Tipo 00 is one of the restaurants I will always visit whenever I’m in Melbourne. Located on Little Bourke Street smack bang in the CBD, and a short stroll away from Melbourne Central / Emporium, it’s really easy to get to. Tipo 00 is a type of flour used in making pasta, and the restaurant showcases Italian cuisine and wines. I’ve never had a bad meal here.
During my last visit to Melbourne, I was solo for the first day while Mr FPJ was flying down later on. With no booking during a weekday, I arrived at Tipo 00 at around 11.30am (pre-lunch crowd rush) to ensure I got a stool at the counter. There were only 3 stools left and a couple of tables. I was asked whether I wanted still or sparking water, and provided with the menu. I had already decided that I wanted the chef’s menu at $70 per person but as I was dining solo, I asked if it was possible as some restaurants require a minimum number of persons. My waiter said ‘of course!’ and I was happy with that. The menu does not state how many dishes would be provided so I didn’t know what to expect.
I was started off with a single cheesy arancini ball sitting on aioli with a perfectly crunchy exterior, cheese strings and soft yet firm rice inside.
Served with it was a single thin slice of focaccia accompanied by ricotta and basil olive oil. So tasty!
The hiramasa kingfish crudo with salted peaches and almond was refreshing and cleverly balanced. The sweet peaches offset by a smidge of salt, worked well with the smooth kingfish.
The ‘lingua‘ grilled ox tongue is not something I would ever have ordered. It came served with balsamic vinegar and pink peppercorns. It was such a beautiful looking dish. The ox tongue was finely sliced and tasted a bit like a less salty bacon, offset by the tartness of the balsamic. I actually rather enjoyed this dish.
The mains arrived next. The tagliolini al nero, squid ink tagliolini with squid and bottarga was again another dish I probably wouldn’t have ordered. However, it is one of Tipo 00’s most popular dishes. After tasting it, I could see why. The seafood broth was light yet full of punch and flavour. There was a decent amount of diced squid and calamari mixed throughout the tagliolini, with fresh roe on top and some crunch from the bottarga (salted and cured fish roe). Very flavoursome.
Another signature dish, gnocchi di patate with braised duck, porcini mushrooms and pecorino pepato arrived next. I had ordered this during a previous visit to Melbourne and was really glad I got to eat it again (the problem with dining solo is you only really get to try one thing before you’re full). Handmade fresh gnocchi, delicious braised duck that had been stewed for hours, in a comforting ragu. Yum.
The mains were served with a side salad insalata di finocchio, which was actually huge for one person, consisting of fennel, cos lettuce and orange. Even the salads here are amazing. Everything was fresh and crunchy, and the citrus dressing on top was perfection. I should have asked how to make it. If I wasn’t so full already I would have polished it off easily.
I was hoping there would be dessert to finish and was surprised when two plates arrived. The first was the tipomisu, Tipo 00’s version of a tiramisu with chocolate, coffee and mascarpone. It tasted a lot more like a chocolate brownie with a bit of coffee in it than tiramisu, but I didn’t mind. I loved that there was plenty of chocolate sauce on top to indulge in.
I also got to try a mini pannacotta with yoghurt, lime and raspberry. Perfect wobble and balance with sweet raspberry coulis contrasting nicely with the tart fresh raspberries and yoghurt pannacotta. I thought it was very clever of the chef to pair two completely different desserts – the tipomisu which was rich and heavy, with the super light and fresh pannacotta. A great choice.
I was asked if I wanted tea or coffee after the plates were cleared, but was far too full to fit in anything else and quickly asked for the bill. It was time to go for a long walk. I received service from two different wait staff – they were both polite and able to answer my questions. Timing between the dishes was a bit sporadic and I remember wondering when the next courses would arrive. All up, lunch took about 2 hours. However, I think the chefs menu is worth it (especially when dining solo) to try other dishes on the menu and items you would never normally order.
I’m never disappointed at Tipo 00 and I just love the fresh pasta and balanced flavours. A la carte prices are also quite reasonable for the quality of food, at about $25 – 38 for a pasta dish. It’s also an interesting and upbeat kind of ambiance with the open kitchen and people happily chatting away about life.
I found some photos of my March 2018 visit to Melbourne, which I never ended up writing about. Some photos below. The crab risotto was amazing.
If you want to dine at Tipo 00, make a booking or try to get a table very early or very late.
Tipo 00
361 Little Bourke St, Melbourne, Victoria
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 11.30am – 10.00pm
Foodgasm 10/10
Value for money 8/10
Service 7.5/10
FPJ score 25.5/30
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