• Bottega (Melbourne)

Lunch at Bottega is like a few hours respite of fine Italy.  The white table cloths and requests for coats at the door, suggest a hauteur.  Still the lunch menu is reasonable value at $45 for two courses, or $55 for three.

Seated at the front, we could admire the clean, modern interior whilst people watching the busy office workers of Bourke Street on their lunch breaks.

Aubergine gnocchi was served in an unexpected way.  Its aroma was of truffles.  The potato dumplings were soft (but not as soft as Maria’s) and the eggplant was in a puree as a subtle sauce.  The tomato and eggplant were both soft in texture and flavour.

Accompanying bread was crusty and fluffy but dense inside.

Tiramisu is a specialty.  It was rich and thick, with mascarpone, and interesting, with almond biscotti.  We gobbled up the dessert, one each, quickly and were fully satisfied.

My friend loved this one: “Mmmm...this is really good. It’s creamy and has the right amount of coffee and liquor.  Only complaint is it should be bigger.  Ah, it’s incredible.’

74 Bourke St
Melbourne Vic 3000
03 9654 2252

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