At the end of a very long day, we were looking forward to unwind over some gelati. And Bononia – a charming dessert café in North Adelaide’s Melbourne Street – was ideal for an after-dinner treat.
It’s a happy place, with friendly staff. At night-time, strips of purple fairy lights add a touch of sparkle to the interior.
Bononia has a rather narrow street frontage, but it extends back a fair way. Opposite the counter, a long bench with stools extends along one side with a couple of tables at the end. More seating is available at some tables outside on the footpath. Compact, but perfect for pausing over an espresso or affogato, with a little sweet treat on the side. Perhaps one of the biscotti or small cakes – there are lots to choose from.
But we were here for the gelati. All made on-site, with around two dozen flavours on offer, including dairy and non-dairy options. Served in cones, cups or tubs to take away.
Benny’s choice: crema antica. This is an egg custard gelato with lemon. Few gelati flavours include eggs, but this was definitely the star of our visit. Rich and creamy, offset with a citrus tang.
My pick: rocher – a light milk chocolate – paired with a refreshing strawberry sorbetto made from fresh fruit.
Unusually, the friendly server used an ice cream scoop rather than a paddle to scrape the gelati from the tubs. All the gelati we sampled had a soft texture – a bit more like soft serve ice cream than the elasticity that we prefer for our gelati. Serving sizes were quite modest.
Update: Bononia’s North Adelaide gelateria is closed, but tubs can be ordered! Check out their Facebook for details.
A friendly little dessert café. Great location.
Bononia
145 Melbourne Street
North Adelaide SA 5006
T: 0467 391 998
W: www.facebook.com/BononiaGelato
