Pellegrini's Espresso Bar

My head thought the above sentence, then got to work editing it for out-loud conversation. The finished product for mouth-to-waiter delivery was more like, "I'm a (whisper) vegetarian". (Cue sideways furtive glance). "Is there anything with no (hush) meat?" 
The words hung in the air tentatively, stretching into a deep silence that felt like roughly ten minutes or so.
My fellow companions who dragged me here under the promise of amazing food sniggered in the background. I made a mental note to examine why I spent time with these people later, instead focussing on the task at hand. In that familiar Italian way, that reminded me exactly of my Italian grandfather, the waiter waved his hand at me and nodded, then moved on to the person next to me. 
Perplexed, with no idea what was going to appear when the dishes came out, I sat back and inhaled the smell of delicious coffee being made. 
Having endured numerous years of endless questioning by my grandfather, "Why don't you eat meat?", "You need to eat some meat, get some more flesh on you", "Do you eat chicken? Beef? Nothing?", I almost expected the same treatment here at Pellegrini's, but I was left alone, musing over possible dishes that would be served to me. 
When the meals arrived, I was given mouth-watering, tomato-rich cannelloni, filled with light ricotta and fresh green spinach. My meat eating fellow diners agreed that it indeed rivalled, if not beat, some of their choices with its subtle, delicious flavours. 
I finished the meal with a strong, flavoursome black coffee, which curled around my tongue and lingered gently. Pellegrini's was a dining experience that stood up valiantly next to my grandmother's homemade Italian cooking, without the meaty questions!

In a tree lined street at the Paris end of Bourke Street is Pellegrini's Espresso Bar - a Melbourne icon where generations of Melbournians and visitors alike partake of that very Melbourne ritual of  catching up for a coffee and having a bite to eat.  

Be transported to a bygone era as you sit on the red leather stools,  and let the aroma of freshly made coffee invade your senses. Enjoy hearty Italian meals with that old style home cooking of huge proportions, scrumptious spaghetti, mouth-watering lasagne, Ravioli Genovese,  Gnocchi  Alla Romana, or  a bowl of Risotto alle Verdure, to name a few. But remember to leave room for their wonderful Italian desserts.  So head on down to 66 Bourke Street  and enjoy the culinary delights and atmosphere, then take a stroll and  catch a show at one of Melbourne's nearby  theatres.

Pellegrini's is an absolute Melbourne institution.  Line up, take a seat at the bar, or even better, take a seat out in the back room so that you can see the staff cook up the food for you.

No paper menu's or prices, just choose from the board and you'll get a great home-cooked italian meal.  You'll end up paying about $10-12AUD for a dish.