Generous servings in a bustling family style restaurant with a warm and welcoming ambience. It is quite difficult to find the restaurant as it is located downstairs, unless you’re specifically looking for it. If you’re looking for authentic and freshly made Italian, I highly recommend giving @machiavelliristorante a try. ⠀
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🍽 DISHES SAMPLED⠀
⭕️ GNOCCHI | I’ve tried so many gnocchi dishes at different Italian restaurants in Sydney and no texture or taste holds a candle to Machiavelli’s Gnocchi. It literally melts in your mouth with lasting flavour that perfectly blends both the sauce and potato together. Despite how many times I eat it, it tastes even better with each bite I take. ⠀
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⭕️ PAPPARDELLE DUCK RAGU | The duck is very tender, soft and with plenty of flavour. The sauce and seasoning was a little too salty and overpowered the taste of duck. The serving was generous and with better balance with the sauce, the dish would in no doubt be far more delicious. ⠀
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⭕️ TIRAMISU | It’s creamy, not too sweet and blends really well with the coffee. The chocolate adds a hint of extra flavour that tops everything off. ⠀
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⭕️ CREME BRÛLÉE | The taste of custard was a little plain without the accent of fruits. The caramelised sugar was delicious and complimented the custard very well.
Ok, I'll say it without fear or exaggeration - this is the best pasta I've ever had.... Beautiful flavours, fresh and with high end service. You pay a little extra but it's worth it.
Favourite dishes: gnocchi gorgonzola for her. Ravioli for him
Things we didn't like: none - we could not fault them
Attended an event here and boy did the food just keep coming! The seafood platters were epic, meatballs just delicate and perfect, cured meats, sliders and omg the pasta!! I just died when trying the Machiavelli Linguine with mushrooms and prawns, it was just next level. The event space was just perfect with standing and sitting space and we did not go hungry! The wines were sensational along with the service, cannot fault the place. Looking forward to coming for dinner.
If you like your Italian restaurants old school, this is the place for you. Traditional dishes made simply and with high quality ingredients.
We had the duck ragu with handmade pappardelle, the beef cheek ragu with handmade fusilli, the Bolognese with handmade penne. We followed that up with a T-bone steak and finished with crepe Suzette!
We had an excellent 2016 Rosso Di Montalcino.
Service was attentive but slightly brisk.
Our only compliant was that the lighting was a bit bright.
It’s the stalwart of Sydney CBD fine dining where some of the biggest deals in town will be negotiated. Enjoying the accolades of hosting a regular clientele of moguls in business, media and politis, there’s extra care apparent in the service style and Neopolitan menu and beverage lists
Had an absolutely fantastic evening. Thought I was actually in Italy eating the most amazing food with attentive and excellent service. A true dining experience.
This was my second visit to this place in 2 weeks, it's not surprising really, the quality and flavour in this place is amazing!
On my first visit I came with an Italian friend that had it as a high recommendation from other Italians.
It is definitely a special place, so I decided to come back and bring mum who's visiting from overseas and she loved it too!
As soon as you step foot in it you'll feel the Italian ambience around, waiters are quick and courteous and fresh bread is served.
Entrees:
Fiori di zucchini fritti - my absolute favourites !
Prosciutto di San Daniele , make sure to ask for the one that comes with bufala mozzarella and melon, you won't regret it !
Home made pasta:
Omg the Pappardelle duck ragu!! It's my go to when I have pasta and these guys know what they're doing !
Pasta:
Of course we had to try the house pasta, so we got the Spaghetti Machiavelli , it had king prawns, mushrooms and chilli so the spiciness made
me very very happy. It had everything I like in a pasta!
I also wanted to vary the pasta so I got the fish from the menu, I got the John Dory with veggies and herb lemon butter.
Portions are vast so you can share it and have a proper famiglia meal !!
If I'm honest I do love good Italian sweets, and they didn't disappoint.
My first time here I had the vanilla bean creme brulee and the vanilla panna cotta. Mamma mia !! what a delight !
Europe flavours and memories came back to my mind.
This time around I got the chocolate mousse slice, I have a sweet tooth so I was one happy lady ! consistency and richness in flavour were all there.
If you want to treat your loved ones, don't hesitate to bring them here to try authentic Italian food. You'll absolutely love it !!
Alexandra | Lalan_eats
+5
I’ve had the pleasure of dining here twice over the past two years, and it seems to get better and better if that’s even possible. The seafood here actually gets delivered twice a day, that’s how fresh it is. I can’t speak more highly of the delicately composed dishes. For entree we had the new menu item ‘gorgonzola figs wrapped in prosciutto’, cevice & steak tartare.
It was my first time visiting Machiavelli and I was beyond impressed.
This venue took my breath away as soon as I stepped into the room. Loved the elegant and sophisticated ambience.
From starters to mains to desserts, everything was absolutely top notch!
My favourite dishes:
Fresh blue mountain figs wrapped with San Daniele prosciutto served warm with gorgonzola and sage sauce. Distinctively delicious. A must try!
King fish carpaccio w/ extra virgin oil, lime, chilli, lemon dressing and pomegranate. Fresh, tangy and delicious!
Gnocchi Napoletana. Definitely the best gnocchi I’ve ever tasted. Soft and pillowy!
Their scampi and zucchini flowers were also delightful.
As for the desserts, everything I’ve tried was divine but I especially loved their cheesecake. To die for.
Food Blogger Australia
+5
From the moment you walk into MACHIAVELLI RISTORANTE ITALIANO you feel welcomed like a family member. This venue definitely ticks the boxes!
From the delicious entrees, to the beautiful mains to the decadent desserts, you will definitely enjoy every mouth watering bite.
If you’re looking for an authentic Italian dining experience, you’ve come to the right place. The lower ground level makes the atmosphere feel like intimate yet inviting. The red walls are lined with beautiful artwork and black and white photos of celebrities. Staff are friendly and professional. The food is cooked in a classic and traditional way. No obscure, modern twists to the original recipe, just real Italian food. Each dish is delicious and rich with flavour. Great for medium to large groups.
Oh my god. Fantastic 5 star Italian dining experience. I didn't get what I originally wanted elsewhere in the city and had to book this as a last resort, but wow! What a great atmosphere, exquisite food, and friendly + accommodating staff. The whole night we felt like royalty! A great way to spend our 3rd year anniversary.
This restaurant definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney. However, don’t really understand the decoration in the restaurant with all the politicians photos hanging there, I think that was a bit weird.
We ordered the oysters were very fresh, the calamari was delicious. We also ordered risotto and the duck ragu, both very nice seasoned and fresh.
Tiramisu and the chocolate mousse were worth to try. Definitely will be back for more mains.
Went here for a company dinner. It turned out to be a very happening spacious underground level place. We ordered some seafood appetisers share followed by fresh pasta dishes. Service was attentive.
The best Italian restaurant in town - We go back for a bowl of pasta every now and then. Food is simply so tasty and basement atmosphere is great.
A lot of the reviews here mention the steak tartare and the algorithm will recognise this review merely for the mention of the dish. But not for what I'm about to say. That it's mince, that it's top side, that it's a dish I'm happy to have eaten once yes, but, sadly, I can't see why I'd eat it again. The waiter seasoned it at the table and it was all very fancy but I just can't help but feel it's inclusion on the menu is a bit dated, something like the menu Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie Chef insists upon. I recognise quality flavour though and the tagliatelle Machiavelli my wife had was delicious. Service was attentive. The who's who of who's eaten at this restaurant (I assume) around the walls subtly reminds me to keep my feet firmly in the middle class section of Sydney life.
Exactly what dinner should be about. Great food and friendly team. Atmosphere is perfect for a nice catch up with friends. No one is tapping you on the shoulder to remind that the 2 hour meal period is over. Yes, you can relax and enjoy your meal, wine and company of friends.
We went back to Machiavelli last night after some time. The food was brilliant and the service was excellent. I would have loved to have given it five stars but there is one simple thing it should do. The lighting is far too bright for dinner. For such a sophisticated, historic restaurant, the bright lights destroy the ambiance and give it a food court, or even a McDonalds feel. It is the opposite to romantic. It is true that some restaurants are too dark, but surely there is a happy medium. I see others have made similar observations so I hope they can take this on board.
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