Verdict: Looking for the best quality gelato in St. Kilda? You found it. Looking for the most affordable? Head across the street to Seven Apples.

Try as they may, Southern California can't quite seem to get gelato right, and when they do, it's so expensive that settling for Frozen Yogurt becomes the only viable option. Want to know who does get gelato right? Australia, and Scoops is the only place where they dish up the authentic bit.

Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere?

While not much more than a counter, Scoops makes up for their simplistic approach with top class service. You're virtually free to try any and every flavor you wish, and you'll be served with a smile. Star Granted.

Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?

If you haven't quite sorted it yet, Australia is expensive, especially if you're coming from America or the United Kingdom, and while the $6 I paid for my medium cup of gelato (pictured below) wasn't ridiculous, Scoops hits a stumbling block here due to the competition across the street: Seven Apples. While $6.00 at Scoops got me the pictured below, I got a larger portion at Seven Apples for only $5.70.

That's quite a bit more bang for your buck across the way. No Star Granted.

Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?

While Scoops may have stumbled a bit when it comes to price, taste and authenticity should be an absolute point of pride. While offering only 16 flavors as opposed to 25 across the street at Seven Apples (Trampoline also offers roughly 16), Scoops gelato is fluffy, flavorful and very much akin to the heavenly gelato you find in Italy. Dual Stars Granted.

Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?

I could very easily eat quality and affordable gelato every day for the rest of my life, and I'd gladly do so at Scoops. Star Granted.

The ice-cream is on point! The flavour is stronger and the texture is divine. The only disappointment is that when I asked for a fruit smoothie, i received milk and sorbet. There wasn't any fruit options or non-dairy.