Grill Americano
Melbourne is a beautiful city not only because of its vibrant arts scene and relaxed vibes but also due to the abundance of delicious food that’s accessible and unique. Grill Americano came highly recommended by a friend so I decided to give this a try, did it match my expectations? Keep reading to find out!
Grill Americano is situated in the heart of Melbourne CBD and oozes sexy elegance from the moment you step in its doors and set sight on the striking marble bar that’s accented by seemingly endless bottles of liqueur to fulfill every one of your cocktail dreams. The restaurant boasts the finest Italian cuisine with produce sourced from Aussie producers and growers as well as select Italian artisans. But is Grill Americano hiding behind the bells and whistles of its signature dark decor or is the food actually as tasty as it looks? I have done the eating for you so get comfortable and let’s start feasting.
Oysters ‘Americano’
Oysters ‘Americano’ with horseradish, spinaach and parmesan (6) $45.50
People often have a love-hate relationship with oysters - it’s either a delicacy which slides down the throat and tastes like the sea or hard to swallow (quite literally), there is no in-between. When I was a child oysters were my arch nemesis especially when it came to buffets, I used to hate the slimy texture and salty smell of fresh oysters however after many years of force-feeding to get “our money’s worth” at buffets I have grown a certain fondness towards this delicacy.
Grill Americano’s oysters are served either shucked to order or with the topping of horseradish, spinach, and parmesan. I wasn’t sure if this was going to taste nice but was pleasantly surprised at the added crunch and acidity from the horseradish. The crumbed parmesan was a really nice touch as the creamy saltiness of the cheese complements the oysters which tasted like the sea. If you are in the mood for something different definitely give these oysters a try!
Short rigatoni, con salsa piccante ‘spicy pork sausage’
Short rigatoni, con salsa piccante ‘spicy pork sausage’ $39.50
Who doesn’t love the carby goodness of pasta, I have never met a pasta I didn’t like and no exceptions were made with this spicy rigatoni. A bit of googling tells me rigatoni is the favourite pasta shape in the south of Italy (especially in Sicily) with its ridges making it a better adhesive surface for sauces and grated cheese. Oh, boy was this pasta cheesy - just look at all the grated cheese in the above photo, but by no means was this overly dense as the spicy pork sausage and sauce cut through the cheese beautifully. If you love authentic Italian pasta, this rigatoni might be love at first bite.
Scotch fillet 350g
Scotch fillet 350g with tartufo nero butter (black truffle butter) $67.50
What’s the next best thing after carbs? Meat! Now I’m usually more of a Korean or Japanese BBQ kinda girl but I’m also not averse to a perfectly grilled medium-rare steak. Grill Americano’s famed for its prized possessions - the hand-built wood oven and Josper Grill which provides the necessary heat and flame to cook this scotch fillet. I have never tried black truffle butter before but this was a delicious combination - the creaminess of the butter enhances the tender softness of the fillet very well. If you are into a more sizeable steak there are also wagyu and rib-eye options available on the menu.
Onion rings
Parmesan crusted onion rings, horseradish mustard, $16.50
There are a lot of traditional sides that you could have with steak - but instead of the classics like roast potatoes, chips, green beans, or any other side of salad which is a true waste of your hard-earned cash why not try onion rings? I’m a sucker for onion rings and chips as sides but it’s a shame a lot of restaurants can’t figure out how to cook onion rings properly, these either come out too undercooked or overly golden with too heavy of a batter. Grill Americano seems to have mastered the balance of crispy onion rings that maintain the integrity of the onion against the crispiness of the golden batter - horseradish makes another appearance here but I’m loving how the kick cuts through any potential fried greasiness of the onion rings. 10/10!
Tiramisu
Tiramisu Americano
Fun fact - when I went back to Shanghai this year to visit relatives I was told that no dessert sells at a more premium price than tiramisu and to be honest, I’m not surprised. A great tiramisu is like a warm hug from a loved one or a blanket on a cold winter’s night - it’s delicious with creamy layers of mascarpone, cacao and sponge fingers that have been dipped in coffee. No wonder the direct English translation of tiramisu is ‘pick me up’. I was actually going to skip on dessert as I was stuffed from mains but these are scooped table side (reference photo below) and the servings are generous - this is why I have a second stomach for dessert and trust me once you try this tiramisu, others will pale in comparison in terms of flavour and texture.
Drinks
The best accompaniment to a delicious meal is alcohol and it would be a shame not to order a cocktail (and a bottle of wine) when there’s a full service marble bar which is open Monday through Sunday for customers. The drinks menu is encyclopedic with everything you could want - whether it’s a classic cocktail, apertivio or after dinner nightcap. The cocktail menu is filled with both classics and inventive drinks that highlights Italian spirits and ingredients - go on, you know you want to grab a drink or a couple, they are delicious and if you need recommendations one of the friendly staff are on hand to help with any decision fatigue.
Overall rating: 9.5/10
Melbourne is truly a city catered for foodies like me, unlike Sydney where good food is scattered across the suburbs - in Melbourne you can find a diverse range of amazing cuisines all within the CBD. Grill Americano came highly recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint, the high quality of every course and attention to detail when it comes to pairing ingredients shines through in everything we tried. If you are looking for a restaurant for the next date night, special occasion or just a great night or day out on your next visit to Melbourne check out Grill Americano - it’s a guaranteed great time.
Address: 112 Flinders Lane (base of 101 Collins Tower), Melbourne, VIC 3000
Hours: Monday - Sunday, 12 - 10p.m
Website: https://grillamericano.com/
