L'Osteria

Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne 2000

Contributors' Choice
Page 108

This is the place for serious pizza eaters. You go to L'Osteria for a pizza made from excellent dough with a good light topping. And you sit down and eat it there whilst it is fresh, hot and in perfect condition, no taking away in boxes to get limp and taste of cardboard. Heresy to Costa Chiavelli, owner and pizza cook.

The room is spacious with old high-backed leather chairs. It is formally laid out in a rustic sort of way. The full a la carte menu is comprehensive of many traditional Italian dishes (including a very good marinara) which are chosen by the businessmen who come at lunchtime. The rest of the time it's mainly pizzas for young families and local trendies and restaurateurs. Industry folk call in here for a quick pizza fix.

616 Nicholson Street
North Fitzroy
Italian Cuisine
Melways reference 30:A12
Phone: 9489 6302
Opening hours: Lunch: Mon & Wed- Fri 12 noon-2.30pm Dinner: Sun, Mon & Wed- Sat 6-11pm
Licensed
Seats Inside: 90
Closed: Some public holidays
Features: Restricted smoking, kids encouraged
Favourites: Capretto with polenta $18, Gnocchi all' Ortolana $13, Osteria special pizza $8.50/15

*An updated review can be found in Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Australia 2000 pg83, published by Black Inc., 2000, Vic