Another iconic Melbourne eatery that has graced the city since the 1950s, Grossi Florentino Cellar Bar gives diners a different option to big brother but still allows then to experience the famous Grossi Florentino flair and service. This is a great place to meet people in the city if you want a touch of Italian class! Enter this classy establishment with its dark timbers, large paintings on the wall (featuring fruit), classic lighting and the wafting ambience of classic piano playing in the background.

Love the accessibility of Grossi Florentino Cellar Bar. Also love the footpath area for ambience on a great part of Bourke St. Service is all class with highly trained waiters who are super attentive and personable. They also look the part.

I engaged the breakfast menu, wondering what the Grossi Florentino take on breakfast would be. I could have ordered tasty breakfast options such as the Gruyere and ham omelette, Cipolatta sausages with home cooked baked beans and fried egg, or Egg and bacon piadina. I ordered the Uovo Tegame which comprised off coddled eggs with brioche and crispy bacon. It was a hearty breakfast notwithstanding I felt the brioche was a little dry (was it supposed to be?). I passed the comment on to staff who thanked me for my feedback.

I had made a nuisance of myself earlier when I complained of a slight draft coming through the back of the restaurant, even though I admitted “it might be in my imagination.” To the credit of staff they took this in their stride and duly moved me to another table by the large window at the front. Funnily there was also a door there, so they shut it for fear of another draft. By this time I was feeling a bit silly.

The website says this is the place ‘where Melbourne café society struts its stuff’! I enjoyed the various business meetings around me. I couldn’t help eavesdropping on business magnates enthusiastically discussing markets in Singapore, product profit margins and who was performing in the marketplace.

Would love to come back and try the pasta options. Great to present great pasta dishes at value prices for the quick lunch. No doubt I will encounter more business magnates discussing the morning’s stock market movements!

Grossi Florentino Cellar Bar, 80 Bourke st, CBD – Italian - Food 9.5 Coffee 9 Ambience 9