The European Restaurant
161 Spring Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000
t+61 3 9654 0811
open 7 days from 7.00 am until very late
FOOD Not just the best coffee in Melbourne, but a much-loved Melbourne institution. An incredibly efficient operation that only closes for four hours daily, from 3.00 am until 7.00 am when they open again. Where else can you have a glass of 97 Jacquesson Avize Blanc de Blanc ($27) and half a dozen lovely freshly opened South Australia oysters, served the way they should be plain with lemon, shallot and red wine vinegar and bread? They also serve the wonderful rustic Italian egg dishes where they are cooked in tomato sauce a favourite the Blood sausage and eggs cooked in tomato sauce.
We like the fact that their food remains old style Italian where seasonal specials are mixed with classic dishes and whilst over the years we have tried a lot of their menu we are guilty of always ordering our favourites. Their kitchen is ever amiable regardless of the hour of your arrival and they don’t have any of those very annoying rules as to when you can eat what!
One of the first Italian imports into Australia it has maintained a very high standard since forever and probably has the widest age demographics of any Melbourne eating establishment. Coffee is (maybe) the best in Australia, wine list fab, food very good and service impeccable. We particularly like the fact that whilst The European Restaurant is clearly not meant to be the long lunch, there is never any obvious pressure to move on.
And, its just possible when you’ve been thrown out of everywhere else, you might just go back again before they close.
WINE plenty of choice and thy always have a good French by the glass, not the ideal match for blood sausage but starting the day……we like it a lot!
