Make your way up to the restaurant via the elevator or the escalator, at this city restaurant in one of this city's landmark office towers, 101 Collins Street.

The building happens to boast the largest CBD portfolio, including The Italian restaurant. And if you're the type to aim high, the pinnacle of corporate success reaches it's dizzying heights right here at 101, (apparently it's also the 101st tallest building in the world).

Everything you'd expect from a hatted restaurant by way of viticulture and culinary knowledge, service, an exhaustive wine list and consistency are present. Add to that soaring ceilings, sleek red leather booths, and spacious seating arrangements. Thankfully the pretense is not. Head chef Andy Logue has produced a simple menu, but this is Italian food at its best.

Starters range from the more traditional zuppa di pollo, a rustic style chicken soup, to a salmon carpaccio with horseradish, capers and shallots. The mains are crafted around the Italian stalwarts of pasta, risotto and polenta, and of course fish and meat. The fresh rigatoni with lamb shoulder and rosemary ragu is a perfect example of what is to expect from this hearty menu.

At The Italian we have a benchmark, and it's places like this Melbourne institution that give well deserved credibility to the city's Italian heritage, which is so often based around good food and drink.