80 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
+61 3 9662 1811.
Upstairs, traditional Italian cooking has been modified by modern Italian thinking, but some things remain constant. The chocolate soufflé is a case in point – especially when the chocolate is Valrhona and there’s a chocolate syrup to add, and a smooth cold ice-cream to offset the warm fluffiness of the soufflé. There are fruit-based desserts in season, such as poached peaches served with an amaretto semifreddo, or fresh figs with an almond milk sorbet. Such innovations as the arbequina olive oil ice-cream to accompany a berry terrine may not be to everyone’s taste. Downstairs in the Grill, desserts are more conventional – the cannoli are particularly good.
Open: lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat. Licensed. Desserts $26. WebsiteSource: Qantas The Australian Way July 2009