Date Night in Melbourne CBD at a 10 Seat Counter
The best thing an omakase does for a date is remove the ordering. Nobody studies a menu, nobody worries about choosing badly, and the night arrives one course at a time with something new to talk about every ten minutes. At Rōnin that happens at a ten seat counter in the CBD, with the chef a metre away.
Date night in Melbourne usually means finding somewhere in the city that feels like an occasion without being stiff. A romantic restaurant does not have to be a candlelit room; a 10 seat counter works for two.
This page is for anyone searching for a date night restaurant in Melbourne that is intimate without being hushed.
Side by Side, Not Across a Table
Counter seats put you side by side, which is easier for a first date and better for a tenth. The room is ten people, so it never gets loud. The chef sets the pace, so there is no waiting for a waiter. Why ten seats and what a first omakase feels like are worth a read together.
Something Neither of You Has Had
Korean omakase does not exist anywhere else in Melbourne. About ten courses built on jang, fermentation and charcoal, decided by Chef Liam Lee on the day. What the cooking is is on its own page.
Two Hours, Starting at Six
Sittings start from 6pm Wednesday to Saturday and run about two hours, which leaves the rest of the evening. Service begins within fifteen minutes of the booked time and does not wait, so arrive a few minutes early. Little Collins Street has bars within a block for afterwards.
Plan Around the 20th
Seats for the next month open on the 20th of each month at 8pm via OpenTable. Friday and Saturday go first. For an anniversary on a specific date, book the evening the calendar opens. The release rule in detail.
Price and Limits
A$195 per guest (no prepayment required), paid at the end of the meal. No dietary alterations, no BYO, dinner only. Anniversaries and birthdays at the counter has the celebration details.
FAQ
Is Rōnin good for a first date?
Yes. Side by side seating, no ordering, and a chef who carries the conversation when it stalls.
Can we sit at a table for two?
No. All ten seats are at the counter, and pairs sit next to each other.
How much is dinner for two?
A$390 for two before drinks, paid at the end of the meal.
Can we mark an anniversary?
Tell us in the booking notes. The counter has hosted plenty of them. Courses cannot be changed, but the room will know.
Book a Seat
445 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Wed to Sat, 6pm to 11pm (dinner only)
0401 721 491 | info@roninomakase.com
Guides
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Journal
How Long Does Omakase Take? Planning Two Hours at Rōnin · Omakase Cancellation Policy at Rōnin: Why a Card Holds Your Seat · November at the Counter · What Is Banchan? Korean Side Dishes Made in House in Melbourne · 10 Seat Korean Omakase in Melbourne: Why Rōnin Keeps the Counter Small · What to Expect at Your First Omakase in Melbourne: Etiquette, Timing and Price · Korean Omakase vs Japanese Omakase in Melbourne: What Changes at the Counter · How to Book Rōnin Omakase in Melbourne: The Monthly Release on the 20th · What Melbourne's Food Press Says About Rōnin · Why There Is No Printed Menu at Rōnin Omakase, Melbourne