LeTAO Melbourne — Restaurant in Melbourne

3s (Melbourne eateries with good solid tucker that I wouldn't mind eating fairly regularly. Food is competent)[63]: Allegro (CBD) Alma (Geelong) A Minor Place (Brunswick) Bar Idda (East Brunswick) Bekendales (Croydon) Bellarine Estate (Bellarine) Bistro Guillaume (Southbank) Bistro Thierry (Toorak) Boire (Collingwood)[RIP] Brunswick Flour Mill (Bunswick) Cafe Terroni (Yarraville) Carlton Wine Room (Carlton) Carsons (Yarraville) Chapelli's (South Yarra) Cheeky Monkey (Richmond) Chez Bob (Armadale) Chez Olivier (South Yarra) Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant (Apollo Bay) Cicciolina (St Kilda) Collins Kitchen (CBD) Cornershop (Yarraville) Di Palma's (East Kew) D.O.C. Mozzarella Bar (Carlton) Donnini's (Carlton) Dragon Boat (CBD) Emerge (Geelong) Empire Cafe Gallery (Brunswick) En Izakaya (Balaclava) Enoteca Vino Bar (Carlton North) Feast Of Merit (Richmond) Fiorelli (Hawthorn East) France-Soir (South Yarra) Grossi Florentino: The Restaurant (CBD) Ides (Collingwood) Izakaya Chuji (CBD) Kinya (Docklands) Kofi Beans Organic Cafe (Croydon) L'atelier de Monsieur Truffe (East Brunswick) Laurent Boulangerie Patisserie (Toorak) Lau's Family Kitchen (St Kilda)[RIP] Lindt Chocolat Cafe (CBD) Little Creatures Dining Hall (Fitzroy)[RIP] Miss Marples (Sassafras) Mr. Wolf (St Kilda) Orange (Windsor)[RIP] Pumphouse Hotel (Fitzroy) Punch Lane (CBD) Reunion Cafe Dining (Surrey Hills) Sapa Hills (Footscray) Secret Kitchen (Doncaster) Shujinko (CBD) Thanh Phong (Richmond) The Carlisle Wine Bar (Balaclava) The Green Refectory (Brunswick) The Hardware Societe (CBD) The Kent Hotel (Carlton North) The Perch At Lavers Hill (Lavers Hill) Tim Ho Wan (CBD) Truffles Patisserie (Balaclava) Vines Restaurant at Helen's Hill (Coldstream) Wing Loong (CBD)[RIP] Zelena Cafe Bar & Restaurant (Croydon) Zen (Hawthorn)

4s (Melbourne eateries with great food. Food is a strength[32]): APTE Cafe (Alphington)[RIP] Attica (Ripponlea) Bamboo House (CBD) Biagio's (Niddrie) Brae (Birregurra) Chin Chin's at Koto Moon (Carlton North) Choi's (Hawthorn) Cumulus Inc. (CBD) El Mirage (Brunswick) Estivo (Kew)[RIP] Ezard (CBD)[RIP] Flower Drum (CBD) I Carusi (East Brunswick) Igni (Geelong)[RIP] Jack Rabbit (Bellarine) Junior Tan Hawker Kitchen (Bayswater) Ladro (Prahran)[RIP] Le Petit Bistro (Kooyong) Locale at De Bortoli (Dixons Creek) Mule (Brunswick)[RIP] Papa Goose (CBD)[RIP] Paris Go Bistro (Carlton) Pioneer Kitchen @ The Grovedale (Grovedale) +39 Pizzeria (CBD) Ribs & Burgers (Hawthorn) Riche (Richmond) SUD Food And Wine (CBD) Tao's (Bulleen)[RIP] The European (CBD) The Grand Dining Room (Richmond) Vue de Monde (CBD) Wall Two 80 (Balaclava)

5's (The Best Melbourne Eateries. Food is very much a strength)[5]: La Fantaisie (Richmond) LeTAO (CBD) L'uccellino (Yarraville) Rockpool (Southbank) Tulip (Geelong)

Eatery of the Year 2011: Tao's (Bulleen) [RIP] Eatery of the Year 2016: Ladro (Prahran) [RIP] Eatery of the Year 2017: The European (CBD) Eatery of the Year 2022: Paris Go Bistro (Carlton) Eatery of the Year 2023:...

LeTAO Melbourne is the kind of pâtisserie that makes you spark up a grin the moment you catch sight of the display. You step in off high street foot traffic and instantly the warm glow of glass cases stacked with dainty sweets and signature cheesecakes welcomes you. The noise and pace of the street drift away, replaced by soft instrumental music and the scent of fresh cream and baked sugar. Staff greet you quickly, letting you pause at the counter to decide without feeling rushed, the vibe relaxed even when there’s a queue forming.

Sweets here carry a reputation, and for good reason. The Double Fromage cheesecake arrives with a delicate, baked top and a melt-in-your-mouth interior that balances tang, sweetness, and that buttery crumb base. Mochis filled with fresh berry creams are fragrant and light, contrasting beautifully with the richer mont blanc or chocolate gâteau. Every slice is presented with care, and even the garnishes look practiced rather than slapped on. Drinks support the sweets rather than compete: espresso is smooth and balanced, and the hot milk tea comes lightly sweet and creamy, perfect for cutting through rich flavors.

A few tips. Visit during mid-afternoon or early evening when it’s less crowded; mornings can get busy with walks in for coffee. Space is cozy, so it’s best for solo indulgence or small groups. Prices lean toward the premium side, but considering the quality and the artistry, they feel fair if you treat this as a tiny treat-me moment rather than everyday. Perfect for picking up a celebratory slice, treating a friend, or saving a little luxury for yourself in the middle...

I visited LeTao Melbourne today, located at 238 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, with the intention of picking up a cake I had pre-ordered. Despite presenting my full email confirmation and pickup notification, the staff insisted on seeing my ID. They justified this requirement by referencing an incident where someone collected cakes using a screenshot, but this seems like an overreach. It's frustrating that customers are inconvenienced due to what appears to be a gap in their order management system. A better-designed system should notify the staff once an order has been collected, minimizing the chance of error without burdening the customer.

When I explained that I didn't have my ID with me, the staff's response was mechanical and unhelpful, suggesting I cancel the order through call to customer service. This interaction reflects poorly on their training and the management team's oversight. It's disheartening to see such rigidity in customer service, especially over a simple cake pickup.

Additionally, I was disappointed to learn that the cakes are not freshly made on-site but are pre-packed. This detail, along with the poor service experience, diminishes the brand's appeal significantly.

In light of these issues, I cannot recommend LeTao Melbourne. The brand might benefit from reevaluating its in-store service approach and considering a shift towards online sales with delivery options. A great product is only one part of the equation; customer service and experience are equally crucial, and unfortunately, LeTao Melbourne falls short in...