I Carusi

Ph: (03) 9386 5522; 46a Holmes St, BRUNSWICK 3056

Pizza, $$ -, ** for Food & Ambience
Open tues-sun 5.30-11pm, Closed Sunday, Christmas eve to mid-january, Easter; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $2; No cards, Seats inside 55, Outside seats 4, Kids welcomed

Mietta's Review
A small and unassuming place, that quite simply serves the best pizza in Australia. The pizza has interesting and unexpected combinations on top of great crisp dough, the roast pumpkin, pine nuts, rocket and goats cheese is a favourite amongst regulars. Italians who have become followers say that the pizza tastes just like it did back in the old country, little wonder, cook and owner Pietro Barbagallo is a second generation pizza maker. Salads here are good too, the rocket, orange and onion a stand out. The service is fast, cheerful and gorgeous, sometimes so friendly it's to the detriment of your order. But once you have ordered and eaten, this isn't a place to hang around for a chit chat because people are waiting for your table. There can often be a long wait, so it is worth booking. If it's conversation, and the savouring of flavours that you want, consider take-away. Cash only.

Other published opinions

The Age Cheap Eats 2007 "Pizza pizza everywhere, yet I Carusi still consistently squeezes in a crowd elbow-to-elbow. Nothing much has changed, including the menu, the decor, and not least the discs: thin-crust dough cooked to a turn and topped with ingredients like house-made sugo and molten mozzarella, salty little black olives, smears of goat's cheese, juicy soppressa, pumpkin, potato, pinenuts, provolone and every now and then a generous fistful of rocket."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004 "THERE aren't many restaurants that can stipulate two sittings on a Wednesday night, but I Carusi is one. The popularity of its clothed tables has been built on thin-crust pizzas reminiscent of Roman holidays"

The Foodies' Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michelle Curtis,'Rustic,thin crusted pizzas whiz in and out of the oven all night,and they are some of the best in town.I Carusi uses excellent produce and comes up with unusual but fantastic topping combinations.'

The Age, Epicure, 25/11/03, Matt Preston,'The 2nd most nominated pizzeria and a stellar performer in past years with pizzanistas likening its thin crust pizzas to the best in Rome.'

The Age, A2, 27/9/03, John Weldon,'The place was jumping...back in Rome...is packed every night.'

The Saturday Age, A2, Food&Wine, Jane Faulkner, 24/5/03. Incredibly busy due to the quality of pizzas on offer, which must be some of Australia's finest. Bookings are essential due to the volume of customers.

Herald Sun, citystyle, Eat Treats, 6/5/03, Michael Harden. One of Melbourne's hidden gems.

Age Good Food Guide 2003 13/20

The Age, 01.05.01, Yvonne Pecujac "This is a small place with a big buzz, and the closest thing the city has to a genuine Roman eatery. It's a hip, minimalist space with a serious dedication to good food...Great ingredients; even better pizza."

The Age, 04.04.00, Matt Preston review "The margherita at i Carusi is a classic: a layer of bubbling and browned mozzarella floating on vibrant, sunny tomato sauce that has left a crimson tide around the crust. The base is thin and crisp, with just enough puff around the edges for mopping up any topping that's tried to slope off. A sprig of basil completes it. This hip little pizzeria combines retro cafe charm with just enough white tablecloths, framed Leunig prints and jazz to leave you feeling comfortable....Overall, i Carusi has the air of somewhere getting it very right in its 10 inch (diameter) way."