Danté — Restaurant in Melbourne

Dante Restaurant came highly recommended and was selected as the venue for a double birthday celebration. Online reviews appeared favourable, and the menu was visually appealing, suggesting a reputable establishment with a promising offering. We were all very much looking forward to coming here.

While not the direct fault of the venue, the online booking platform repeatedly pushed the reservation later by 30–60 minutes each time a modification was made. This inconvenience, though technical in nature, likely contributed to our party being asked to vacate the restaurant earlier than expected due to a private function taking place.

Upon arrival at 7:45pm (original reservation was 6.45pm), our party were required to sit at the bar as our table for 8 was not ready even though the restaurant was relatively quiet and the reservation had been made a few weeks prior. Cocktails were ordered but had not been served by the time we were seated nor had they arrived by the time our entrees arrived. It is worth noting, however, that the cocktails themselves were of high quality.

The service failed entirely to meet even basic expectations. Entrée plates remained uncleared when main courses arrived, requiring staff to place mains on an already cluttered table. The food was generally acceptable but under-seasoned, and we had to request salt and pepper twice—on the second request, I was simply shown where they were located.

Two bottles of wine were ordered; however, following this, no further service was extended. Our plates were left on the table for at least thirty minutes, and no follow-up or offer of dessert, coffee, or additional beverages was made. At approximately 9:30pm, we were advised—without prior notice—that we needed to vacate the premises within 15 minutes due to a private event taking place. Plates remained uncleared and we were still drinking our wine. We had to ask the staff to clear the table.

The overall experience was extremely disappointing. Service was disjointed and inattentive, and food failed to meet the expected standard. Additionally, the corridor to the toilets was completely unlit, posing a basic safety concern.

This venue failed to deliver on both service and quality. Based on this experience, I do not recommend Dante Restaurant.

For context the photo is of our table just prior...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Danté, a charming Greek restaurant in Northcote, and I must say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. We started off with the corn as a starter, and it was simply delicious. The interesting sauce that accompanied it added a unique flavor that left us wanting more. The 2 Aperol Spritz we ordered were expertly crafted, refreshing, and the perfect way to kick off the evening.

For our main course, we ordered a generous board of meat featuring lamb, chicken, and more. The meats were cooked to perfection, tender, and bursting with flavor. The Greek salad was fresh and vibrant, complementing the meats beautifully. And let's not forget about the chips - the spices on them were a delightful surprise that added an extra layer of deliciousness to the meal.

The staff at Dantè were incredibly friendly and attentive, making us feel right at home. I especially appreciated the thoughtful touch of serving lemon with the water, a small detail that truly elevated the dining experience.

Overall, I highly recommend Dantè to anyone looking for an authentic Greek dining experience. I can't wait to return and explore more of their menu. Thank you to the wonderful team at Dantè for a memorable evening - we will...

Visited Dante with my husband on a whim tonight and we were absolutely blown away. The food is amazing - flavourful, comforting, hearty but not too heavy, and good sized portions - absolute 10/10. Service is also second to none - the staff are polite, professional, friendly, and you can tell they all get on well. The whole place has a wonderful welcoming relaxed vibe. The ambiance and decor are on point - luxurious, stylish, and the music was excellent. We chatted to the owner who was running front of house, and he told us they make pretty much everything themselves - even the bread and yogurt. They even grow their own veggies! I commented to the owner on how reasonable their prices were for how amazing the food was (I would have been happy paying twice what we did), and he proudly told me they can keep their prices low because they grow so many of their ingredients. He also told us his mum runs the kitchen, and some of the dishes served are her recipes, some are his - all are delicious. We are so happy we've found this Northcote gem, and will definitely be back many times. Do yourself a favour and...