Don’t be daunted by the crowds around the cake counters—and there will be crowds! This is a real Italian/Melbourne experience. A move—just around the corner onto the main drag of Lygon Street—in mid-2012 has seen some changes, but the essence of Brunetti remains the same. New are the wood-fired pizza oven (imported from Italy) and an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs and a traditional gelatieri (ice-cream maker) in action. If you can get past the mouthwatering array of excellent cakes, the menu also offers authentic Italian cuisine, done very well. Or pop in for breakfast. On Sundays (and only Sundays) the lunch special (until it runs out) is always Nonna Angela’s maccheroni, with pork meatballs. If you can’t get to Carlton, there’s the cafe-style Brunetti City Square at Swanston Street and Flinders Lane in the city and another on level three of the city Myer store.