Southgate precinct has had a rehaul of late with new venues opening, refurbishments and new chefs at some of the restaurants, so it's definitely a place to check out or revisit. I was very lucky to be invited to sample the signature dish at Tutto Bene. It was a lovely dining on the shaded balcony taking in the view of the Yarra River, the promenade below and the city skyline.
The staff were very attentive and friendly - our waters were kept topped up and offers of more warm fresh bread were frequent. We kicked things off with the said bread - crusty on the outside and warm in the middle, olive oil for dipping and a few juicy olives.
My friend P, wanted it to be known that the green olives were particularly fine.
The signature dish package came with a matching wine. In this case it was a glass of Te Mata chardonnay, Hawkes Bay, NZ. Chin-chin!
Tutto Bene's signature dish itself was the Granchio Risotto. This was a spanner crab risotto with tomato and chilli. It was soooo flavoursome and seafoody. There were chunks of crab dispersed through the rice and the chilli gave it a nice kick without being overwhelmingly fiery.
The rice itself was probably a bit too al dente compared to what I am used to. But overall it was a lovely dish matched very well wine served in a very scenic setting. The signature dish package of the risotto and the matching wine is $35.
We finished off with a latte and a cup of tea (not included in the signature dish package).
Overall
Tutto Bene has one of the best seats in the house for a scenic view over the Yarra and the city skyline and for people watching (for those inclined!). The service was friendly and attentive. This is a wonderful place for a meal after shopping and exploring the Southgate precinct.
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