FOOD TYPE
Italian
FOOD QUALITY
Five of us dined on a wet and wintery May night. We started with a couple of bottles of refreshing Peroni ($7 each), a small bottle of sparkling white wine ($10), an apple juice and, as it was Mother’s Day, my wife got a complimentary glass of champers. For entrees, we shared a serve of garlic bread ($5) and a rocket and parmesan salad ($13). The garlic bread was soft and buttery. Serving size was generous enough for each of us to have at least one piece.The salad was a tad small, but it was wholesome and fresh, with a tangy, dark, vinaigrette style dressing. But that’s just the side-show, because the main attraction here of course, are the mouthwatering pizzas, brought to the table, piping hot, direct from the pizza oven. We shared three family-sized ones: A “Melanz”, a combo “Bello” and “Napolitano” and a combo “Hawai’in” and “Supreme”. They’re huge, and excellent value at only $26 each, or $27 for the mixed ones. They were all delicious, with thin, crusty bases and lashings of cheese and toppings. The “Melanz” had capsicum, artichokes, eggplant, mushroom and pesto. The Bello/Napolitano was a winning combo. The “Bello” half had tomatoes, basil and bocconcini, whilst the Napolitano half provided a nice salty contrast of olives and anchovies. There was plenty of meat in the Hawai’in/Supreme, sweetened by pieces of ripe pineapple. We polished the lot off, not one piece was left. Full marks to the hardworking pizza chefs: they’ve been doing this for years and they are experts. You’d go a long way to find better quality pizzas than these. And the family size is just right for two people with healthy appetites. For dessert we shared a sticky date pud ($8) which came with a serve of ice cream and a dollop of cream. The perfect way to end the meal.
ATMOSPHERE
Perhaps on account of the inclement weather, and it being a Sunday night, the place was pretty empty, just a smattering of other diners, although there was plenty of activity in the home delivery area, with scooter drivers queued up at the front to collect their loads. We were last here probably a decade ago, and the place hasn’t changed much since then. It’s a thin, elongated space with tables arranged in a neat, north south formation. Decor is standard pizzeria style,with wooden furniture, a serving counter and pizza ovens along one side and low lighting in a brown colour tone, with white tiled floors. It does look a tad tired and outdated and could benefit from a makeover, to modernise, and freshen it up a bit. I must confess, that on the night we dined, and with so few other diners, it did have a slightly dreary ambience.
SERVICE
It’s an all-female cast of pretty waitresses here, neatly turned out in smart black uniforms. And what a pleasant bunch they are: Friendly, courteous and attentive, without being overbearing or obsequious. They made us feel welcome the moment we walked through the door. There must have been at least three on duty, and they all seem to know exactly what to do, so the place hums along like a well-oiled machine. Orders were promptly taken, drinks came out immediately, followed a few minutes later by the salad and garlic bread and then about 10 minutes later the pizzas. The manager/owner too was super nice and friendly.
COMFORT
Furniture is a bit old, and tables are small and cramped, but the pizza stands save the day. Without them we would never have been able to fit everything on the table. There’s no heating, and it was a particularly wet and chilly night, but I guess the pizza ovens keep the place warm and we didn’t feel the cold too badly.
TOILETS
Like the rest of the place the aging toilets are in need of a makeover. There’s no signage from within the restaurant, so you need to walk to the back and just keep walking until you hit them, up a short flight of stairs. Floors are slippery so be careful not to fall. There are separate male and female ones, and with adequate cubicles, at least there’s no waiting around for one to become available.
ACOUSTICS
Because of the small turnout, we had no trouble conversing but with the wooden furniture, tiled floors and with not a sound absorber in sight, this place could get noisy if it was full.
COST
With our Ent Book voucher giving us a 25% discount, we paid a reasonable $106 for three beers, a fruit juice, a bottle of sparkling wine, garlic bread, salad, three huge family sized pizzas and a sticky date pud. Plus the complimentary glass of “Mother’s Day”champers. You can’t complain about that.
BOOKING
We took the precaution of booking ahead, but it really wasn’t necessary. Plenty of empty tables, although Fri and Sat nights may be a different story. The lousy weather may have contributed to the small crowd.
PARKING
We had no problems finding a parking right across the road, where there are limited weekend restrictions, and none at night. But if can’t find something on Oxford Street, you could always drive down Oatley Road, near the Chauvel Cinema, and you’re bound to find something there.
SUMMARY
Despite the lack of atmosphere, we had a pleasant evening and everything went off smoothly. Pizzas were delicious and service was outstanding. It would be nice though, to see the interior upgraded and modernised, and that may help to bring the crowds back again. As it stands, it has the look of a place that’s seen better days, and that’s a pity because it offers a premium-grade dining experience, and in terms of value for money, they don’t come much better than this. (Just keep the prices the same guys, after the upgrade!)
RECOMMENDATION
A family pizza is perfect for two people and they’re only happy to mix and match the toppings on one pizza.
MEMO
Ent Book holders enjoy a 25% discount and watch out for even better Groupon deals. As of this writing, you can get four pizzas plus garlic bread and wine for only $48 or $24 for two.
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