Tutto Bene, or “everything is good”, is an apt description of the meals we have eaten at this Southbank restaurant over the years. We have particularly fond memories of its risotto and I still have blissful dreams about breakfasting on its cornetti ripieni – Italian croissant – filled with funghi misti and stracchiatella.
Tutto Bene makes everything in-house from fresh produce – even baking its own sourdough bread. And naturally that also includes its gelato, which is a key element in some of the restaurant’s dolci (desserts). If you aren’t dining in you can purchase Tutto Bene’s gelato from its gelato counter – one, two or three flavours in cups or cones, or one litre containers to take away.
The gelateria offers just a dozen flavours, which change with the seasons. When we visited Tutto Bene recently it was a bitterly cold midwinter day. Not surprisingly, demand for gelato was slow.
One upside of the quiet day was that we were the only occupants of the very smart seating area – a large circular alcove complete with a floral centrepiece on a spacious marble table.
Prices were very reasonable. At $6.50 for very generous scoops of two flavours of artisan made gelato, we thought it was good value for money.
The waffle cones – an often overlooked element of the gelato experience – were super fresh and crispy, a good sign that quality does not lapse even when trade may be a little quieter than normal.
My choice was chocolate paired with cherry mania. It was a gorgeous rich dark chocolate, while the cherry was studded with pieces of plump fruit. Both had the beautiful creamy texture of great gelati, and were a perfect match.
In defiance of the wintry weather, Benny went tropical – coconut and pineapple. He described the coconut as very good, but the pineapple, despite having an excellent fruity taste, had an icy texture rather than the smooth creaminess of the other flavours we tried.
One of the staff urged us to try the banana (his favourite). While I am not a fan of the fruit, Benny loves bananas, however he thought the gelato was little sweet for his taste. We also sampled the mint, which was excellent – just like fresh mint.
A couple of weeks later, I was back at Tutto Bene and tempted by a different selection of flavours. This time, I wanted only a single scoop, but which? Green apple or pistachio? The friendly server confessed that pistachio was her favourite, and gave me a taste of both. Both were lusciously creamy. The green apple was fresh and fruity, but like the friendly server, I thought the pistachio was better.
My single serve of pistachio in a cup was more than enough to keep me happy. A mini waffle cone added a crunchy element for contrast.
And if you aren’t in the mood for something frozen, the gelato counter also serves coffee and a range of sweet treats.
Excellent gelato, great value for money.
Tutto Bene
Mid Level Southgate
Southbank Vic 3006
T: (03) 9696 3334
W: www.tuttobene.com.au
