MELBOURNE PIZZA
Il Carusi, 231 Barkly St, St. Kilda +61 3 9593 6033
Tucked away at the tail end of St Kilda on the invisible bridge between Elwood and St. Kilda, it’s one of those places that if you blinked, you’d definitely miss it. Delightfully italian pizzas, featuring a crust that will be worthy enough of a once a week craving. I recommend the Salmone with roe and marscopone or the No. 26 gorgonzola, saute’ed leeks e mozzarella.
+39, 362 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne – (+61) 3 9642 0440
Trying to find anything good to eat in the King street end of town is a task in itself, but Più Trentanove (39+) comes into it’s own with it’s super authentic array of pizza’s. +39 also serves up the finest of paninis, piadines and the pasta’s very worthy of a mention. Just don’t go past the half/half pizza pie (pictured above). “6 thumbs up, what about you Margaret?”
Mr. Wolf, 9–15 Inkerman street, St Kilda, +61 3 9534 0255
St Kilda have no shortage of decent pizzas spots, located on sleepy but improving (pronounced: gen-tri-fied) Inkerman street. It’s the long black building with the amazing smells coming out of it; so if you get lost, use the rule of the nose. Mr. Wolf consistently pumps out extremely decent pizzas that almost never fail to meet expectations. Great for lunch or special friend time.
D.O.C. Pizza and Mozzarella Bar, 295 Drummond Street, Carlton +61 3 9347 2998
Unashamedly Italian in every aspect, this is where the “buonasera bella” brigade work. D.O.C. and D.O.P. products abound on these pizza pies. The buffalo mozzarella is air freighted just like my waiters. So bring your “Garzanti” Italian Reference Dictionary or your “Translate This” Iphone app and enjoy the trip.
Woodstock Cafe, 612 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North +61 3 9481 8122
Offbeat and quirky but Tony Cannata knows his “crust”. He still works that wood-fired oven some 20 years on. Expect old school chequered table clothes and one of his family members to serve you – but that’s what’s beautiful about this place. Leave room for his mum’s tiramisu.
Ladro, 224 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy +61 3 9415 7575
Perhaps the first true designer pizzeria. Very polished and very smooth. I thought marble tops were just for banging out pizzas, but these dudes have turned them into trendy communal tables. Interesting and simple starters your nonna used to make. Original founding partner the “molto bella Rita Macali” has left her mark. Also see Ladro Greville.
