pasta marinara, gnoochi, entrees to share. Portion was good and we had ample to share, only wish they had a spacious space !

The European on Spring Street is number 65 of the 100 Top Australian Restaurants and spoken of fondly by locals. Popular for breakfast it had good coffee and fruit toast $9.50. But it was hard to see why reviewers might have chosen it for the the top100 as the menu and service was similar to many others.

This place has heavy narrow double doors that perfect for gentlemen to open for ladies. Let's call it The Giant Turnip.<br/><br/>Knock knock is any attendant there? I can see the customers at pub style far narrow long setting with a candle & dark lights for energy saving:b<br/>Our eyes roved around for 5 min whether ok to take a seat or not noticeable my bright elegant coat? Other 3 groups of customers also wondered, asking is it still open?? and settled in the same way:) <br/><br/>Nice fresh orange juice and strong lemon lime bitter of mine satisfied my boy. Very hard bread served with aioli spread. Excellent thick tender pepper steak in medium saved points. Delicious Pork & Veal agnolotti with normal ricotta, salty basil & lentils sauce could choose better quality from wineries'.

I had really high hopes coming here for my birthday. I cannot say that it is better than the other Italian joints I have been to in Melbourne. The vibes of the place, the service and the food is not as nice and up to the high calibre that I had expected. In saying that the food is still nice here; well seasoned and portions are okay.

Stomp on my buttocks and steal my small change. That 15% Sunday surcharge is ridic. We're not in the Americas. In addition, they serve Somalian sized food portions. And to call yourselves European. Shame on you.

Food is excellent in terms of taste as well as presentation. Service was very average, chairs were staggering. Some exclusive wine list by bottle if you are well prepared.

It had been a while since I had been back to The European . It still hasn't lost it's charm. Great food an excellent selection of wine. The highlights being the Duck main and my Baked Alaska which was so beautifully presented and more importantly it was sublime .....and not forgetting the service ; attentive & friendly professionals.

The European on Spring Street is number 65 of the 100 Top Australian Restaurants and spoken of fondly by locals. Popular for breakfast it had good coffee and fruit toast $9.50. But it was hard to see why reviewers might have chosen it for the the top100 as the menu and service was similar to many others.

This is sometimes a "treat your self" place, I've been here twice with my friend for celebrations and it went up to $200 for the night or more, but it was worth it as the food is amazing, service was slow both times as it was the weekend. Staff are super friendly and the gnocchi was the best I have ever had!

What a lovely dinner we had. The staff were nice enough to arrange a table as soon as they could for us even though we didn't have a booking for Friday night. We had a lovely bottle of Les Champes Fourné red wine as well as the Chateaubriand and pastas. <br/>The chateaubriand was yummy and came with impeccable sides like sautéed mushrooms, horseradish slaw and buttered mash. <br/>The black and white pasta and seafood pastas were equally yummy.<br/>I would definitely be back if I was ready to spend a little more and indulge myself!

One of the best cafe/restaurants in Melbourne. Coffee is always good and they have plenty of seats outside. When the weather is good it's one of the best places to grab a coffee.

ordered the mushroom risotto ($21), really really yum, plenty of mushrooms, I was satisfied. The basil salad and sprouts with chestnut were both delicious, just the sprouts were a little overlooked.

Four of us dined here on Saturday night before we headed off to the theatre. We were all greeted and welcomed when we arrived and anything we wanted to know about dishes on the menu were fully explained. Our meals were perfect. Highly recommend this restaurant. Thank you for a lovely experience.

Delicious food, intimate atmosphere, amazing selection of wines. We had the crab linguine which was yum and the porterhouse which was cooked to perfection.

Put simply, The European deserves its high reputation. The food and service are outstanding. The wines, being almost all imported, were a hard pick but with help from the sommelier, you will drink well.<br/>Our table meals included the Chateaubriand and a Pan roasted Lamb, each served for two and were faultless.

Booked the Tea Room for our staff dinner at The European and loved every single minute and bite of it. The food and drinks were only beaten by the immaculate yet not too overwhelming service. Thank you for a fantastic evening!

Nice service and romantic place it is a enjoyable dinner. the food is a little bit salty but the sea food is fresh and yummy i recommend the Wayagu beef !

Great classic food. Nothing particularly unusual, outgoing or risky about the ingredients, but the classical combinations do work, and these guys execute them very well. Our crab black and white linguini and duck mains were beautiful, along with the bombe alaska dessert. The real surprise was the side though - charred brussel sprouts with chestnuts - Yum!<br/><br/>Service wasn't bad although at its busiest time, we did find it challenging to get our water glasses refilled. On the up side, their waiter did have an impressive knowledge of their (very big) selection of wines :)

Lovely ambience about this place. It is literally like stepping into a nice restaurant in Europe.<br/><br/>The menu uses classic combinations cooked beautifully. If you are looking something a more left of centre this is not it. Having said that it's still a pleasure and if your on the mood it really hits the spot.<br/><br/>Downers for me was I love to drink water and a lot of it. So had to ask for refills constantly instead of just getting a large bottle already filled to save them the grief. This place was also busy, so trying to get a waiters attention just for a glass of water...<br/><br/>Also the crab lenguini was served with Spaghetti noodles no leguini in sight. Having said that, the spaghetti was aldente and made perfectly. So good I couldn't flaw it and really when it's that good who cares?<br/><br/>The biggest negative, and was really why I just could not rate this place higher was the crab. I found bits I couldn't eat because it had not been gutted and cleaned properly. This detail was just frustrating. I couldn't enjoy my dish as much as I would have otherwise.<br/><br/>My husband's duck was just devine. Rendered, pink. Complemented with classic flavours, the brussel sprouts with water chestnuts, as a side is a must. The Bomb Alaska is a great way to end with a nice light finish. A nice lemon/ pineapple zing. Yummy<br/><br/>But that crab left me just disappointed. Something happened in the kitchen tonight perhaps? Don't know.

Superb food and excellent service. We sat outside under the heaters on a crisp winter evening and enjoyed a magnificent meal complimented by an excellent bottle of Bordeaux merlot.<br/><br/>We will be back.

I really enjoyed the quality of the service and food. Friendly staff and great set up. Didn't have to wait too long for food. I ordered oysters and salad nicoise.

Located in a central part of Melbourne's CBD, The European  produce nice pub meal. I'm a big believer in the param and chips and The European do it well by adding ham to the param. <br/>The only area of improvement is the service, it's a little slow.

Apologies on the darkness of my photos but I have to tell you, the food here is incredible. Great service, great wine selection and overall, one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne. Yes it's a little expensive, but I think it's totally worth it. A must Try in the city.

The European was a lot narrower than I had imagined, with small cramped tables and awkward walls that are very hard to navigate around, and an old and dark atmosphere. It wasn't the most comfortable place to dine in. We had a booking for lunch on Sunday, but had not been informed about the 15% Sunday (and public holiday) service fee. Service was excellent. Breakfast and lunch menus had very classic dishes. Our table all liked the food (although the portion sizes between dishes were rather inconsistent), and the desserts were especially good. It's a traditional and old Melbourne institution, and it was definitely expensive (even without the service fee).

An old favorite of mine- countless boring business lunches made gr8 because of the food- many boring dates where I've resorted to talking about the amazing food lol- I've been coming here for years and never been disappointed- top end of town, with high end prices- exquisite decor - amazing food and gr8 atmosphere and service- well worth visiting whenever you're in the city💋

Love this place, been here for a nice brunch on the weekend and ordered potato blini with avocado and mushroom. The salmon was absolutely amazing!!! However, I find the mushroom a bit too heavy for me. The coffee was spot on. The waitress was super friendly as well. Will definitely give it another shot :)

Top end of the city opposite Parliament, top end prices. But it's an 'old faithful' that's been here years and hopefully will be here for many more years to come.<br/><br/>Rustic in character, both decor and food. It's an incredibly warm, homely place with comfort food on the menu rather than anything 'faddish' or overtly contemporary. It knows its niche and does it incredibly well. Everything I've ever eaten here - delicious spaghetti marinara, delicate gnocchi, fabulous steaks - are top notch. You just have to be prepared to pay for it. (It's a place for celebration/special occasion rather than a regular destination).<br/><br/>Staff are welcoming and the perfect mix of friendly and politely efficient.

Lovely birthday celebration last night . All the staff very friendly , smiley and made my night extra special . Special Thankyou to Jess , Barry (in the kitchen ) and the waiter /bar man who made me a lovely pink sweet cocktail on request . We especially enjoyed the fresh coffin bay oysters ,the steak jus and the steaks crisp bbq outside texture along with its accompanying onions thee ways . Lovely depth of flavour to the Spanish paella it was smokey with good amount of beautiful soft flavoursome seafood . I Would have to say one of the nicest dining experience I've had in a long time . Lovely old world charm European feel restaurant . Thankyou to the team at the European ! Will return and recommend .<br/><br/>Approx : $170 with three cocktails

The food is delicious and the staff is very nice. I like the environment inside and i will recommend my friends to have dinner here. Maybe next time i will come here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary here.

We had Chateaubriand's steak (84 aid for a ppl, bottle of wine (nothing great), and some drinks before. The food was excellent, wine list really good (only European wines not Aussies, but all price ranges).<br/>If you are in a group of 3-4 or more people you will have a table close to the entrance, well decorated and illuminated, tables for two are located at the back, in a corridor next to the kitchen poorly illuminated, there is room to improve there. Also just because the toilets are at the end it doesn't mean they have to look like a cheap bar toilet.<br/><br/>Average is good, nothing special, there are lots of places in Melbourne with better meat, list and prices. It's 'okay'

If there is one thing I know when coming to Melbourne, it is the fact that I will enjoy good food, amazing coffee and European vibe. And it doesn't get more European than a breakfast at The European! The classic decor and the elegance of the wait staff will take you to a different place. <br/><br/>For breakfast, I had chorizo with corn fritters and sunny side up. The chunks of chorizo are mouth watering. Juicy with the right amount of saltiness. I'd go back here just for this. The fritter is not as extraordinary as the chorizo though. It needs more flavour.<br/><br/>Great coffee by the way.

Exceptional in every way. Service is intuitive and subtle. Breakfast would have to be one of Melbourne's best and the coffee sublime. A great place to take visitors to show how well Melbourne does in the food stakes.

Step in to a Gentlemen cafe that is the European where people who serve you have much better posture and eloquence than you at a posh event. This place is really one of the dying breed of the cafe scene in Melbourne. <br/><br/>No funky menu, no hippies or rocker waiting staff, no grunge graffiti, no Instagram worthy colorful drinks...<br/><br/>...simple, classy, nice, quality...<br/><br/>Great tasting food without the funky presentation. Awesome strong coffee tht, I don't even need to go double shot. <br/><br/>Love this place. Please don't change.

Agree with all the comments re service - very professional. But this is not especially interesting or delicious food. Its perfectly pleasant. It is the type of casual expensive restaurant you would go with your out of town relatives. I am surprised that the average age is around 60, because the acoustics are so bad that our 30 something trio could barely hear each other. The fit-out needs a freshen up, especially the bathrooms. I think you get more fun, more delicious euro food and value next door at the Melbourne Wine Shop.

Well worth it, if you have not been here try it, excellent service by staff who know the food being served. We had the chateaubriand which was presented with a medley of mushroom and a pear and rocket salad.

Had breakfast at The European whilst I am flying solo in Melbourne's CBD for a couple of days, and it was stupendous. <br/>I did not know what to expect from the dim, narrow but very European restaurant, I simply walked in because it was the busiest place along the block. <br/><br/>I ordered the buttermilk pancakes for $15 with a regular long black $4.40. Despite@ being very full at the end of my breakfast the coffee and pancakes were smaller than one could hope. However, the coffee was pungent and pertained to its European charm in how it was presented. As for the pancakes (served with maple syrup and vanilla cream), they were also small unlike what you would expect from pancake parlor, but they filled the senses with the smell of butter as soon as it was set down on my quaint table of one, and were soft in the middle and delivered a crisp introduction with every bite on the outside! <br/><br/>Many business men and women dine at The European especially in the morning, but the staff still uphold consistent high quality service that accommodates to the fast paced nature of the restaurant. <br/><br/>The European is no fancy restaurant and it is a tight fit for all the diners, however it is utterly charming, affordable and overall a wonderful experience.

Been going here for 10 years. These guys never disappoint. Enjoyed my breakfast there. Poached eggs cooked perfectly. All day breaky til 5, can't go wrong with that.

More seats outside than inside I enjoy coming here for a coffee before work. You should step inside as it makes you feel your on a holiday....just before you go to work.