I love finding authentic little restaurants tucked away, and when I discovered Iltempo a few years back, I knew I'd have to return on my next visit to Melbourne. I still remember the amazing spaghetti & meatballs I had the first time. I finally got to return a month ago & once again, it was awesome. I ordered the spaghetti marinara, my all time favourite dish. It was lovely. Staff were great & drinks nice. I love the location of Iltempo also, sitting hidden away looking down on the bustle of the busy Degraves Street. Definitely worth stopping here.
Fantastic meal.
Dropped in with my sister for dinner and loved the duck. (Probably should have ordered a side of greens.)
She enjoyed the spaghetti frutti mare, tho felt it could have had more seafood.
Cocktails were nice but levels quite low in the glass.
Lovely feed tho in the very cute Degraves Street.
And Creme brûlée on the dessert menu! Always a winner with me!
This is a tiny restaurant in Degraves Street. I needed to find some dinner on my way elsewhere, so I didn't have a lot of time. The wait staff very warmly welcomed me, offered me some options on the menu and allowed me to choose my preferred table. Some tables inside are very small, so I chose outside. This was a bit too dark for my preference (hence the dim photos), but a pleasant enough table. Food came quickly. My Pumpkin Soup was very thick, tasty and curiously unevenly heated - some areas scalding hot and others not. Overall it was good, with garlic toast on the side. My Snapper Fillet was lovely, beautifully cooked and nicely presented. However the snow peas in the dish were woefully over-cooked - perhaps the kitchen staff underestimated the effect of having hot fish resting on them. My side Garden Salad was nicely fresh and coffee was good too. Very nice service overall. I would come back - I can see why it's popular - good location too.
A classy destination for drinks, coffee, or a meal, Il Tempo is quiet, with unobtrusively elegant decor. Despite being open for both lunch and dinner, their kitchen closes in the afternoon, so I was unable to sample their food, but they are certainly generous with their drinks. The staff are cheerful and enthusiastically look after their customers, collecting empty glasses and inquiring if we would like more drinks. Some may find the seating a little too cramped, but I will be back, and recommend Il Tempo to those seeking an afternoon coffee in pleasant surroundings.
