Syracuse

I am aiming this one at tourists, for surely most of Melbourne knows about this gem. Syracuse is situated in “old Melbourne”, the old financial district, thus “Bank Place”. Beautiful Victorian building straight from Gold Rush days. Food very European, rich meats (duck had by the author) with great wine selections. Service 5 star. Not cheap, but still affordable, so save your money.

Absolutely stunning dishes. So much finesse in the texture and taste of every item on the plate; the vegetable garnishes complemented the fish perfectly! The mandarin cheesecake was also delightful, not too sweet with a decadent creaminess beautifully counterbalanced by the passionfruit sorbet and what tasted like a cross between meringue and granita. Would recommend whole heartedly as a treat-yourself night out!!

Dining here we felt like a royalty. We were treated with the upmost respect and hospitality, and food was beyond my imagination setting off fireworks and sending chills down my spine. Down to the food.... I've never tried a hazelnut hommus before but I now know I was missing out on alot in life. The carrot fish contained 3 types of honked carrot including yellow and purple carrots. ( Purple was my favorite ) And the soup! The smell alone was enough to make a man cry. It was artichoke, potato and truffle. It was amazing. I would come back for th soup alone. The desert was a perfectly balanced tiramisu, perfect end to a perfect night. Go here for any romantic occation. Edit: the wine pairings were quite great. I know little about wine but they really played off the food nicely.

The restaurant gives a kind of 50’s feeling with its heritage style interiors, small round tables with wooden chairs and a huge collection of old wine bottles beautifully arranged as a showcase. A short and sweet Italian cuisine menu (don’t expect a pizza, Italian cuisine is much more than just pasta and pizza) helps to make quick decisions without pondering too much and equally opposite on the wine menu which provides a great listing. Sumptuous food with great presentation and quantity just enough to satisfy your appetite.

Absolutely delicious and the ambience was unbelievably good. We ordered three dishes and a dessert to share. Unfortunately we were so excited about the food that we forgot to take photos. Customer service was out of this world. Prices were high for Asian food but portion was good. I suggest going with two dishes for two people and then work out how hungry you are after those and whether you need a third dish.