Il Fornaio Dinner & Dessert Review - Part III @ 2 Acland Street, St Kilda

Third time lucky as they say. Ms Fashionista was down here for a weekend and the Boy and I decided to take her out to try out the dinner and dessert menu at il Fornaio.

She must have been our lucky charm! We got a seating (we were early, 6pm - the person over the phone told us that it is super busy around 8pm --> they don't take bookings either)

We had an absoultely great night, with good food, fantastic dessert, great company and exceptional service! The last was indeed a pleasant surprise given our previous two visits here was a bit... err... how do I say... abrupt and interesting (let's just leave it at that) albeit the food was good.

We put in a few savoury orders to share, but our main purpose for the night was of course to try their dessert menu... my eyes scanned the menu and rested at the "Sweets" section and had an extremely hard time deciding what to order... Between the 3 of us, I decided we could do two appetizers, one main and 3 desserts (all to share of course)...

So for starters we had a Lentil and ham hock terrine with Dijon and cornichons (a type of gherkin)... $18

Whilst the terrine was fabulous and went really well with the crispy toasted bread, the Dijon mustard really didn't add much to the flavouring or the dish

Next we had a serving of Home smoked salmon classically garnished (served with egg, capers & creme fraiche $ 17)


This was delicious, but again it wasn't outstanding or special... and the toasted white bread that came with it was a bit err.. over buttery

For the mains, we tried the special of the day, which was a roast lamb dish with a bean salad (I can't remember the price, but I'm sure it was in the high 20's)

We were quite pleased with the service at this stage, our nice waittress checked on us often enough (but not intrusively) and continuously topped up our water!

A snapshot of dinner

But I was eager to eat my dinner quickly as I knew that dessert was on the way! And what a spectacular round of dessert it was...

Million Dollar Bullet $22

First up was the Million Dollar Bullet and boy did it look a Million BUCKS! The chocolate was really dense and intense.... the licorice ice-cream was an absolute divine pairing with the intensity of the chocolate... just amazing really...

Snow White & Rose Red $18

The Snow White and Rose Red arrived with a pair of beautiful Meringue Wings (I wish I could do that) and sugared rose petals...

Ms Fashionista commented that it reminded her of "Air Bandung" (which directly translated means Bandung Water --> as in the place in Indonesia)... Air (pronounced, ah-ye) Bandung is a rose syrup milk drink...

I didn't think about the similarities until she pointed it out.. I'd rather have this dessert tho :)

SNICKERS $19

And finally, to the Snickers (caramel parfait paired with salted peanut caramel and milk chocolate mousse) ..

The dessert that brought me back here not once, but 3 times!

The dessert that stumped the Masterchef contestants in the second season...

The dessert that has made it into the top 5 most memorable desserts in Victoria...

Is it worthy of all those accolades? Yes, and much much more...

I know quite a lot has been written about this.. but clearly I have to have my say in this as well... A mouthful of this dessert is equivalent to jam-packing a whole Snickers bar into your mouth...

The tempered chocolate snapped with a resounding "crack".

The salted peanut caramel... MmMmmm.... the salted peanut caramel... remembering it almost makes me want to drive over there right now and buy a few...

I asked the Boy (two weeks after this visit), if he would return and pay $19 for another Snickers.. and he immediately replied, "Of course!"... Apparently I was asking a redundant question...

Read more about other visits here:
Tea Time
Breakfast & Lunch

*Disclaimer: All food ratings are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality

Food/ Cuisine: Modern Australian
Dining Style: Cafe/ Restaurant
Overall Food Rating (Based on the Dining style): 8/10 (9/10 just for the desserts!!!!)
Restaurant ambiance: 8/10 (it was a lot quieter and less chaotic during dinner time)
Service/ Attitude: 8/10
Value for money: 8/10 (those desserts are hard to make!)

Address:
2 Acland Street
St Kilda, VIC 3182

Tel:(03)

Website: http://www.ilfornaio.net.au

Il Fornaio is open from

Monday - Friday 7am-11pm

Saturday & Sunday 8am - 11pm (closed from 5pm-6pm)

How to get there:

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Il Fornaio Brunch Review - Part II @ 2 Acland Street, St Kilda

The shot I was aiming for in my first post

We returned to il Fornaio the second time, in hopes of catching the ever elusive Snickers dessert. So since we  failed to catch it the last time (due to us arriving when the kitchen closed), we decided that the next visit would be done early! Brunch early!

Breakfast/ Lunch menu

Look! A menu!! This time we had a very charming waiter, who was very pleasant and easy to talk to. Armed with magazines and the Boy's iPad, we were ready for a nice day along the beach (we did take a stroll on the very crowded beach).

We asked the waiter, "Will you have the Snickers dessert today? Now?"

Waiter, "Snickers? Of course! How many would you like? Just one? Excellent"

We placed our orders for our main meal and drinks (a caffe latte and a mocha)

The Boy decided to stick with breakfast and ordered the il Fornaio Benedict (poached eggs, smoked ham and hollandaise $ 15)

Hand rolled potato gnocchi

I decided to go with lunch and ordered the hand rolled potato gnocchi with lamb ragu, marjoram and black olives $21 (also available on the dinner menu $24)

The Boy clearly loved his eggs Benedict and only allowed me a tiny taste... and I absolutely loved the gnocchi and the lamb ragout... oh my.. that Lamb Ragout.. was AMAZING... delicious, with the flavours all working together to bind the sweet sweet gnocchi in the mouth... *sigh*

Now on to the dessert...

Wait a minute, where's the dessert?

Well....

Just before our dishes were served, a rather sheepish waiter came by our table...

"Madam, so sorry. I've just been told that the Snickers will only be ready at 3pm."

I smiled sweetly at him... and vowed to give them another chance... One more time, eh... Third time lucky?

I'll catch them, at DINNER!!!

For my previous encounter and to fully understand the irony, please read Part I.

*Disclaimer: All food ratings are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality

Food/ Cuisine: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Dessert - Australian/Contemporary

Dining Style: Cafe/ Restaurant

Overall Food Rating (Based on the Dining style): 8/10 (That ragout sealed my fate and smoothed my temper)

Restaurant ambiance: 7/10

Service/ Attitude: 6/10 (still staying the same)

Value for money: 6/10 (for $21, I was hoping the gnocchi dish would be a lot more)

Address:

2 Acland Street

St Kilda VIC 3182

Tel:(03) 9534 2922

Website:www.ilfornaio.net.au

Il Fornaio is open from

Monday - Friday 7am-11pm

Saturday & Sunday 8am - 11pm (closed from 5pm-6pm)

How to get there:

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il Fornaio Review - Part I @ St Kilda, 2 Acland Street

When we first heard that Phillipa Sibley had taken over il Fornaio in St Kilda, the Boy and I were ecstatic! The QUEEN of desserts had arrived in town and we were just around the corner! Minutes to her famed Snickers dessert! MINUTES! (Yes, I'm a food groupie)

The decoration adorning the wall

So one Sunday afternoon, the Boy and I took a leisurely drive and arrived about 3pm. Walked in, sat down and I eagerly looked around to see what everyone else was eating.

No one was eating any desserts of any kind. I walked up to the cake/bakery counter, and NO famed desserts. Only a few pieces of cakes, sandwiches and some quiche...

The bread and cake counter

Quite depressed, I walked back towards the seated Boy, who had kindly waited for me before putting in an order for tea and coffee (coffee apparently is a must have, since they get their stock from St. Ali)

Cane Sugar

The coffee arrived and I put in my order for the most lively looking cake behind the counter, and the Boy ordered a tea time quiche...

Coffee was good, but still only second best to Brother Baba Budan and Seven Seeds...

Caffe Latte and English Breakfast Tea

The cake arrived, and although not quite the amazing dessert I was looking forward to, it was a really good cake. Moist and full of flavour, the orange and almond was a perfect pair matched in the oven :)

Flourless Orange and Almond Cake

The Boy said that his bacon and pea (Not quite sure if it was a Lorraine), was really good. The quiche had a delicate balance of creamy and rich, which is quite often hard to find at other bakeries and cafes.

Quiche Lorraine

Although quite disappointing that we didn't quite make the try out for the dessert, the Boy and I vowed to return to try our luck again.

We weren't offered any explanations either when we asked the waitress who served us if there was a menu and where were the famed desserts. She just said, "No menu. The kitchen shuts at 3pm", and then walked away.

A bit taken aback with that answer, we did not dare to ask any more questions. We did however return the following week for breakfast...

*Disclaimer: All food ratings are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality

Food/ Cuisine: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Dessert - Australian/Contemporary
Dining Style: Cafe/ Restaurant
Overall Food Rating (Based on the Dining style): 7/10 (That cake and that quiche was amazing.. especially that cake)
Restaurant ambiance: 6/10
Service/ Attitude: 6/10
Value for money: 6/10

Address:
2 Acland Street
St Kilda VIC 3182

Tel:(03) 9534 2922

Website:www.ilfornaio.net.au

Il Fornaio is open from
Monday - Friday 7am-11pm
Saturday & Sunday 8am - 11pm (closed from 5pm-6pm)

How to get there:

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Cafe Di Stasio @ Fitzroy Street - St. Kilda

Last Monday was a public holiday to commerate ANZAC day (which fell on Sunday).

The Boy said, "Get dressed, we're going out!"


We went to the beach and strolled hand in hand (he's going to say I'm de-awesomenizing him) into Cafe Di Stasio

Initial impressions... Excellent service.. the Maitre D who served us was amazingly professional, friendly and funny all at once.. he kind of reminded me of a very good butler in English/French literature... you know the type.. poised and springs upon you when you need them (in a good way)...


We were seated next to a Bill Henderson photograph a famous (or should I say infamous) artist.


The interior was cool and calm... with door handles in the shape of a hand...


Venetian masks set the mood as the lighting features on the walls...


Warm yellow lights cascade to bathe the tables with a romantic glow


My tally of glasses starts at an impressive 3!


On to the menu, I highly recommend (as does The Age Good Food Guide), the Slow Food - A Season Lunch option which is valued at $39 and you get to have 2 courses and a glass of wine/coffee


We start of with bread and butter (as you do)


As usual, I skipped the entree and dived straight into the mains.

I ordered a Cotoletta di Maiale Con Insalata, which is a Crumbed pork escalopes with fennel and apple salad

Lightly crumbed and crispy to perfection, it was perfect (Imagine the Italian guy saying it from that Perfect Italiano ad)


The Boy was boring and opted for a Pesce del Giorno, which is a choice of pan fried or char-grilled fish of the day (Which was King Dory fillets) $34.00 (Main Lunch Menu)


I LOVED that the lemon came wrapped up in a netting cloth...

We also ordered some French Fries to share =) $9.50


For dessert, I had the Dolce del Giorno (I think), which was an Amaretto tart with creme fraiche and hazelnuts as well as Amaretto liqueur


The Boy had the Profiterole al Cioccolato which was delicious Chantilly cream profiteroles with chocolate and cognac sauce $14.50 (really strong and bitter and dark) just the way I like it!


Look AT that!


Drink tally at the end of the meal... 4! I had to finish off with an Italian made Caffe Latte (very good!)

Next time, we're definitely trying the pasta's and risotto dishes... I can see why, as it is, it earned it's 2 chef's hat =P



Food/ Cuisine: Modern Italian
Overall Food Rating: 8/10
Restaurant ambiance: 8.5/10
Service/ Attitude: 8/10 (NEW RATING FEATURE!!!)
Value for money: 8.5/10 (Highly recommend the Slow Lunch Menu $39 for a 2 course and a drink!)

Address:
31 Fitzroy Street
St Kilda 3182
VIC

Tel:(03) 9525 3999

Website:http://www.distasio.com.au

Café Di Stasio is open
seven days throughout the year
Lunch 12pm—3pm
Dinner 6pm—11pm

How to get there:

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