Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

I was one of the lucky ones invited to the opening of the Rooftop restaurant.

I know the Cremorne area well having had numerous meetings nearby with an agency i work with, so thinking it might be difficult to find a park i caught the train; great call 👍as the restaurant was only a few minutes walk from the Richmond Station.

On the brief walk i noticed there was plenty of parking, but also thought the noisy train line the building overlooked would detract from the ambiance of the restaurant. Not so. The restaurant is 'high in the sky' with spectacular views overlooking the Dandenong Ranges to the North and City skyline to the West.

So much for getting there and the views (5 stars), but what about the important things for a restaurant, the food and service.

Firstly the menu was exceptional in its variety and the food quality and taste was everything you would expect from a 5 star restaurant. I wont go into details, other than to say i shared with other family members, i think every entree, all of which were delicious except for the artichoke, which was a novelty for me, but no doubt would be appreciated by an experienced 'epicurean'. The main courses, including one exotic pasta dish in particular, were equally as delicious, so in the words of my very fussy daughter in law, who is an over qualified 'foodie' with a degree in food science and also a retired chef, summed the whole meal up as 'superb' (5 stars from me), and let me say, that is some praise coming from her!!

Secondly i have to concede the service was initially 'slow' as we had to wait some time for the first round of drinks, but i am certain this was only because it was fully booked for opening night, with everyone arriving at the same time. On the 'upside' the staff were most engaging and most importantly had complete understanding of the food and wine they were serving.

In summary i would highly recommend Amatrice Rooftop, even to the extent that you catch a train form the city for a business lunch or from anywhere in the Eastern Suburbs for dinner,...

It’s rare that I leave a restaurant feeling genuinely disappointed, but unfortunately, my experience at Amatrice didn’t meet expectations—especially after how excited I was to try it based on the menu and stunning photos of their dishes.

From the start, the service felt disorganised. One of us waited at the entrance for several minutes before being greeted. Water wasn’t offered consistently across the table, and it took quite some time for staff to return with a second drinks menu. Even more frustrating was the fact that we weren’t given food menus until after we had ordered our cocktails.

In my opinion, it should be a given that if staff are busy, menus should already be placed on the table before guests are seated. At 8pm on a Friday night, people are ready to eat—not wait around just to see the menu.

We were a group of four and shared four pasta dishes. The flavours were genuinely fantastic—the wild boar ragù was a standout—but the dishes arrived cold, and the portions were surprisingly small given the $30–$40 price tag. We even ordered a bowl of chips afterward just to feel somewhat full.

That said, the staff were friendly—just inattentive—and they did bring the bill and EFTPOS machine quickly once requested.

What’s most disappointing is that Amatrice has so much potential. The space is beautifully designed—terrazzo flooring, warm timber accents, soft lighting, and a sleek bar create a sophisticated atmosphere. Add to that the rooftop location, and it’s easy to imagine how incredible the vibe would be on a summer evening.

The menu is thoughtfully curated, the cocktails are on-brand, and the food is full of flavour. But unless the service becomes more streamlined, portion sizes are addressed, and food is consistently served hot, it’ll be hard for this place to reach its full potential. I’d love to return once a few things are ironed out, because the bones of something really special are...

Great venue, beautiful views, and a lovely atmosphere. Unfortunately, that’s where the Review for Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant:

Amatrice has a beautiful rooftop setting with stunning views, but sadly, the experience didn’t live up to the atmosphere.

We arrived only five minutes after our booking, yet our table wasn’t ready or properly set. Once seated, we were given food menus but waited nearly 20 minutes before being offered food menus. When I finally offered to order another drink, it was forgotten altogether and only arrived after being told the waiter or bar forgot, not ideal for a venue of this level.

The menu was surprisingly limited for an Italian restaurant that presents itself as premium dining. Choices felt restricted, and for the prices charged, I expected more variety and creativity.

Service throughout the meal felt inconsistent and inattentive. We constantly had to ask for basic things like water, menus, and attention. There was no sense of flow or warmth, and the team seemed to be just trying to get through the dinner service in a venue that wasn’t even full.

When the food arrived, it was fine in flavour but underwhelming in portion size. For a pasta-focused restaurant, the servings were small and left us wanting more.

Amatrice undeniably has a lovely ambience and a great view, but the service and attention to detail really let it down. If you’re coming for a drink and the view, it’s worth a stop. But if you’re expecting seamless service and an exceptional dining experience, you’ll likely leave...