Truffle in Paradise: Truffle Dishes You Need in Your Life Right Now
Truffle in Paradise: Truffle Dishes You Need in Your Life Right Now
There’s a reason why chefs lose their minds over winter. As the temperature drops, the prized black winter truffle emerges – knobbly, aromatic and worth its weight in, well, almost gold. The Australian truffle season runs from June to August, when the Périgord black truffle is hand-harvested from orchards in Manjimup, Canberra, the Victorian high country and more.
When it’s good, truffle is transcendent. Shaved over a steaming bowl of pasta, folded into butter, stirred through a risotto so rich it borders on indulgent. The aroma alone – heady, earthy, unmistakable – is enough to stop a dining room mid-conversation.
To help you make the most of the season before it disappears for another year, here are 10 spots for truffle dishes worth chasing.
-
It's perfect for special occasions where you go all in on seafood and steak.You need to try the wagyu rump cap and a dozen oysters to start.Look out for the heritage waterfront setting and that million-dollar harbour view.Read moreThis premium steakhouse at Circular Quay’s Campbell Cove goes all in for truffle season from early June through late August. In the past they’ve had decadent specials like braised beef and truffle pie, but don’t miss other showstoppers (depending on when you visit) like bucatini cacio e pepe infused with truffle.
-
It's perfect for long lunches that turn into espresso martinis at the bar.You need to try the truffle pizza, earthy, cheesy and just bougie enough.Look out for the buzzy open kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the drama.Read moreAt this buzzing Northern Italian ristorante, the truffle stracciatella pizza is earthy, cheesy and just bougie enough to justify the espresso martini that inevitably follows. A floor-to-ceiling open kitchen serves up the drama to match.
-
Read moreWander into this intimate Japanese eating house and move past the sashimi to the banquet menu, where the chef’s inventive salmon carpaccio with truffle oil shows just how well delicate fish and earthy truffle play together.
-
Read moreFrom the team behind Melbourne’s pasta institution Tipo 00 comes its little sister, Osteria Ilaria – an always-packed CBD spot where house-made pasta is backed up by an impressively long, award-winning wine list. When truffle season hits, a silky truffle tagliolini, finished with a generous flurry of shaved black truffle, is exactly the kind of dish this kitchen does best. Pair it with a glass from the by-the-glass list and settle in for a leisurely lunch.
Fine dining + Queensland = Match made in heavenDine out on the best courses at the Best Tasting Menus in Brisbane Right Now.
-
It's perfect for indulgent dinners sprinkled with Mediterranean warmth and wood-fired seduction.You need to try the hearty feast menu—think burrata and dry‑aged pork.Look out for the subterranean Flinders Lane location and Aussie wine heroes.Read moreAlways ones to celebrate the season, the famous Nomad in Melbourne has an annual run of very special truffle dishes – its Truffle Brunch (every Sunday from 10am, late June to late July) is a rare chance to enjoy black gold in a daytime setting, woodfire cooking and all.
-
Read moreTucked away on Punch Lane, Circl Wine House packs a punch. So when black truffle comes into season, expect it shaved over something supremely spectacular. This year, chef Elias Salo hosts CIRCL’s annual truffle dinner with a five-course menu plus snacks.
-
It's perfect for luxe riverfront dinners with genuine Italian soul.You need to try the spaghettini with spanner crab, fresh and buttery perfection.Look out for terracotta tones and sweeping skyline views.Read moreOn the South Bank riverfront, one of Brisbane’s finest Italian restaurants pulls out all the stops with an indulgent six-course set tasting menu that, if you time things right, might include a shaving or two of delicious truffle in one of your courses. Even if it’s out of season, this restaurant has one of the best degustations in Brisbane.
-
Read moreAt this elegant Italian diner in Brisbane Quarter, an exquisitely crafted truffle menu takes centre stage. The parmesan risotto with scallops and fresh truffle is the heart of it – and you can add a gram of fresh truffle or a dollop of truffle butter to really gild the lily.
-
Read morePasta is the specialty at this Adelaide CBD cucina, hand-made on a marble table in the cellar by a dedicated team. Light, simple and melt-in-your-mouth. When you come during truffle season, it’s the perfect canvas for a generous flurry of black winter truffle on silky-smooth pasta.
-
It's perfect for after work drinks, date nights or wine-tasting experiencesYou need to try the sticky chilli glazed pork belly, slow-cooked ribs and strawberry smash cocktailLook out for juicy grass-fed, grain-fed or wagyu steak grilled using signature African bastingRead moreConsistently rated one of Perth’s finest steakhouses, The Meat & Wine Co is the place to go for top-quality beef and a serious wine list. Truffle’s earthy richness is a natural match for these bold flavours, so when the season arrives, you might be able to drop in and order an aged steak finished with a truffle-infused butter coating and let the two do their thing.
Truffle season is fleeting, so don’t wait – these dishes won’t be around for long. So why not send a friend or loved one a Best Restaurants gift card? It’s the perfect way to treat a fellow truffle obsessive.
Like what you see?
Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest in best restaurants near you.