Il Dolce Freddo – The Overview…
Ratings:
Food: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Value: 4/5
The details…
Il Dolce Freddo has the feeling of walking back in time and you almost expect a bell to ring when you open the door. The dark brick, curved glass and cream detailing on the front of the unit make you feel as though you’re entering a traditional, old fashioned ice cream parlour. Inside, the simplistic feel and slightly dim interior do little to shake this notion and it did feel quite novel.
Ice cream wise – you can work you way from Florentine ice cream parlour to Japanese dessert bar! We decided to tackle one extreme each: I went for the Asian flavours while Lee tried the popular Ferrero Rocher and salted caramel ice creams. We loved how the staff member went from confidently suggesting flavour pairings for our diverse tastes to charming the young children of a family who arrived shortly afterwards. The venue was spotless, and although the back area was closed when we arrived, she was more than happy to accommodate us by allowing us to sit there.
The ferrero rocher and salted caramel was the perfect combo. Both ice creams were rich and creamy and each individual flavour really stood out. Speaking of flavours, the ferrero rocher totally nailed it, perfectly capturing the taste of its chocolate namesake. The salted caramel meanwhile had a lovely sweet taste and is always one of Lee’s favourites so he was very happy with his choice. The servings are also very generous, with both scoops piled high atop the wonderfully crisp waffle cone.
I settled on the purple yam and coconut and lychee flavours. I loved the savouriness of the purple yam and coconut, and the gorgeous colour. While definitely not for everyone, its slightly earthy flavour combined with the cool coconut gave such a clean taste. Almost like a sesame ice cream, it’s dessert like without being sweet. The lychee was the ideal contrast to this, sweet and slightly floral – I honestly think lychee is the most refreshing fruit there is. One scoop of this one is enough to forgot it’s 40 degrees outside! (Or bring back those summer memories if you’re visiting in winter). Refreshingly different, we’re glad Il Dolce Freddo are bringing their own something to the Lygon Street ice cream market.
Everything else…
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ildolcefreddoAU/
Address: 116 Lygon Street, Carlton
Opening Times:
Mon Closed
Tue 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Wed 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Thu 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Fri 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Sat 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Sun 12:30pm to 10:30pm
Parking: If you visit in the day most of the nearby parking is paid due to it’s proximity to the city. Later in the evening and on weekends these spots are free, and there are plenty of spaces nearby.
Getting here on PT: It’s about a 5 minute walk from Swanston Street trams (alight at Queensberry St) and about a 10 minute walk from Melbourne Central Train Sations
Disclaimer: We dined as guests of Il Dolce Freddo, Carlton. Reviews are honest and based on our own personal experiences. We cannot guarantee things at a restaurant won’t change including, but not limited to, menu items and opening hours, so please confirm any details with the venue before visiting.