Member Review by Gary

Balzari is now a fairly ordinary addition to the tourist offerings in Lygon Street. On our last visit my 'pasticcio' ($27:50) was a very ordinary lasagne/ pasticcio dish - refer to my review of 'Benito's' in the city for a better version of something similar. My friend's sausage 'friulana with wet polenta' ($27:50) was very small, poorly assembled and presented, and with quality and freshness a bit suspect. We waited half an hour for bruschetta, a centimetre slice of baguette proportions topped with pumpkin and ricotta ($6:50).

Menu changes from last Spring through to the current Autumn menu show a major 'value for money' slide. The Balzari website menu predates Christmas, with the reality changing significantly. One of my favourite dishes of last year- pork slice with lentils, apples, cabbage and sausage has not only disappeared, it would look very out-of-place on the short and relatively straightforward menu Balzari now offers. Other much-loved mains like the duck breast, and the seared scallop entree have also gone, with nothing of interest to replace them. Overall, the interest level and complexity of the current menu is a long way from Balzari's past.

Balzari's regular dining room staffers who did good work also haven't been there recently. On our most recent visit our two waiters were strangers, seemed a bit out of it, had little knowledge of the menu, found our bottle of red with bottled mineral water a service challenge, and shared a penchant for kicking the legs of my chair. The wine list is small but okay for starters and mains, with BYO on Tuesday and Wednesdays.

I'm regretfully giving up on Balzari, where I've spent a lot of money and been well looked after in the past. Recurring negative experiences have this effect. Also - watch for the dates of other website/ food-guide reviews, because Balzari carries its reputation on outdated information. I cannot recommend Balzari nowadays - there are many better quality, better value places to enjoy lunch or dinner with wine in inner Melbourne.