Aromi Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

Dreadful from the word go, it was the opening of their new Cafe, FREE coffee, and that's not the reason I came, I live on the same street and was wondering when it would open, nothing to rave about, they were only serving take away coffees and on the bench a small choice of pastries and panini, sitting uncovered surrounded by 5 staff members who were not even greeting anybody at the door, I asked to use the bathroom, there was no light, brocken seat and brocken base, no soap, no aromatics it was embarrassing to say the least. Coffee was awful I would rather have payed to contribute towards the Barista on coffee lessons. The panini with yellow dry mayonnaise, a lady ordered a slice of some type of pizza that was cold and was taken to get warm in the kitchen held in waitress hands, no tray no proffesional food vessel, the staff looked unhappy and we were told no seating even though all seating was set up and three people sitting on others. I have a background of 6 star, multi awards and hatted experience, for an opening day you must be better then perfect, ""if it's not first class, it does not pass"" ""perfection is never enough"", I hate to see how it would cope once it's actually open, but if the restaurant is to go by, don't expect much, few bad reviews which I would believe going on my dreadful experience, let's see what petty response I'll get from owners and excuses they'll create, pity it represents the Italian culinary trend, old school florentinos, Cafe cucina, Mammalia du or versace are true dedicated experts in their field, if you want to represent the industry, get some true foundation and primarily passion, passion is from the blood not a burnt coffee , bad staff or brocken toilet, on the first day, I'm embarrassed on their behalf, so...

I went into this restaurant alone (single woman) sat at bar table and ordered a drink and asked to see menu. A couple arrived who sat next to me. It was obvious by the banter between them and the waiter they were known, had been there before! I had looked at the menu given to me but nothing jumped out at me! Then I heard the waiter telling the couple next to me all the specials, which were no where to be seen ! I asked if I could be told the specials and another waiter said he hadn’t looked at the specials so couldn’t tell me!! Oops!! It was so obvious I was not known, not one of their special customers! I felt like Julia Robert’s in “Pretty Woman” Then I asked for a glass of water, I wasn’t offered one when I sat down. A while went by and I asked a waiter who had a carafe of water in his hand who had to pass me to get to a table he was looking after, he said I’m busy looking after a table!! So didn’t get a second water until someone wasn’t too busy and guess what restaurant wasn’t full! So folks I will never go back. Did try a couple of their tapas bites and no complaints there, but seriously, it was obvious outsiders not welcome! Little do they know I live in the same street and I’m a local!!! Personally I wouldn’t even give them one star!! Did that to be polite! Wonder if I would have been treated differently if my husband had been with me, sadly he passed 5 years ago! He would not have tolerated...

Such a mixed review, the decor, position and atmosphere is classic Italian and lovely, even on a quieter Friday night like tonight it’s a beautiful vibe. Our cute french waiter was I suspect employed for his looks and not his knowledge of the Italian menu and or his English. The food is a hit or miss. The prawn pasta at 49 dollars they should honestly be ashamed of - it’s tiny little prawn - possibly from a frozen pack, with no sign of anything else In there promised and the potions tiny. The chef should maybe visit Botticelli in Brighton to see what they are competing against for even a better price. (Botticellis prawn pasta is genuinely worth a visit) ask for extra chilli if you like a bite.

Aromi meals: The mussels 34$ were simple but ample and tasty.

The burrata salad is nothing special but not bad, we make a better one at home.

The negroni was fantastic but the rose cocktail before that was just a glass of ice and no idea what else water tasting.

The zucchini pasta my family says and I tasted - was great.

Bill for 4 - 4 meals, two starters, two cocktails and glass of rose,two juices $304 ( they also expect a tip here)

And I have to say I won’t rush back except for a negroni.

I think we are genuinely spoilt for choice in melbourne the Aromi will need to...