Robata Japanese Grill

What Robata Japanese Grill does

Robata Japanese Grill is a single-venue Japanese robatayaki (charcoal grill) restaurant operating at 2 Exhibition Street in Melbourne CBD, inside the iconic Herald & Weekly Times building. It was launched in 2021 by the San Telmo Group — a Melbourne hospitality group founded in 2011 by David and Michael Parker and Renee and Jason McConnell that previously operated San Telmo, Pastuso, Palermo, and Asado. Robata's core offering centers on traditional Japanese charcoal grilling, led by Head Chef Lily McGrath, with a cinematic, Tokyo-inspired interior designed by architects Ewert Leaf and branding studio Mucho. The restaurant is open seven days for lunch and dinner and serves à la carte items ($6-$120), three tiered set menus ($75 Prequel, $125 Original, $165 Director's Cut), rotating lunch specials ($19-$26), a value $55 feature set menu, and weekend bottomless brunch ($79).

The business operates a diversified revenue model that extends well beyond standard à la carte dining. Premium ticketed experiences include Wagyu Masterclasses ($220), Mochi & Matcha Masterclasses ($99), Big Fish tuna carving events ($140-$150), Whisky & Wagyu dinners ($190), and one-off collaboration dinners ($150). Private and semi-private dining (up to 16 guests, plus full venue hire) targets corporate groups and celebrations, with groups of 8+ required to dine on set menus. Robata also sells three-year digital gift vouchers (with Black Friday promotions) and runs an aggressive event-driven GTM motion tied to Melbourne's calendar — Australian Open, F1 Grand Prix, Melbourne Fashion Week, Comedy Festival, Japanese Film Festival — including express pre-show menus ($55-$80) positioned for guests of nearby Rod Laver Arena and the MCG. Customer segments span Melbourne CBD diners, event-goers, corporate/private groups, and food enthusiasts, with marketing executed through social, email, blog, press (Concrete Playground, Broadsheet, Good Food, Herald Sun), and an extensive partner collaboration network (Nikka Whisky, Black Opal Wagyu, CHOYA, Never Never Gin, Tamura Sake Bar, Mastercard, Melbourne Food & Wine Festival). The venue has earned three consecutive Good Food Guide hats (2022-2024).

Name

Robata Japanese Grill

Legal name

Robata

Website

https://robata.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Robata Japanese Grill is a Melbourne CBD robatayaki restaurant, opened in 2021 by the San Telmo Group, serving à la carte, set menus, and ticketed chef masterclasses to CBD diners, corporate groups, and event-goers attending nearby Rod Laver Arena and MCG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Japanese Restaurant Dining

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal) (THAJALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Restaurant Progressive Dining Tours (THAJAGAB)

Keywords

• Japanese restaurant
• Robatayaki dining
• Charcoal grill cuisine
• Premium wagyu beef
• Set menu dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Restaurant Sales: Full-service Japanese grill restaurant generating revenue from à la carte menu items, set menus, and beverage sales including sake, wine, cocktails, and Japanese whisky. The restaurant operates 7 days a week for lunch and dinner service.
2. Bottomless Brunch: Weekend bottomless lunch offering at $79 per person for 2 hours of unlimited drinks including cocktails, sake, wine, beer, and a food menu.
3. Masterclasses and Special Events: Premium ticketed experiences including Wagyu Masterclasses ($220), Mochi & Matcha Masterclasses ($99), Big Fish tuna carving events ($140-$150), Whisky & Wagyu dinners ($190), and collaboration dinners. These generate additional revenue through ticket sales.
4. Gift Vouchers: Digital gift vouchers sold online, valid for three years, with promotional discounts offered during Black Friday campaigns.
5. Private Dining and Functions: Semi-private dining room (up to 16 guests) and full venue hire for private events, with groups of 8+ required to select set menu options. Beverage packages available for events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Robata Japanese Grill is a Japanese robatayaki (charcoal grill) restaurant located at 2 Exhibition Street in Melbourne CBD, launched in 2021 as part of the San Telmo Group. It serves an a la carte menu, tiered set menus (Prequel, Original, Director's Cut), lunch specials, bottomless weekend lunches, cooking masterclasses (Wagyu and Mochi & Matcha), special events, and private dining/function services under the direction of Head Chef Lily McGrath.

Product overview

Robata Japanese Grill is a single-venue Japanese restaurant in Melbourne CBD operated by the San Telmo Group. The core offering is a robatayaki (charcoal grill) dining experience featuring The Prequel ($75), The Original ($125), and The Director's Cut ($165) set menus, plus an a la carte menu with yakitori, sushi, sashimi, steaks, and desserts. Additional offerings include Lunch Time Specials, the $55 Feature Set Menu available Sunday-Wednesday, and Bottomless Lunch on weekends.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A La Carte Menu
• Set Menus (Prequel, Original, Director's Cut)
• Lunch Specials
• Bottomless Lunch
• Wagyu Masterclass
• Mochi & Matcha Masterclass
• Big Fish Tuna Carving Events Special-occasion whole-tuna carving events held in the restaurant, with chef-led butchery and tasting of premium bluefin tuna.
• Whisky & Wagyu Dinners
• Private Dining & Functions
• Gift Vouchers

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MastercardminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Payment brand partnering with Broadsheet and Robata for the Serve Festival during Australian Open 2026. $65 express menu available for pre-match dining.
• Oceania SeafoodscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Melbourne's premier supplier of sashimi-grade seafood. Partner for Big Fish tuna carving events with over four decades of experience selecting, sourcing and handling the finest seafood from around the world. Their global reach and commitment to excellence ensures unmatched quality for the Big Fish events.
• Tamura Sake BarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Fitzroy's go-to for saké, vinyl and izakaya-style cooking. Collaboration dinner on June 16, 2026 splits menu duties between both kitchens with Tamura handling snacks and entrees while Robata's Chef Lily McGrath takes the charcoal-grilled dishes.
• Nikka WhiskycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Japanese whisky brand celebrated for Whisky & Wagyu annual events. Brand Ambassador Marcus Parmenter co-hosts the events showcasing Nikka's whisky range paired with Black Opal Wagyu courses.
• Black Opal WagyucoreOthers · 1 January 2025Award-winning F1 Wagyu produced in Victoria using an Angus and Wagyu cross. Sponsor for Whisky & Wagyu events and supplier of premium dry-aged wagyu (marble score 7, aged 28 days) featured during Australian Open and special events.
• CHOYAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Global Umeshu (Japanese plum wine) icon partnering with Robata for CHOYA Month September 2025. Includes Umeshu flights, CHOYA Sonic cocktail (Australian debut), and special desserts.
• Tokyo LamingtonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Australia's cult dessert-makers collaborating with Robata and CHOYA for September 2025. Created special CHOYA x Tokyo Lamington dessert inspired by Tokyo Lamington's Japanese Forest lamington featuring CHOYA's confit ume fruit.
• Never Never GinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Australian craft gin distillery collaborating on exclusive cocktails for Australian Open 2025. Two bespoke cocktails created for the event: Double Deuce (honeydew and tonic with Triple Juniper Gin) and Love-Love martini (with Oyster Shell gin, dry vermouth, red shiso, Lagavulin 16 mist).
• Melbourne Gin CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Local Melbourne gin distillery collaborating on extra special dishes and cocktails during Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2025. Featured cocktails including Wasabi Sabi Gimlet and Scallop sashimi with kabosu and MGC Dry Gin dressing.
• Melbourne Food & Wine FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Major food and wine festival partnering with Robata for the Gaucho Bebop collaboration with San Telmo. The event celebrates the shared history between the two restaurants' chefs and the fiery passion that defines both kitchens.
• BroadsheetminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Melbourne media outlet featuring Robata's pastry chef Sayaka Otsu for her handmade mochi. Partnership for A.O. Serve Festival express menu promotion in collaboration with Broadsheet and Mastercard.
• UrbanlistminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Lifestyle media platform partnering with Robata for Detour Dishes campaign celebrating unexpected travel food discoveries. Also partnered with Southern Cross Travel Insurance for the campaign.
• Southern Cross Travel InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Travel insurance provider partnering with Urbanlist and Robata for the Detour Dishes campaign, celebrating convenience store snack discoveries from travel.
• Asahi Super DryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Japanese beer brand providing exclusive pour throughout the Tamura Sake Bar collaboration dinner and other events. Also sponsor for one-night-only collaboration events.
• DineSmart / StreetSmartminorOthers · 1 January 2024Robata participates in StreetSmart's DineSmart campaign, a month-long initiative raising vital funds for local services helping people experiencing homelessness transition into safe, stable housing. A $2 voluntary donation added to bills throughout December.
• San Telmo GroupcoreOthers · 1 January 2011Parent company that owns and operates Robata. The group began with San Telmo in 2011 (charcoal grilling Argentinian restaurant), expanded with Pastuso (Peruvian), Palermo and Asado, before launching Robata as their Japanese concept. Founded by David and Michael Parker and Renee and Jason McConnell.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Attica: Three-hatted Melbourne fine-dining restaurant often cited as Australia's benchmark tasting-menu destination. Comparable as a Melbourne fine-dining peer for press recognition, premium per-cover economics, and chef-led culinary positioning.
• The Meat & Wine Co: Multi-location Australian premium steakhouse chain featuring dry-aged steaks, wagyu, and curated wine lists. Comparable on premium wagyu/dry-aged steak positioning, set-menu structure, and event-goer clientele in Melbourne CBD.

Direct peers

• Izakaya Den: Long-running Melbourne izakaya offering skewers, sake, and Japanese small plates in a high-volume inner-city setting. Comparable on Japanese charcoal grill formats, sake/whisky programming, and Melbourne CBD/inner-east dining market.
• Longrain: Long-running Melbourne CBD modern Asian restaurant and bar serving share-style Southeast Asian dishes with a strong cocktail programme. Comparable on premium CBD Asian dining, set-menu structure, and event-driven late-night trade.
• Kisumé: Chris Lucas's premium Japanese restaurant on Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD, offering sushi, sashimi, and a basement bar. Directly comparable on full-service Japanese fine dining in Melbourne CBD, premium pricing, and CBD event-driven trade.
• Pastuso: Sister venue under the San Telmo Group offering premium Peruvian cuisine with set menus, pisco, and South American cocktails in Melbourne CBD. Directly comparable as a sibling full-service CBD concept with the same parent operating model.
• Minamishima: Two-hatted Melbourne CBD sushi-ya delivering a high-end Japanese omakase experience. Comparable on premium Japanese positioning, single-chef-driven culinary identity, and Melbourne CBD fine-dining clientele.
• San Telmo: Sister restaurant under the same San Telmo Group, applying the same charcoal-grill philosophy (Argentine parrilla) to a different cuisine in Melbourne. Directly comparable on operating model, group backing, premium positioning, and CBD/inner-Melbourne location strategy.
• Yakimono: Melbourne CBD modern Japanese robatayaki restaurant and bar in the same building/street corridor, applying Japanese charcoal-grill technique with a late-night bar trade. The closest direct competitor in format, cuisine, and CBD catchment.

Emerging players

• Chaco Bar: Melbourne Japanese-inspired ramen and izakaya operator with multiple sites. Comparable on Japanese charcoal-grill-adjacent street food, Melbourne CBD reach, and a younger, higher-volume positioning relative to Robata's fine-dining tier.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/robata-japanese-grill

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Robata Japanese Grill