Tipo 00
Melbourne, Australia; 361 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Tipo 00 takes its name from finely milled flour, establishing pasta as the restaurant’s central subject before guests even sit down. In its compact Little Bourke Street room, the appeal lies in the relationship between dough, sauce and carefully chosen ingredients. The cooking is recognisably Italian, while Australian produce gives the menu a sense of its Melbourne location. Documented favourites include ink tagliolini and duck gnocchi, preparations that show how different shapes and textures can determine the character of a dish. The restaurant’s interpretation of tiramisu provides another point of interest, extending the same confidence into dessert. A seat at the bar or a table in the small room keeps the experience close to the kitchen’s activity and the surrounding city. The City of Melbourne includes Tipo 00 in its dining recommendations. It earns its place here by pursuing a focused idea with enough personality to make a relatively straightforward meal feel like a destination. For travellers, it is an especially useful reminder that Melbourne’s restaurant reputation also rests on places built around the pleasure of a well-made plate of pasta.