Grossi Florentino

Someone from this business manages this listing.

1,272 reviews

#119 of 2,707 Restaurants in Melbourne$$$$, Italian, Mediterranean, European

+61 3 9662 1811+ Add website

Hours

Mon

9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Tue

9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Wed

9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Thu

9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Fri

9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Sat

9:00 am - 10:00 pm

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Ratings and reviews

4.0

1,272 reviews

#119 of 2,707 Restaurants in Melbourne

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Italian, Mediterranean, European, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

“For a starter we selected the Battuto di Tonno, Tuna Tartare, Smoked Tomato,...”

“... vitello (best we've ever had), patate (too soft, not crunchy outside & fl...”

Special Occasion Dining, Romantic, Groups, Business meetings

“We had a really nice experience for our 40th Wedding Anniversary.”

“Another Memorable Anniversary Meal”

Location and contact

80 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia

Chinatown

+61 3 9662 1811

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Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

Unsure

Details

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About

Grossi Florentino Upstairs

CUISINES

Italian, Mediterranean, European

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.0

1,272 reviews

Excellent

720

Very good

276

Average

142

Poor

Terrible

Stuart T

Melbourne48 contributions

Very pleasant lunch

Feb 2020 • none

We went to Grossi Florentino Grill for lunch before heading off to see a stage show. My wife and I both had the $40 option with two dishes, a glass of wine and coffee and our young one a bowl of Spaghetti bolognaise. We both choose different options and tried each others. All of the dishes were wonderful and I particularly enjoyed the silverbeet and ricotta pie. Everything starting off with the bread was great, the house wines are great and our son’s spaghetti was also exceptional. It was a relaxed lunch and everything from the dishes through to the service was done so well. You come away fully satisfied in terms of both quality and quantity and as an added bonus it is excellent value.

Written 2 March 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AlistairAuckland

Auckland379 contributions

They dont deliver at the rates they charge

Jan 2020 • none

This place is a bit of a Melbourne institution, we wanted somewhere nice and close to where we were staying so booked here for 7.15pm, I was surprised it was busy then with dinners mostly half way thru their dinner, but casually dressed.......the wait staff are all well dressed with neck ties so casual dining it is not. Its really expensive here and we didnt get premium service or food, it was great but not at the level of charge, the service was hit and miss, the matrie de taking orders but not telling the waiter on our section, food was simply presented but not packed with flavour, until we got to the tiramisu it was the best I have ever had and I have had it in every country including Italy, this was the best. The wine list is very extensive but I was not offered any support on selection, I know something of wines so ok, but if you didnt you would be paying a lot for something you may not like. On this visit we wouldnt bother coming back as Melbourne has so many more that a better for the same cost.

Written 2 February 2020

Kimberley M

Melbourne204 contributions

Beautiful vibe and warm welcome

Jan 2021 • couples

Beautiful vibe and warm welcome as we arrived for a Saturday lunch. I had such high expectations so felt a little let down by how long it took to be delivered the menus or to be offered a drink. It was really far too long as many staff walked past us several times. Once that was sorted, the staff who looked after us were friendly, knowledgeable but perhaps still a little green. Having to ask for my wine glass to be topped up considering the price point left me feeling a little deflated. Thankfully the food was superb! Classy Italian with beautiful flavours. Pici was full of flavour and my tuna steak was perfect!

Written 2 January 2021

Susan M

Adelaide122 contributions

Ask for tap water

Dec 2020 • none

I made an impromptu stop for lunch at Florentino on Christmas Eve Day, and luckily a table was available. Even though there were only two other diners in the Grill area the waitress felt it necessary to place me in front of the chef's cooking area saying I would enjoy watching them cook (I did not) . The meal itself, calamari fritti was tasty enough, albeit a small portion. However, I don't care how tough it has been for restaurant owners during Covid, charging $10 for one glass of water is simply outrageous.

Written 24 December 2020

Reesy7

Melbourne119 contributions

Impeccable service, exquisite food, attention to detail, perfecto!

Sept 2019 • business

I was fortunate enough to be taken here on business for lunch with the advice to order anything I wanted..... First impressions were I’m in for a treat; the murals and the service make you soon realise you are about to experience something very special. Beautiful table setting, stunning old world charm; an attentive waiter brought a little stool to my side for my handbag and quickly took our drink order. We drank Krug champagne and it was the best bubbly I’ve ever drank. Zucchini flowers for entree, ravioli for main, tiramisu and more Krug, heaven! The bill was eye watering but if you want exceptional Italian food coupled with excellent service and ambiance then this is the place to come. Definitely a special occasion lunch/dinner, an experience I’ll never forget.

Written 6 July 2020

Nat

1 contribution

Total disappointment

Mar 2021 • couples

Having travelled from interstate we did extensive research as to what would be the best restaurant to celebrate our milestone 30th wedding anniversary. Florentino came up as the 6th best restaurant in Melbourne so we made a reservation. Firstly I’d like to say that the service was impeccable, beyond that however, we were thoroughly disappointed. We decided to order 3 courses from the alacarte menu. Out of the 3 courses there was sadly only one dish that impressed us which was the Tuna tartare entree , beyond that , both our second dish’s (pasta) were “chewy”. The final course we both ordered the same which was the veal saltimbocco. This was the highlight of disappointing! So bland and chewy we couldn’t eat it. Sadly we both decided to send it back with the message that we have never ever complained or sent back a meal in any restaurant ever. Although we received an apology and a glass of dessert wine as compensation for our dissatisfaction we left the restaurant extremely unhappy with our experience.

Written 19 March 2021

JOHN H

1 contribution

A surprising annd disappointing experience

Dec 2021 • none

I have dined at Grossi Florentino on many occasions over the past three decades, and enjoyed many memorable experiences there with friends, family and professional colleagues. It is often the highlight of my visit to Melbourne. I returned to Grossi last Friday, hosting two professional colleagues there for a special end of year lunch. I had hoped it would be another memorable experience. Sadly, on this occasion the experience was quite disappointing. Two things that stood out: 1) The service was patchy at best. Two older waiters served our table, but there were significant delays in receiving timely service. The remainder of the younger and more junior support staff did not make eye contact. 2) More significantly, last Friday, there was a daily special: a pasta dish entree with lobster tail which sounded so appealing that all three at our table decided to have it. We were informed that there would be a $50 surcharge for this dish, and if we had it as a main course, which we elected to do, there would be a surcharge of $65 because, to quote our waiter, "there would be more tail". When this dish arrived, it was extremely disappointing. A somewhat ordinary bowl of pasta with an "OK" sauce, but only very small pieces of lobster meat sparsely scattered though the sauce. It was actually embarrassingly mean. Given that three courses are $150, and the surcharge was $65, effectively, this prices this dish at a value of at least $115. It was simply not worth it. As you can imagine, after all our anticipation, it was quite humiliating for me in front of my guests and left us feeling somewhat ripped off. This is definitely not the experience and value that I have enjoyed at Grossi in the past. I have subsequently been in contact with the General Manager of Grossi and the response was similarly disappointing: a standard cut and paste apology and a paltry offer of a free glass of champagne next time we attend.

Written 22 December 2021

61Shiraz

Adelaide38 contributions

A pretentious overpriced affair

Mar 2020 • family

This is an establishment that caters for those fortunate enough not to be concerned with the pricing. Lots little ‘special’ extras to give an impression of extra value conditioning one to complimentary augmentation only to then offer one some cheese samples before desert. We all thought great - why not - only to see an additional charge on the final account of $40. $30 for table water and expect to pay well over $100 for any half reasonable wine. $25 for a small glass of ‘Billy Cart’ or similar champagne. But I guess the pretentious types the restaurant capitalises on won’t care to read these reviews. Won’t be back. Enjoy your Ferrari collection.

Written 14 March 2020

Penne R

Vermont119 contributions

Disappointing

Dec 2021 • none

Friday the 17th of December, we dined at Florentino, what a disappointment. The service was poor. 3 of us had a pasta dish, it was barely edible. We called the waiter over and explained that the pasta was not cooked properly. The waiter disagreed and said that is how it should be. I can cook better pasta at home. As our bill came to over $850.00 it was simply not worth it. A charge of $30.00 for still water was not disclosed , until we received the bill.

Written 26 December 2021

U2244LHdeborahb

Melbourne23 contributions

At Florentino everybody knows they are in a special place and it shows.

Mar 2021 • none

We were greeted by Prince our waiter. The lunchtime crowd was busy. Prince calmly cared for us with a touch of dignity and reserve. He presented the meals and wine and water as if we were special. We were seated at a slightly larger than normal table which we appreciated as the bread and sides came along. The pasta and the fish of the day were perfect size and delicious. The tiramisu must have been made by a local nona. It was the best ever, as good as in Italy. We were very impressed as we noticed Guy Grossi himself checking that the entrance doors and mats were perfect. There was a contented hum in the room created by eager diners, top class food, wine and service. Thankyou Prince and thank you Guy Grossi for a special occasion lunch.

Written 23 March 2021

brendanmkavanagh

Sydney11 contributions

A tragic charade

Dec 2022 • none

I've eaten at Florentino since the 1980's. For many years I worked minutes away and had lunch there every day. It was one of my favourite places to dine After more than ten years away from Melbourne, last night my wife and I went there for dinner. Our starter was calamari and potato. It was 90% potato slivers with a scattering of little bits of dry calamari. We asked for some lemon to squeeze on it, which the waitress said she would get; it never arrived. My wife ordered pumpkin tortellini with a sage and butter sauce. The pasta should be silken, tossed in a pan with hot butter and sage, a classic dish. What she received was a bowl of tortellini so undercooked and tough that it resisted being cut (so, closer to raw than al dente). It had clearly been thrown straight from a pot into a bowl and had some butter and sage thrown in later. The tepid water from the pasta had coalesced in the bottom of the bowl with an oily skin of butter floating on top. It had clearly been sitting around for time before we had the misfortune of having it served up to us. It was visually disgusting and completely inedible. I was presented with an equally inedible melanzane parmigiana. The aubergine was at best bland but had been drowned with a huge ladle of a sugo that tasted as though a tin of crushed tomatoes and a jar of puree had been thrown in a pan, warmed and then slopped in great volume on top of the dish. Clearly no herbs, onion, garlic, salt or pepper had been injured in the making of dish. Had I received the dish at a greasy-spoon café it would have been appalling; being served it at what had once been a good restaurant was simply saddening. We called for a bill, paid $190+ and prepared to leave. The waitress, seeing that we eaten almost nothing, asked whether there was a problem? We explained, as politely as we could, that it was cold, flavourless and inedible. Looking to defend the indefensible, she explained that the tortellini was 'al dente'. My wife tapped it with a fork, which bounced off the hard rubbery surface without leaving any impression. I pointed to the heaped pile of sugo which masked what might have been the dish I had ordered. The waitress ceased making eye contact and took the dishes away. Very sadly, nothing could induce me to eat there ever again.

Written 3 December 2022

LynfromNSW

Brisbane Region5 contributions

Very expensive

July 2022 • none

The food was great and it showcased the skills of the chefs. We knew that the fixed six course menu we selected would be expensive. However, after the fourth course we were offered a selection from a cheese board, without telling us that it involved an additional cost ($50 for two of us). As the food we were served had already included some items not listed in the menu, we thought that the cheese was also included as part of the menu. We would not have done so had the additional cost been explained to us. When the bill arrived, we felt that we had been deceived and it reduced our pleasure in the evening.

Written 15 July 2022

Joel H

Melbourne9 contributions

Dissaponited

Apr 2022 • none

Everyone’s thinks they are an expert in regard to food ‘some more than other’s’ I am certainly not an expert but I know what I like and don’t. Probably could not really fault the food, It was nice apart from the carrot side dish which was underdone. Young waiter was friendly and attentive. So far so good. Spent $420 for two at lunchtime. ‘Which is not the point’ Whilst I was eating saw Mr Grossi ‘the man’ himself enjoying a glass of wine outside. Of course he deserves it. Restaurant was slowing down with the end of the lunch time session. So he walks in and after I offered a compliment then offered my hand. "Why not? who does not like a compliment" However completely ignored me, blanked me. So this is where I am an expert. Rudeness is rudeness Mr Grossi which in your case looked like complete and utter arrogance. How the face of Grossi Florentino who was out and about in his restaurant ‘ who actually did not even ask the diners out there if everything was OK in regard to their dining experience’ what two- 5 minutes tops to do that’ and then snubbed myself a 60 year old man who works in the health field with his wife. ‘Hardly a threat’ not good, you should not be out and about in your restaurant if that is who you are. Here is a tip: Hospitality “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests’ and should be more so when they are paying. Addit: was at your restaurant 15 years ago, now that was nice. Me thinks you have changed your outlook and that genuine fondness for peoples dining experience.

Written 3 April 2022

Gregory

Australia29 contributions

Simply superb

Jan 2021 • none

We come here twice a year but 2020 slowed us down. It was great to return to the ambience, the exemplary service and the simply stunning food. The sardines and salad were a wonderfully fresh way to start and could not have been better. My wife had fish Croquettes with a magnificent sauce. She followed with an eye fillet on another wonderfully deep, tich sauce, house-made horseradish and salsa verde: 10 out of 10. My beef cheek was again marvellous, The accompanying mash was as light as angel breath. A cabbage salad and potatoes were side dishes and were deeply appreciated. We finished with probably the best coffees we hav had in eighteen months! Than you team. Highly recommended.

Written 15 January 2021

Meg

3 contributions

Snobs!!

Oct 2019 • none

I went here for dinner with my sister, brother in law and my little niece (at 5:30pm kids dinner time mind you!!) and the wait staff were horrible to us!! Absolutely abhorrent and snobby attitudes towards us before we had even sat down and ordered. I suggested to my sister that we should go elsewhere however she had heard good things about this place and really wanted to try it. The food was average, tiny and unreasonably expensive for what it was and worst of all was the snobby, stuck up attitudes of the staff working at this place. We were the only table for at least 45 minutes and I have no idea why the staff were so dismissive of us. Absolutely atrocious and appalling behaviour!! Hang your head in shame Grossie Florentino!

Written 3 May 2020

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GROSSI FLORENTINO, Melbourne - Chinatown - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor