hookturns.com – a weblog about Melbourne

With +39 Pizzeria & Degustation going gangbusters, there appears to be demand for good pizza in the Melbourne CBD. So, the opening of Barbagallo Trattoria e Pizzeria (103 Lonsdale St, Melbourne) seems like a no brainer.

It’s the new restaurant of Pietro Barbagallo, who started i Carusi fame, arguably the place that kicked off Melbourne’s pizza renaissance, so it’s a safe bet that the pizzas are going to be good, and they are.

The pizzas subscribe to the less-is-more theory, with minimal toppings. My salsiccia pizza was topped with passata, cheese, chilli, red onion and, of course, sausage. The flavours worked well together, but the passata could have been richer and the sausage could have been a little more multi-dimensional.

I also found the base a little bland, and worse still, by the time I had finished, it had turned a little soggy in the middle. To be fair though, it was only the first week, so it may be that they’re still getting used to the oven.

The biggest problem that I can see, however, is the pricing, with most pizzas sitting around the $18 mark. Given the Lonsdale Street location, I’d imagine they’re expecting to draw in the lunchtime crowd, but I think the pricing is a little steep. Drinks are also pricey, with pots of Trumer Pils costing $7.50.

WIth +39 serving up pizzas that are not only much cheaper (around $12), but also better in my opinion, Barbagallo Trattoria e Pizzeria still has a bit of work to do.

It’s always been a struggle to find cheap pizza in the Melbourne CBD, let alone good, cheap pizza. At least it was until +39 Pizzeria & Degustation (362 Little Bourke St, Melbourne) came along. At lunchtimes it offers an excellent $10 pizza deal, with five or six simple pizzas to choose from, such as margherita and capricciosa.

These are no miserly little discs either, unlike other places that serve ‘cheap’ pizza deals, but are actually very reasonably sized. Quality is just as important as quantity, and these bases deliver. They’re flavoursome and are the right mix of chew and crispness. The quality extends to the toppings, with my margherita covered with a wonderfully rich tomato sauce, quality mozzarella and a few basil leaves.

Other cheap lunch options are available, like a range of filled focaccias, along with more expensive dishes such as risottos and pasta dishes.

A nice selection of sweets and friendly service are the icing on the cake. This one is going to be a regular!

Update (23/05/09) - As of a couple of weeks ago, most of the $10 (except for the Margherita) have increased in price to $12.50. This is still good value in my opinion.