Review Grossi Florentino - Melbourne

Food was above average but for the price point I feel it could have been better. Also had steak for the main course, but felt the steak knife was a bit small… almost resembling a sharper dessert knife. The Sommelier was fantastic, extremely friendly and recommended some really lovely wine to pair with our dinner…. But I have to say I was a bit disappointed by overall experience

There is a very good reason Grossi Florentino is called an institution. Just incredible on all levels and enjoyable in every way. Yes it is expensive, but absolutely worth it. Molte grazie!

one of the best restaurant, me and my friends had a great experience there

Nice sitting and good service, however the food quality is not good at all especially for the high prices. I ordered the Filet Mignon and it was very tough, ugh!!! The oysters we ordered had shell inside them as they weren't shucked well - for a fine dining restaurant, it's not acceptable. Hope the food improves though as I will be coming back for the great staff and service.

Don't get me wrong, the food is tasty, the service is above par.... however like a used car salesman they will add extras into the final price you didnt ask for... lets start.. turns out if you say yes to sparkling at the start of the night they will charge you for every bottle regardless if you ask for the extra bottles or not.. oh wait the specials menu.. be careful because turns out they are over and above the already top shelf prices they charge for simple Italian. Again let me repeat.. the food was tasty.. was it 400+ worth for some drinks for 2 people no chance.. just be careful when you order the steak.. the question of chips or salad is not about what's included but a cheeky up sell on your already 3 course for 105 price.

Fantastic service. From the lady that helped seat us to all of the waitstaff - absolutely phenomenal customer service. By far the best I've had in many years. The food and wine were top notch as well. This was my first time going here and now can't wait to go back! Great experience - genuinely the best.

Love this restaurant for it's consistently fabulous food and meticulous service. It's been a while, but it didn't disappoint.

Really disappointing lunch for 2. pasta almost raw, grilled prawns (3 for main course??) stuck to shells, too difficult to eat, but they did offer compensation by way of sweets (tiramisu divine, peach tart not so good). This fabulous Melbourne icon (where we have enjoyed many meals) needs a bit of supervision in the kitchen I think. However, waiter service still outstanding.

Breakfast with interstate friends at Grossi cellars yesterday morning . Right up at the Paris end of Bourke street in a great position . I found the menu very disappointing , ok so this is not a classic breakfast place but a little review of presentation would be good , a colleagues corn fritters looked like miniature bowling balls very unappetising . My eggs on sourdough toast with bacon required a hacksaw to cut the toasts crusts and the sliced bacon was dry and cold , the omlet with fontina cheese was not sufficiently fluffy , has Chef not heard of a soufflé omlet . Staff although attentive were rather pouty and disengaged - had to ask for salt and pepper Verdict nice but no cigar

A fabulous dining experience from beginning to end. We arrived early and had a drink at Ombré Salumi next door where the staff then personally escorted us upstairs to Florentinos and announced our arrival. The staff were impeccable and perfectly professional with a touch of fun. The menu was exquisite and each dish got better and better. Champagne, cheese, followed by amazing desserts, we were in fine dining heaven with wonderful friends. Thank you for an unforgettable night in our beautiful city. We will be back.

Just dinned Upstairs and what a meal We had the 6 course menu. The food was amazing. The service was awesome and the staff had excellent knowledge of the food and wine. Thanks for an amazing night.

Absolutely devine. The food was fantastic and the staff were exceptional. Do yourself a favour and get the Taglierini prawns zucchini. Our waiter was Michael.... he was on the ball and very warming. Will definately be back

Definitely the best Italian in Melbourne. The three pasta dishes we had where fantastic, could not fault. The rest of the meal was superb also,culminating in one of the best soufflé we have experienced. Staff were perfect in every way. Thank you for making our anniversary a memorable event.

We had an exceptional gastronomic experience in the dining room. Exquisitely presented delicacies as well as beautiful food from the al a carte menu. The staff were attentive and pleasant and the atmosphere was definitely one for fine dining. What a delightful and memorable evening we had.

Dinner last night with my beautiful wife. Outstanding service so a big thank you to all the staff! Amazing food 10/10 for the chef the Venison was to die for. Unfortunately no Mollydooker Velvet Glove wine, so we settle for a 2010 Rockford Basket press. Thank you grossi florentino for a great experience ! We will be back soon

Beautiful building... disappointed that the table was not set, it looked like a function room where only the table cloth was in the table . Food was not tasty and very small portions The desert was very nice. Very expensivel, I don't mind paying but it was not worth $560 for 3 people ( min alcohol involved)

Been here several times over the years, with my wife. Grossi has never failed even once! From their service to the food and wine, nothing could be faulted!

Perfect late afternoon lunch. The staff were welcoming and knowledgeable about the menu options, specials and wine choices. Meals were the perfect size and we finished off with housemade desserts. A wonderful dining experience.

This is a must visit for me on any trip to Paris in Melbourne even though it's for Italian food and coffee. Not just any Italian food and coffee, extraordinary food and coffee. Service is outstanding and the ambiance something rarely seen anywhere. Oh I wish it was open on Sundays.

For my partner, Ruth and me this is an experience which comes rarely. We enjoyed every aspect of the experience, which for us as we journey with people through difficult times is a treat.

Fabulous food, great service very nice decor but noisy. Not a deal breaker but it does need some acoustic dampening. I did eat at the grill though.

Awesome dinner. Degustation menu with matching premium wines. Personal appointed staff from beginning to end.

Known as one of Melbourne’s finer Italian restaurants, we were super excited to see what the hype was about.<br/><br/>Upon arriving at at booking time, we were quickly ushered up and sat down. As I had already noted informed the staff ahead of time what we wanted, there wait time was minimal and things happened really quickly.<br/><br/>The friendly sommelier came out and started us off with our beginning wines explaining to us it’s origins of the wine, for every single wine pairing that night.<br/><br/>The food came out one by one, and with each dish that came out I quickly saw why Florentino held its position as one of the higher end Italian restaurants. Presentation and flavour was excellent.<br/><br/>Overall, the ambience of the restaurant is catered to more of a date night so if you wanted to take your significant other out I would definitely recommend.

Yes I ate more than just their amazing desserts. <br/><br/>From the ambience to the polite staff this place is not your ordinary dining experience. This well exceeds every other place I’ve ever dined at. The amazing cheeses, fresh pasta, to the amazing dessert - I couldn’t fault anything. <br/><br/>They even offered my a block for my bag & escorted me to the bathroom. It was amazing. <br/><br/>I look forward to heading back here for another amazing experience. <br/><br/>🙂

Hailed as a fine dining institution in Melbourne, we were more than excited to dine here. We got the 6pm reservation and was ushered in upstairs. Overall, we had a pleasant time at Grossi. The food was quite nice with some really standout dishes. I particularly enjoyed the King Prawn, Spanner Crab Taglierini & Chocolate Souffle. They gave us a nice goodie bag of coffee beans. I really wanted to touch on the service that we encountered. I had scoured the reviews on Grossi before we went and the one common theme I read about was their exceptional service. I don't expect fancy schmancy stuff but if this is what they are known for then I had high hopes. Don't get me wrong, we definitely had friendly and very professional servers but there were some things that were odd. It was just small details like not offering to take my jacket, not wheeling the cheese over to us until we got curious and enquired about it or some servers not even cracking a smile when talking to us. Didn't seem the case with other nearby tables. I have noticed this trend with some fine dining restaurants, where because we aren't interested in their wine list or perhaps younger than their usual clientele, that we are not given the same attentiveness as everybody else. It is just a bit disappointing. But whatever, I am glad I have ticked Grossi off my fine dining list.

We came here for dinner on a Saturday evening. The service was impeccable. As soon as we arrived, we were warmly greeted and the wait staff showed us to our table. We decided to order from the a la carte menu. The food was okay but nothing really stood out for us. My favourite dish of the night was the scallops. My duck was slightly overcooked and the prawn risotto was underdone. There was also quite a long wait between our mains and dessert. Unfortunately, I was expecting a lot more in terms of flavour due to the steep price tag.

Beautiful setting with very attentive service. The food comes out quickly and the flavours are for the most part good (just the whitlof is a tad bitter with the oxtail). Recommended for a special occasion.

Went to the place because of friend recommendation from a previous experience. However we were both very disappointed this time.<br/>We had the grand tour on 27th Jul 2019.<br/>4. 5 stars for the services (losing the 0.5star because they did not bother to ask about the food experience at the end).<br/>1 star for the food. The savory dishes are either too salty or too plain without taste. The flavour seems to be added at the end and thus are not blended in with the main ingredients of the actual dish. The sweet dishes are too sweet . The sugar in desert overwhelmed the chocolate and ice cream. The pre-desert was lemon sorbet which is supposed to be refreshing but we could not taste anything but cream and sugar.<br/>The best dish for the night is the bread. Which is why we are giving the 2 stars (and because of the exceptional service).<br/>

Everything about this place was beautiful- the food was amazing the staff were above and beyond - I only gave 3 stars due to the fact we were charged over $30 for table water - never have we been charged fir table water anywhere!!! when your spending over $500 for two on meals wine and beer - we thought being charged for table water was a real a huge let down after a perfect night

Well we ventured to the formal dining upstairs at this Melbourne tradition and all I can say is WOW!<br/><br/>We decided in for a Penny in for a pound and chose the Gran Tour menu with matching premium wines.<br/><br/>All I can say is hands down the most amazing dining experience of my life.<br/><br/>Six courses developed into nine...<br/><br/>Varietal vines I had never heard of, much less tasted were a perfect match for the delicate flavors that followed with each course.<br/><br/>The service created the experience, Thabo served us, he was informative, with a great insight to the wines and their relationship with the food. Staff in general were very very accommodating.<br/><br/>The interior is stunning.<br/><br/>It goes without saying, this level of an experience comes with the appropriate investment, very expensive,<br/><br/>A memory forever.

This was a real 'Wow!' experience. The food was perfect. Literally perfect. Tasty, creative and exquisitely presented. The waiters were entertaining but unobtrusive. They really got the service balance right. I had the duck for main and it was amazing. The spanner crab taglierini was also great, as was the chocolate souffle. There were a lot of complimentary taster dishes throughout our three course meal which were carefully constructed and really delicious. We were in the private dining room which is good in one way because you have your own space. But it would be nice to sit in the main dining area to feel like we're amongst it. This really is a complete dining experience and I'd love to be able to return again soon.

At a place like this, you predict fine service. It was formal, Italian, considered and professional. From the little stools to rest your bag, to the washing out of the glasses with wine before pouring, it seemed every detail was focused on giving the best experience.

I’ve been walking past this place for years wanting to try it and finally decided to go for my partner’s birthday. We chose the Gran Tour menu and while there were some stand out dishes, at the same time I wasn’t mind blown especially with the hefty price tag. The chocolate soufflé and steak dish was amazing. My least favourite was probably the tomato soup, a bit basic to be honest.<br/>The service however was amazing, intimate dining area and everyone was friendly. Overall we had an amazing experience

Very attentive and friendly service by entire staff. I wasn’t happy that I couldn’t choose my own meal (this option was only downstairs, little did I know!) The entre was delicious along with appetizers and fresh bread. Pasta was very good! The only let down was the main course which was the Barramundi. The texture was chewy and had little flavor. The servings were very small for the price paid. It was nice to get a complimentary dessert which was a teaspoon size of lime ice cream sprinkled with butterscotch.

A very gracious experience. Food is generally very good, although we've had the odd misfire - for example, venison that's overcooked and dry, and a risotto dish that wasn't to our taste - but to be fair, it may well be to someone else's and the professionalism of the staff is great. Pasta here is authentic and al dente which is to my taste, again not to everyone's. This restaurant is what it is and in general is a very pleasing experience.

Haven't been back to Grossi for years and we wondered why we waited so long to return.  Room has a lovely feel, waiters were attentive, some a bit stuffy but most were very friendly and happy to have a chat.  <br/><br/>The food was good, some really good - as others have mentioned maybe no surprises or but there were a few that made us say Ill come back for that again.  <br/><br/>Great wine list with some interesting and reasonably price options and a knowledgeable sommelier, we won't wait so long to return this time.

Food was fantastic but sadly the service not so fantastic. Wrong meal served, another course was served twice and incorrect meals placed in front of wrong person. The service did not match the price we paid.

Decent food, very good service. Was charged $24 for table water without any other option or notice of cost provided. Despite it being fine dining, stuff like that is patently ridiculous and leaves a bitter taste afterwards.

Came here for a work function. The food was ok. The venue and ambience was nice. The mineral water was served in a nice whisky crystal glass. The entree was passable but the main fish was undercooked (barramundi). The wine selection was good (Pinot) and would probably only come back to downstairs where I can pick my meal.

<br/>There is a reason this place is one of the many food icons in Melbourne.<br/><br/>Along with mulitiple glasses of wine it was a treat.<br/>We enjoyed an amazing two course meal amongst a table of 6. I enjoyed the Ravioli which was very rich and full of flavour followed by the Chicken mains .<br/><br/>We could not go pass the cheese to finish the day. What a decadent day. With old school service from the wait staff along with great ambience in the beautiful old school building this was a wonderful experience as always.<br/>

Been to all three shops here...and it’s all good!!! Really a great place that keeps things simple and tasty! Very similar to Takumi Japanese Restaurant up the road towards parliament. They just let the food and ingredients speak for themselves. Most other places marinade with strong sauces to tenderise and make poor quality ingredients tasty which is very sad. But Grossi is not such a place and I love it here! A Melbourne Italian establishment that always lives up to their reputation!

Another family celebration and we were extremely disappointed. Food quality average to poor. Wines extremely overpriced. A shadow of it’s former self .<br/>Will not be returning.

I’ve always wanted to go to Florentino Upstairs. It’s an icon in Melbourne. I was surprised by the decor; it’s much more subdued than I expected but that’s because the whole character of this 90 year old restaurant has been retained. The restaurant was very quiet but perhaps that’s understandable for a Monday lunch. I can imagine that it would have a great deal more atmosphere on a busy weekend evening. <br/>The service was impeccable, as I expected. The waiter selected a cool region light red for us. It was absolutely superb. I loved the little mini complementary dishes such as the minestrone and wafers. The bread and the spinach ricotta “butter” is delicious. We had pasta entrees: very flavoursome. My barramundi Main was perfect. I noted the deep fried Thyme- crunchy and aromatic . We chose two chocolate themed desserts to share, which were both delicious. Great coffee finished the meal. <br/>Wonderful!

Amazing experience. I’ve booked this place for my partner birthday. From the moment we set into the restaurant everything was on point. Friendly staff, great food. We loved it and we come back again. <br/>

Very average experience all together. I choose the degustation menu. I was certainly expecting a lot more in terms of creativity. There is a lot of good restaurants out there with great chefs that do a lot more. I hate to say service was not good, however in a restaurant of this calibre (or how they present themselves), getting the first dishes without even getting our wine order.. big No No. After dropping just over $700 for 2 people (plus of course a very decent tip for the average service provided) definetely not coming back. I won’t put 1 star because I think is harsh and the restaurant has been open for a long time now, so I don’t want to be rude. <br/><br/>Athmosphere and restaurant decor is good if that helps...

Pros: attentive and personalized service (we came for our anniversary). Cons: incredibly overpriced, always trying to ‘up-sell’ with expensive champagne and cheese platters (on top of the $150 per head for 3 courses). Food was far from memorable.

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing. We walked to the top of the stairs to be surprisingly greeted by Guy Grossi. He was relaxed and friendly. He kindly took our jackets. His humbleness was touching and surprising. A quick photo session was no problem. The 3 courses we had were fabulous. The ravioli and the lamb were amazing. My partners sardines, I was told were excellent. The chocolate shuffle was unforgettable - Light, fluffy and delicious and the chocolate sauce was perfect. Although, the crostoli were much much thinner than my Mother used to make, they were a lovely addition. Service was faultless and every waiter was attentive to their tables. We even spotted the lovely Simone (I remember her at training school where she was an outstanding waitress and deserves to be at the best now) There was a small connection between one of the chefs and my Father and Guy quickly returned to introduce me to his chef for a brief chat. The whole experience was wonderful. This place is an institution in Melbourne and little wonder that the staff stay working here for years. The food is amazing - made with Love.

MFWF express lunch - Highly recommended!! The service are way above expectations (even better than some of the high end elite restaurants I’ve been to) definitely on my top 10 list 😍😍 <br/><br/>Had the best Lamb dish in my life!! The lamb was juicy and tender, veggies with the lamb are really fresh and dish was properly garnished (look nothing like an express menu item). <br/><br/>The chocolate soufflé was amazing, it’s so light it melts at the tip of my tongue 😍😍 <br/><br/>It’s now one of my top 10 favourite restaurants in Melb <br/>

Upstairs serves spectacular food, lovely service, and a lovely environment. We often visit for special occasions and Grossi never disappoints.

Booked for a special occasion and we were treated quite specially. Hats off to the waiters, very professional and they know exactly what is in their wine and food. We had a 6 course meal, and by the end of the night, we could not have eaten anymore. Ceiling art and lighting provides a warm ambiance for that intimate setting (if that is what you seek). From the breads, to the entrees, the mains and the dessert. They accommodated the special occasion with a personalized touch as well. Will definitely be back for more special nights.

We expected to be blown away with Gross Upstairs but were somewhat underwhelmed. The food was delicious, the service was perfect however we felt it lacked some atmosphere. The bread service was probably one of our favorite parts of the meal along with the beautiful wine and dessert. Would definitely go back just with different expectations.

You absolutely can’t beat Grossi upstairs for service l, amazing food and the kind of lunch you want to settle in for until the early evening - or dinner into the late night! On this particular trip the scallops, wagyu and Panna cotta were all perfect. The cheese plate to die for! Highly recommend Grossi for a special occasion or function!

Very different, great food, very traditional yet very creative, definitely on the more expensive side for what it is.<br/><br/>Worth the experience, plenty of others in this league

Delicious Italian food and very traditional. Loved that they gave us a goody bag with pasta and sauce after dinner. In terms of atmosphere it was a little stiff and dark, maybe a more contemporary look would make the place more vibrant.

Cannot be beaten one of Melbourne all time greats, wonderful food, wonderful service, wonderful atmosphere 5/5 a dining experience we definitely would recommend,

I must say: pretty average. Expensive for some unknown reason, certainly not for service or quality of the food, nor the level of experimentation. Not traditional Italian but also not modern. I'm not trying to be negative, but the wine list left a lot to be desired. Anyway won't be coming back, sadly.

Grossi upstairs is one of the finest in Melbourne. And possibly one of the original finest. The story about how it all started is quite interesting, I recommend googling it, especially if you're a fan of Melbourne's history. <br/>We went for a special occasion, which is generally when you go to these types of places so you want it to hit the mark on all levels: food, service and atmosphere. And it certainly did! We started our evening with some gin and tonics which were delicious and then chose three savoury dishes each from the menu. Chargrilled octopus, stuffed Mussels, homemade ravioli, seafood pasta, beautiful fish and lamb. There's something for everybody and everything was superb!

What can I say? If I could, I would give this place 10/5. It was seriously that amazing. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself. This is how fine dining should be done. To give you an idea, this was meant to be a lunch to celebrate a couple of good things in life. A birthday with a good friend and for me being true and holding on to a dream. And so we had to celebrate.

Service was flawless- rare find of perfectly balanced silver spoon service with friendliness in Melbourne 10/10<br/>Sommelier knowledge and recommendation was faultless - perfect matching to 5 different dishes 10/10<br/>Ambiance- sophisticated, fine dining, beautiful art paintings without being overly pretentious <br/>Michellin star - from service to food <br/>Absolutely wonderful experience. <br/>Thank you so much

Good service but food was very ordinary with luke warm meals on cold plates. Pasta was leathery as if reheated in a microwave. Only saving grace was chocolate soufflé.. Went with interstate friends and were embarrassed we had suggested the venue.

We have been here 3 times and enjoyed the experience each time. The egg ravioli is amazing and the cheese platter is a thing of beauty! The service has also always been good.

Last week, Gastrology joined  Grana Padano representative, Elisabetta Serraiotto in sampling rich, aged Italian cheese at Grossi Florentino where Guy Grossi had the honour of cracking a 40 kg wheel of Grana Padano cheese. It was an absolutely delicious time where each course showcased the versatility and deliciousness of the cheese. Think ravioli encasing dripping yolk and laced with decadent guanciale and 18 month Grana Padano and absolutely moreish walnut cake served with 20 month old Grana Padano and pear sorbet. Simply yum!

Went to Grossi Florentino at the end of February for dinner to celebrate my bday.<br/>My partner mentioned was my bday so when we arrived was a card saying Happy Birthday from G Florentino staff it was a beautiful detail from both staff and my lovely bf. <br/>Service was impeccable the somelier 👌👏 very proffesionl and friendly.<br/> Food unforgettable. Oysters, ravioli and Venison spectacular and each wine we decide to have matching our food was all absolutely amazing!<br/>Thank you very much for a wonderful evening everything was delicious and great service! Oh and thank you for the little gifts at the end of our beautiful dinner.

One of the top notch, chef hatted and award winning Italian premium restaurant in Melbourne city. Absolutely loved every single dish I ordered, including the well crafted Berkshire pork with black pudding, mushroom risotto, grilled duck and steak. Grossi Florentino’s desserts are indeed the highlight of the day as always! Look at the pics! Visited a few times and it was an honour to meet and had a selfie w executive chef Guy Grossi today too!

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Grossi Florentino Upstairs. <br/><br/>Pro<br/>- superb service. All staff were exceptional. Attuned to our needs, wine/water glasses always topped up etc.<br/>- courses were perfectly timed.<br/>- food delicious (highlights: special fish, prawn risotto and duck).<br/>- decor: beautifully opulent old school glamour.<br/>- enjoyable night (NOT rushed to finish)!<br/><br/>Cons<br/>- None.<br/><br/>Will definitely return.

Warm and cosy ambience, good service and amazing food! We were on a set menu , Ink squid Risotto was great and lamb was cooked to perfection! Will be definitely back! We also got a present in the end (olive oil and vinegar) overall it was great, will be back!

This is my second time at Grossi Florentino upstairs. The service was great although the food took a while to arrive. <br/><br/>We had the lunch menu where it's 2 courses for $65 selected from their a la carte menu. I had the moreton bay bugs for entree and the Berkshire suckling pork. <br/><br/>The moreton bay bugs were cooked nicely but the pasta was dry and over done. The Berkshire suckling pork though had super crispy crackle and the pork itself was tender. <br/><br/>The call out has to be the dessert which has to be the dish of the day - the strawberry fragola. Came in a red sphere which you crack open, the dish was refreshing and delicious. The combination of fermented strawberries, strawberry meringue, yogurt sorbet and mascarpone was amazing. <br/><br/>Coffee could be seen as expensive as it comes at $8 but they do serve it with a sweet. Today we had a chocolate sphere filled with sweets inside - marshmallow, jellies and similar styles to petite fours. <br/><br/>Overall I would recommend the place for dessert - particularly the fragola. Simply don't miss this one!

Dinner with friends at Grossi Florentino last night. You don't get to be a Melbourne dining institution without doing alot of things right. The word that comes to mind is 'impeccable'. Staff - Impeccable. Ambience - Impeccable. Menu - Impeccable. Drinks list, flavour profiles, timing of service, attention to detail, etc. etc. - you get the picture.<br/>First impressions are always delivered by the staff and we were welcomed and introduced by several - feeling it was going to be a good evening before we'd even settled in our seats. WE started with drinks, and I went with a gin aperativo to get the mood rolling. We ordered from the three course a la carte menu which was embarrassingly laden with delicious riches. I ordered the Duck tortellini with porcini and pear, and the Berkshire suckling pig, but also made sure I got to taste the Ravioli all'uovo with egg yolk and smoked ricotta (my fav. dish), and the wagyu (amazing!). Desert was chocolate soufflé and a couple of Italian Cheeses to finish.<br/>From arrival to departure our experience was top shelf. A meal that will be remembered with great fondness and much mouth watering for years.

This restaurant is a Melbourne location that is special for so many people.<br/>Being inside this place is like being in an Italian high class dining room.<br/>A special lunch or a special dinner for two.<br/>In our case it was a special location for the marriage of our daughter.<br/>Food is amazing in flavour and presentation.<br/>Located close to some of Melbourne's beautiful gardens,live theatre,bookshops and more. <br/>Visit this iconic restaurant.

Very disappointed with the entire menu why , why , why is there a need to play around with Italian cuisine ? Has Chef Massimo dropped in from Modena & turned things upside down ? If your server approaches the table to offer shaved truffle ensure that the guests are aware that $50 per portion of shaved truffle will be added to the cheque . Would rather eat downstairs , we won't be back

Having dined at the Grill a few times I finally managed to get a table at Florentino Upstairs, the fine dining experience from Guy Grossi. After traversing a narrow staircase one arrives in the main dining room which is a rectangular hall of sorts adorned with 16th century Renascence murals. At this point the exceptional wait service was already noticeable with every waiter and waitress walking by greeting me before the maitre d came over. After being seated and ordering, the usual bread with house olive oil, house churned butter and the strangely tasty beef butter arrived along with a selection of amuse bouche-style nibbles came out. The wine list is rather impressive, consisting of a book of nearly 30 pages. I opted for a personalised wine pairing, revolving around international reds. The sommelier, who I later found out was on his first shift working there (kudos!), did an excellent job at recommending wines that fitted my taste and matched the dishes. As the main dishes came out each waiter and waitress explained each intricate component of the dish and in some cases added something, like the sauce, to complete the dish. Excellent food, excellent service, would happily dine again and part with another $200 on myself.

Booked Grossi Florentino Upstairs for our anniversary weekend. Was greeted by very attentive waiters the moment we arrived who took our coats and showed us to our table. We ended up going with the 5 course set menu and to be honest we were a little disappointed based on the price we paid. The food was nice, but we both felt the flavours were just underdone. The quality of the ingredients and the presentation were exceptional but as I said the flavours were very underwhelming. Would probably not go back, but overall it was a pleasant experience

Our experience at Grossi Florentino was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we ascended the staircase we were treated like absolute royalty. I had a vague idea of what to expect going off previous reviews, but I was still blown away by all the complimentary canapes, attention to detail in the service and the beautiful, romantic atmosphere inside the restaurant. <br/>We opted for the lavish 5 course 'Gran Tour' option, starting with two beautiful courses of seafood, 2 delicate pasta dishes, a standout pork belly and date main and devine chocolate souffle to finish. The complimentary food along the way was also thoroughly enjoyed! The food strives on being delicate and artistic, yet stunning simple. It strikes the perfect balance of flavours and lets the freshness dominate the meal. Perhaps the only criticism could be found in the egg yolk ravioli, which we found slightly dry and bland, although we were very impressed by the technique which must have gone into creating the pasta.<br/><br/>Our sommelier assisted us with wine pairings, however, if you are trying to stick to some kind of budget you might be better off deciding independently.Thank you to the dedicated and professional staff at Grossi for creating such a magical and unforgettable evening.

Always a delightful experience in dining, with traditional cuisine accompanied by a wide selction of aperitifs and wines, and inconspicuous but attentive service.

After years of meaning to visit Florentino Upstairs, my wife and I finally took the opportunity on a day off work and we headed in for the Veloce lunch menu. I was initially worried 2 courses would be insufficient, but I couldn't have been more wrong as we were offered several complimentary appetizers/dishes which were of impeccable standard and consistent with the quality of our mains and dessert, unexpectedly providing outstanding value to the whole set. The service by our wait team was fantastic, attentive yet friendly and each staff member made us feel welcome in such a grand setting. Going in I thought this might be my one and only time eating here, but having now experienced it would gladly return again!

What an amazing restaurant! Came here for my 23rd birthday and was blown away with the quality of service and food. We were immediately greeted at the door and ushered to our table. Every table was taken and the room had a great vibe and atmosphere. We ordered the 5 course degustation. Each course was filling and very enjoyable. Would like to add that the staff were very attentive and answered all our questions. Thank you for making my night perfect, Will be back again soon

Upstairs is the fine dining area, versus the more casual grill downstairs.  Lovely dining room, impeccable service, and lots of "extras" through your meal - various little canapes (loved the capsicum sliver with the baccala), then a delicious amuse bouche of parmesan cream; a pre-dessert of marscapone sorbet with chestnut cream - totally devine - and a chocolate sphere that you smash to reveal various chocolates inside.  Plus excellent house bread with whipped ricotta.  Those were the 'extras' that come with your meal - you will roll out of here.  Though I felt the extras were better than the meal itself.  I had the yellow fin tuna with beetroot, gorgeously presented, but it needed some kind of dressing, was a little dry.  Then the duck tortellini, pasta was just a little too al dente and thick, and we needed Manu shouting "where's the sauce" - sauce was delicious but needed more of it.

Really enjoyed our dinner last night. We had the 5 course Gran Tour, and loved it. Service impeccable, atmosphere lovely, and the food was top quality. The strawberry ball dessert was a standout, as was the cheese platter that we couldn't resist as an addition to the menu. We really enjoyed our meal and all of the very generous extras. Generosity always goes a long way, and makes you feel as though you've had a special night and been well taken care of. The only negative was the lighting. The overhead downlights cast a shadow on our plates which made it difficult to properly see and fully appreciate our food. A small issue but one that should be addressed. Otherwise a great evening and highly recommended.

Had an amazing 5 course set menu dinner- each dish was amazing- Guy Grossi is one of Melbourne's premiere master chefs. The wine suggested to us complimented each course perfectly- overall an amazing experience, it gave me a chance to bust out the Versace suit lol

Wow! I have never received such amazing service. I have many diary requirements which the staff catered to without a fuss. They completely modified dishes to suit my allergies without compromising the flavour of the food. The food was incredible and even though the portion sizes may look small you will leave full. Great experience, will definitely be back! Highly recommend the rump for main.

One of my absolute favourite restaurants to go to in Melbourne. The service is always impeccable, the staff make you feel very special. The food is amazing, no matter what you decide to try. The egg yolk ravioli was amazing, albeit a little small. I also love the little amuse bouch you get to taste along the way. It was great to meet Guy Grossi for my birthday, too!

I would give 5 stars for venue and service, chef Guy Rossi was so sweet and kind. We even had little gift to bring home. Food was underwhelming, I would rate food a 3/5 as I've had better pasta/Italian food else where for fraction of the price. However I still recommend this place for the overall dining experience.

Absolutely beautiful meal and wonderful service. Can't believe it's taken so long to try it! Will definitely be back for more of that tortellini!

I mean to visit this renowned two hatted restaurant since three years ago and eventually could have a lunch there last Monday. When we walked upstairs, the classic and grand set up gave me certain degree of confidence and attracted a very good impression on this visit. We chose the weekday lunch special deal which sounds to be a very good option since we did not want to have very heavy meals for lunch. However, the complementary appetizers totally spoiled our plan. Entrees of Octopus and Yabbies & Mussels were perfectly acted as the starters for a decent lunch. The mains of Beckshire Pork and Rum Cap were the heroes on that day, particularly the 9+ Wagyu Rum Cap, where I could see the show-off of the marbles from the texture. It is faultless in terms of taste and portion. At last, we still could just manage to order their signature dessert "Chocolate Soufflé " and the manager is so kind to ask the chef preparing two small size of the same kind in order to make us comfortably enjoy the sweet. I have to say that their exceptional service is the best among the fine-dining restaurant that I had so far. Ambience, food and service are the best,definitely, it deserves the full mark and respectful recommendation.

Exceptional service and a delicious menu. We enjoyed the 5 course tasting menu that was tasty, interesting and perfectly balanced. Cannot wait to return.

Do: the a la carte so you can pick your own. Favourites are always the steak, the duck, pasta with liver, the risotto, the chocolate soufflé and to die for pana cotta. <br/><br/>Don't: be stingy. A tip is absolutely required for the outstanding service. Nick (waiter) and Simon (sommelier) were extraordinary. <br/><br/>Tip: the table closest to the window is always the best, and, the bathroom tap needs to be pushed in not pulled out.

This place was fantastic. The service was exceptional and the food was even better. <br/><br/>The wait staff were extremely knowledgable and seem genuinely assign are about food.<br/><br/>The food was exquisite and all four dishes were amazing.<br/><br/>I especially loved all the complimentary dishes provided throughout the meal. <br/><br/>Would love to go back, but I think I'll try the grill and cellar first.

One of the nicest fine dining experiences we've had in Melbourne. A class atmosphere with genuine and unpretentious service. Perfect for a date night or more formal gathering.

Perfect in every way.<br/>Setting, food, wine.<br/>I have been to many high-end restaurants over the years and this was as good if not better than any of them.<br/>Of course, when you know how these places work and what to expect it makes it even harder to be impressed. But I was.<br/>You may think it is expensive, but I would say it is excellent value for money. Good food and service with quality ingredients comes at a price, and frankly, you cannot do any better.

Old charm Italian in a stunning setting <br/><br/>Service is as good as it gets, wine service is beautifully Italian that gets really personal, a style from the North of Italy where they season the glass and really talk through the selection adding to your over all dining experience <br/><br/>Food is top notch and classic <br/><br/>If you are lucky, you might even get a personal note from the man him self which will be waiting on your table!

We were at Grossi Florentino Upstairs last night with one of my close friend. <br/>First things first: Service and waiters were such gentlemen so kudos to that. The way they serve you is very professional and friendly or at least it looks friendly :)<br/><br/>However, even though we ordered two courses, when I have the check, I noticed it said three course, when I asked about it, they said that it is because of the appetizers (which we did not order or ask for) which one assumes they are compliments of the restaurant since the portions are only good for tasting.<br/><br/>That kind of behavior does not fit to the good and prestigious name of Grossi Florentino. <br/><br/>Food was delicious but nothing extraordinary or gourmet style. The presentation of the food was like gourmet style but the taste was slightly better than ok. <br/><br/>Even though portions looked small, we were full at the end of the day.<br/><br/>So my only complaint is that the adding that extra course without getting confirmation from us. This type of Fait Accompli is not necessary and it is also embarrassing for such a "nice" restaurant<br/>

After visiting Grossi Florentino Upstairs it is hard to find anything that can compete with the standard of food and service, I will always find any excuse from an anniversary to a birthday to dine at this magnificent restaurant.

I have been to Grossi florentino at least 30 times, not counting all the times I have been to both of the downstairs restaurants. <br/>Every time I have been to Florentino I have had a la Carte and always been pleased and will always go back because it's good Italian food.<br/><br/>I tried for the first time ever the set menu and it was absolutely delicious! Every course was fantastic and gave me a completely new appreciation for this restaurant! I now can't wait to back because now Grossi florentino is in my opinion not good Italian good but "great" Italian food. <br/>

Went for a special occasion, divine. Every dish was perfect. We had several additional tasting dishes given to us as part of the service...all beautiful. Three courses (plus additional dishes) were the perfect amount. Have to recommend getting a coffee just so you get the chocolate bombs that came with them.

Fist five star on zomato. Went for the truffle festival. Oh my goodness. One word. Truffle. Then. Heaven. Each dishes are well doing. Will come back for the normal food.

Lovely lovely place. Supernice atmosphere, outstanding service and good food. Only downside... you've got to pay for it all ;) You get 3 courses for $120, or a 5 courses degustation for $150, and on top of that you pay for wines. Coffee & sweets are included though, as are bread and amuses.

Ox tongue pastrami and the honey ice cream were worth the trip to this establishment alone but the ambiance, stunning artworks and beautiful surroundings really give this place a unique feel. Very expensive but well worth it.

Guy is a master at fine dining. This is a totally awesome place for a special occasion. Place looks like a museum and food is as good as anywhere in the world. Service is great and helpful for those who don't fine fine often.

I had dinner here about 12 months ago and came away from that night thinking this place was one of the best 3 or 4 in Victoria.Was there again just the other day and they either had an off day in the kitchen or this place has declined significantly in the past 12 months.A lot of things still impress, the little between course amuse bouche, the very professional service team and the sense of occasion. But the food was not at its' peak. The pork in my main course was dry and the vegetables in my entree were undercooked - not in a good way. Againts most standards you would still rate this place highly. But at these prices it is hard not to expect a lot more.

Magic at every turn<br/><br/>There is nothing bad I can say about the experience we had here<br/><br/>We came for Dessert. Not only were our desserts sensationally delicious the waiter was charming and thoroughly efficient. <br/>The table settings were immaculate, down to the perfectly places 3apples per table. <br/>To make the meal even more amazing out stroller a gentleman playing italian music accompanied by a voccalist singing in Italian. <br/><br/>I can only give 5 stars but I would give much more if I could.

2 visits in last month. This place has faltered in recent years but the swagger is back. Polished floor staff and Guy Grossi working the floor again like the old days. His elegant Northern Italian leanings evident with delicate handling of sauces and carne bella! Bravo Grossi

Had a lovely night here with friends. Beautiful setting and lovely food and wine. The prices are a bit high but this is to be expected for this calibre of restaurant.

Exceptional service and a great wine list, though both my girlfriend and I were underwhelmed by the degustation menu. So much so, that i'd think twice before returning.

Beautiful Setting - spoiled by over the top Wine List and drunk diners. Beautiful setting - that is Grossi upstairs. has always been a favourite and a place to go for "special" celebrations. Except this time - drunk and unruly diners sitting opposite our table - using foul language at the table, while being offensive in the small ("intimate") bathrooms. A little more control over the patrons would have been appreciated - especially with liquor licensing requirements being dicated to on smaller restaurants. The wine list was over the top, and little or no advice was provided by the wait staff on the type of wine that would compliment our meals. And finally, some of the family 'took on' the degustation menu - which changed throughout the night - without warning - much to the disappointment of the remainder of the people at the table - who would have had the degustation menu with that knowledge. Overall - what used to be the 'place to dine' in Melbourne has slipped.

Anniversary dinner. Wanted to impress the new girlfriend and so I chose a place that I hoped would match the occasion and it definitely didn't disappoint.<br/><br/>Love:<br/>- artwork on the walls. I don't know anything about art, but enjoyed having them within view while I was eating<br/>- super knowledgeable and friendly staff. Made me feel like I was in a movie<br/>- complimentary desert and entree. Our waiter did his best to get our food out promptly so we can catch our movie on time, and was eager to impress<br/>- quality and presentation of the food. The pasta is made onsite and it definitely shows as you can't buy that sort of pasta anywhere else<br/><br/>Dislike:<br/>- no issues whatsoever. Was a fantastic experience overall. However, if I wanted to make grossi's a regular occasion, I'm going to need a 6 figure salary<br/><br/>Highly recommend for a great fine dining experience from one of Melbourne most talented chefs. Looking forward to trying out his other restaurants.

Amazing food and simply flawless service!! The little bag chair is such a nice touch. Can't wait to come back. Thanks to the team at Grossi :)

My husband & I had a lovely long lunch today, trusting our sommelier Joe to match the wines for us. It amounted to a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience. Elegant without pretense topped with faultless service.

Worst truffles on pasta ever, rest of the food and service good. The other food we had was good, tasty. The service was exceptional but do not get the truffle dishes. I'm not even sure if they added truffles- it was soooo bland, tasteless, no scent. Such a disappointment. Unfortunately because of this we will never be returning.

Now called Grossi Florentino after its chef/owner Guy Grossi, the dining room upstairs remains dominated by the Florentine murals, timber panelling, wall sconces and damask tablecloths. In short, it's olde worlde luxe. While the chef has made his own mark on the food, there are also dishes that have stood the test of time. Back in the days when gluttonous husband was an, ahem, interested suitor, he invited himself along to Greedy Girl's birthday dinner with a girlfriend. On learning of Greedy Girl's particular fondness for chocolate souffles, he swept us off in the car to Florentino - famed as having one of the best such desserts in the city. Sadly, it was closed that particular evening. Still, it was a nice touch. Greedy Girl was always going to have the souffle on this particular evening but, she's getting ahead of herself. Like Iggy's in Singapore, Greedy Girl had ticked Grossi Florentino off her list of places to dine. This stemmed from a particularly uninspiring Valentine's Day dinner many years ago, where the starters were fabulous, the mains were dull and the dessert was a disaster. It was probably the last time she and gluttonous husband ventured out on that night for lovers (see the blog Whining and dining here). Foodie friend Miss Divine had recently ventured there for some pre-Christmas cheer and pronounced it delightful. Looking for another little surprise for gluttonous husband's birthday celebrations, Greedy Girl immediately booked a table. With a Christmas party in full swing next door, the dining room was rather noisy as we took our seats in the early evening. Undeterred, we settled in with a bottle