Robata

After outstanding experiences at San Telmo and Pastuso, we had high expectations for Robata. Somehow, it managed to exceed them. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. A special thank you to Rhiannon, who looked after us brilliantly throughout the evening. She was warm, attentive, knowledgeable and struck the perfect balance between being available and letting us enjoy the experience. Every single dish we ordered was beautifully prepared and packed with flavour. We shared the scallop sandos, chicken thigh skewers, meatball skewers, short rib kushiyaki, the Black Opal porterhouse with some fries, chargrilled zucchini and finished with the mochi donuts. My personal standout was the meatball skewer. Incredibly juicy, perfectly seasoned and easily one of the best skewers I’ve had. The short rib kushiyaki and scallop sando were also phenomenal, and the Black Opal porterhouse was cooked beautifully. If I had to pick one dish that didn’t quite reach the same level as everything else, it would be the chargrilled zucchini. It was still enjoyable, but compared with the extraordinary standard of the rest of the menu, it was the least memorable. The atmosphere is vibrant without feeling overwhelming, and the open robata kitchen adds to the experience. We’ve now dined at San Telmo, Pastuso, and Robata, and each has been genuinely outstanding. If Robata is anything to go by, this restaurant group knows exactly how to deliver exceptional food, excellent service and a memorable dining experience. We’ll absolutely be back!

We celebrated my fiancé Sophie’s birthday at Robata and had one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. A huge part of that was our waiter Sofian. Sophie is Coeliac, so dining out can sometimes be stressful, but Sofian made the entire experience effortless. He was knowledgeable, confident and took the time to guide us through the menu with excellent gluten free recommendations. At every stage we felt completely looked after. What really stood out was that he struck the perfect balance between professionalism and genuine warmth. Nothing felt forced or scripted. He anticipated our needs, answered every question with confidence and helped make Sophie’s birthday feel so special. The food was fantastic, but exceptional service is what turns a great meal into a memorable experience and Sofian absolutely delivered that!!! If there’s a competition for outstanding hospitality staff, he’s got our vote! Thank you Sofian, for helping make Sophie’s birthday celebration one to remember.

Visited on a Sunday night for their $49 Feature menu, currently available Sunday to Wednesday. It's incredible value for money and we had a wonderful experience. The restaurant fit-out is eye-catching with lots of colourful signage and design features, there are lots of different seating options including the kitchen counter, regular tables, window seats and elevated booths. They weren't too busy when we arrived so we were offered a choice of seating and went with one of the elevated booths, which was a really cool spot. The $49 menu includes nine different items. It was well paced, starting with snack items before moving onto a shared main and finishing with dessert. There are a few additional items you can add on however for us the standard menu had more than enough food. The drinks menu is extensive and especially strong for Japanese sake and whiskey. I ordered a sake flight which was a great way to try a few different varieties and included tasting notes. They also have imported Asahi on tap for the Japanese beer fans. Service throughout the evening was excellent, staff are very knowledgeable on the menu and very attentive. One of the best meals we've had in Melbourne for sure!

I love this place... The atmosphere is like a Tokyo dinner. With an open kitchen and views of Flinders st and surrounds. The food is well thought through and very tasty. They have a few different set menu options to choose from. Or simple order what you like. They have a dry adged cabinet as well which even includes dry adged tuna.

Had a lovely dinner at Robata. The food was fresh, beautifully presented and full of flavour. Friendly service, a great atmosphere and delicious desserts to finish. A little on the expensive side, but well worth it for a special occasion. We’d definitely return. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐