Cecconi’s Flinders Lane

Certainly an «occasion» restaurant, this is an institution that’s easy to recommend.
Set in a fancy, large dining room, service here is spotless. It’s easy to feel spoilt here and you’d wanna hope so when you aperol spritz is setting you back $ 19. Note: it’s not cheap. Expect to spend at least $ 150 a head.
The meals here are classic options and done very well indeed. I had a king prawn starter with avocado and it was just wonderful. Crispy, perfectly cooked and delicious.
Main course was a seafood linguine and this was well above average. Fresh seafood and house made pasta and all the good things you’d expect from somewhere like this
Our very nice (and very expensive) bottle of red came out very cold so not sure where they cellar their stuff but that was the only thing we could criticize from our night.
We walked away having enjoyed a really lovely meal with wonderful people and saying we should do a «fancy» meal like that more often. It was beautiful and highly recommended.

After 16 years at the top of Flinders Lane, Cecconi’s has undergone a grand refurbishment of its cellar bar.
The Bortolotto family has been part of the Melbourne hospitality industry for the past 40 years. Since 2006, its Flinders Lane restaurant, Cecconi’s, has sat handsomely at number 61, where Langton’s Wine Bar once lived. And as the family celebrates the 16^th birthday of Cecconi’s, the Bortolotto’s brought in Mollard Interiors to give the dining space a contemporary refresh.
Emphasising bold blacks, clean whites and patented brass, the redesigned room flows effortlessly from the casual cellar bar into the formal dining room, with the theme following right through to the kitchenware and menus.
Existing timber tables have been whitewashed and copper trimmed, while a commemorative wall display of photos celebrates the history of the Bortolotto family. Copper sconces adorn the walls and striking, low-​hanging hemispherical light pendants define each room. The featured banquettes have been reupholstered in a dramatic geometric fabric, and black bentwood chairs make for an inviting place to sit and take in the sophisticated ambience with a half bottle of Italian wine, or a cocktail for any mood.
The food, however, remains at the same standard. Daniel Kranjcic, known for the talent he brought to Pearl in London and his stint at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, heads the open-​plan kitchen. For the past 12 years Cecconi’s has been growing seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs such as figs, eggplants and garlic to help create dishes such as the signature seafood linguine, veal cotoletta with slaw and twice-​cooked duck.

It’s easy to give five stars when you’re not picking up the tab, but I would only do that if the restaurant delivered on the food and service. And Cecconi’s delivered.
25 of us in the private dining room for a celebration, the staff were attentive all night (4 hours) and the kitchen kept the food coming with the right amount of ‘rest’ time between each course. And a rest was needed, the serving size was excellent and more than I would have expected for a fine dining restaurant.
Even though they called it a ‘set’ menu, there were at least 4 choices for each course (see menu pic) and the bar was open with many of guests opting for cocktails, most popular being a strawberry daiquiri and by the amount of them coming out of the bar they must have been good. I personally stuck with champagne.
Every person could not compliment the food more. From calamari, a crab pasta, steak, scallops, homemade sorbet, every single one of us were delighted with our choices.
Would I go there again? Absolutely! Though I’d need to save up first and it would be totally worth it.

There are a number of really good restaurants on Flinders Lane, and this is one of them. As you arrive you look down and in, and then there is a sense of formality in the way the restaurant looks.
You enter and the sense of formality is diminished by the warm greeting and guidance that then occurs.
We enjoyed a range of dishes however I was lucky to have choosen the calamari… simply stunning — tender, tasty and looked so appetising. And for mains the Tuna Steak was magnificent… lots of colour and that delightful juicy rare that makes this fish so special. Beans were our sides of the night which compliemented the fine food.
The Curly Flat Pinot Noir was silky, rich and smooth…
A great dinner …

Cecconis Cantina is a sublime hatted (The Age Good Food Guide) Italian restaurant/​cantina that I want to keep coming back to! You’ll find loads of Italian charm and classic appeal in this trendy Flinders Lane establishment. Surely one of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne (if notAustralia)! And Melbourne does Italian well…
Love walking along trendy Flinders Lane then down the stairs to the vibrant Cessoni’s basement below. There I met up with two legendary friends from Adelaide (I was blessed with lunch — you know who you are) and we had such an epic time! The atmosphere is great for a catch up. Love the wine and olive oil bottles along the wall! Love the parquetry floor! (Have one at home and cost me a fortune to restore).
The place really buzzes at lunchtimes and you need to book. We were greeted warmly by the cheeky waiters, who are a big part of the whole experience! I love the banter and humour of these guys! They will playfully recommend menu options, and explain the daily specials with flair and fun!
I love how the website captures the philosophy of Cecconi’s, «Combining contemporary and glamorous elegance with an intimate and chic, club-​like ambience, Cecconi’s Cantina offers a classic Italian menu with modern influences, and outstanding service.» The inspiration of the Bortolotto family who have excited Melbourne with their restaurants for over 30 years.
There is a compelling balance between elegance and theatre — with the chefs performing their maestro kitchen moves in an open kitchen! I love the private terrace to enjoy a special lunch on a sunny Melbourne day… I love the ambience of the cantina with its classic furniture, long bar and mood lighting! I love the concept of the cantina on one side and the formal dining room adjacent. It caters for options, moods, tastes and above all, is fun!
The menu options are exciting for breakfast, lunch or dinner. As for lunch, myself and Marty ordered the Braised Beef Cheek on creamy mash potato, parsley and horseradish gremolta. Wow! This dish was stellar! The beef cheek was cooked to absolute perfection and came apart easily. So tender! And perfectly marinated. The creamy mash was so creamy and such a great accompaniment. We both raved about how good it was! With a glass of wine, it went down a treat! The other options looked great such as the chicken, duck, fish, risotto and pasta of the day. But so glad I went the beef cheek!
My friend Tony ordered the Minute Sirloin Steak with watercress and red onion salad. This too was brilliant and the steak looked a little bigger than usual for a minute steak. (Possibly a 2 or 3 minute steak?) Tony was happy with his steak although he was drooling over our beef cheek.
For dessert I ordered the Tiramisu — kahlua, strega, coffee with mascarpone cheese. Another wow dish! Cecconi’s have a reputation for incredible desserts and this was no exception. Each layer of the tiramisu was magnificent! Perfect biscuit layer! Perfect soaking of sponge layer in coffee and the kahlua! Rich airy mascarpone cheese texture. Perfect Italian trifle.