Southgate has a large range of restaurants covering all sorts of cuisines and dining environments, from pubs and bars, to fine dining and desserts. With the arrival of Winter, we revisit Southgate to see what food delights the complex has to offer.

We begin our progressive dinner with starters at ENA Greek Street Food. First, a refreshing watermelon and ouzo granita, which is soon followed by the lemony avgolemono with risoni and dill. There’s prosciutto wrapped around sweet poached figs and roasted beetroot and drizzled with balsamic, and fluffy bacalhau fritters with skordalia, battered zucchini and beetroot dip. We also try taster portions of their larger dishes, like the pickled octopus, potato and smoked capsicum salad, their zucchini fritters with napoli sauce and rocket, and the tasty lamb gryos with potato fritters and tzatziki.

That was already more food than we expected as a first course, but we still have mains to get to. We go down to ground level for dinner at Pure South Downstairs, the more casual section of Pure South. I love the Japanese flavours of the cured handline-caught kingfish with teriyaki, daikon, and furikake, and the banging flavours of the smokey ham hock croquettes. Chargrilled Hardy Family octopus is teamed up with chorizo, pistachio and pesto. Sticky King Island beef short rib is marinated in ginger and sesame, and comes with crispy wonton and coconut rice. The protein melts in the mouth, and there’s a good balance of flavours, not being too salty or too sweet. Pure South Downstairs leaves a good impression, and I hope to return to explore more of their menu.

Dessert is at Tutto Bene, where we try their famous ‘back-to-basics’ Tiramisu. The pillowy dessert has a strong coffee flavour, and possesses a dark and handsome color in amongst the layers. It’s very good. Their lemon meringue tart with smokey lemon gel is a zingy alternative for those that prefer a refreshing end to a meal.

We conclude with drinks at Waterslide Bar, where bartenders whip up cocktails from their large repertoire.

Southgate isn’t too far from public transport, and the diversity of restaurants, cafes and bars, plus the potential for riverside views, makes it worth a look.

ENA Greek Street Food
Shop 4-9, Southgate Precinct
Southbank, VIC 3006
(03) 9690 6205
http://www.enagreekstreetfood.com.au/

Pure South Downstairs
River Level, Southgate Precinct
GR2/3 Southgate Ave
Southbank, VIC, 3006
(03) 9699 4600
www.puresouth.com.au/

Tutto Bene
M28/3 Southgate Ave, Southgate Precinct
Southbank VIC 3006
(03) 9696 3334
tuttobene.com.au

Waterslide Bar
Shop MR3, Mid Level East End, Southgate Precinct
3 Southgate Ave
Southbank, VIC, 3006
0425 757 400
waterslidebar.com.au

Disclaimer: I was invited to Southgate’s Winter Welcome Feast as a guest, however, opinions expressed here are purely my own, and are based on my experience at the time