Capitano Carlton is a good Italian restaurant that doesn’t look like much but serves very good pizzas. Does that mean you have to go that far from the city center to get a pizza?
While researching the local culinary scene, I realized that Melbourne is full of Italian restaurants, which is no surprise in itself. When a country is predominantly populated by the descendants of immigrants, it’s only logical to find restaurants that embody the cuisines they brought with them.
After reading a number of articles and online magazines, I noticed that Capitano Carlton was mentioned almost every time. Even if it’s not a 100% guarantee, it’s a good sign, at least more reliable than tripadvisor. So I decided to try this restaurant during my stay.
You’ll find at the bottom of the page a summary of articles about this vacation in Australia.
The concept
Capitano Carlton is an Italian cuisine restaurant offering authentic and simple dishes, mainly pizzas. To be precise, we could even call it an American-Italian restaurant, since the chef found his inspiration in Italian cuisine imported to the United States.
The setting
First of all, it’s important to know that the restaurant is located just outside the city center, almost in the suburbs. And logically, these aren’t neighborhoods that reach architectural heights.
An ordinary neighborhood restaurant that doesn’t look like much, but attracts customers from all over the city given its reputation.
The interior confirms this impression.
It doesn’t look like much, but in the end it inspires confidence: when a restaurant with a setting like this manages to make a name for itself, it means that the food is good.
The menu
Unsurprisingly, it offers Italian dishes, mainly pizzas. It does not feature a large number of dishes, and in my experience this is often a sign of quality.
The meal
I arrive on time for my reservation but my table isn’t ready yet. I’m invited to wait at the bar, where I’ll have a Negroni as an aperitif. I’m very particular about Negronis and I have to admit that this one was very good.
My table will be ready before I’ve finished my drink, so I’ll be seated and the menu will be brought to me. I’d have a bit of trouble choosing, as I find the names and descriptions of the dishes as minimalist as they are sibylline.
I finally made my choice, helped a little by a very friendly waiter.
I’ll start with the Wagyu beef carpaccio, candied green walnuts, mustard greens, salami, black olive oil.
The dish arrives so quickly that I find it suspicious…
The meat is melt-in-the-mouth and of excellent quality. All in all, a very tasty dish and certainly one of the best carpaccios I’ve ever had.
The wait for the pizza is a little long, but eventually it arrives.
My choice was the Goomba, tomato, fennel sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, Frank’s Hot Sauce.
The dough is thin and very crispy. The crumb is light, airy and plump.
An excellent pizza, very tasty!
I won’t be having dessert and it will cost me 56 euros for this dinner, which includes an aperitif and a glass of wine.
The atmosphere
The music isn’t deafening (for once) but the property is nevertheless very, very noisy.
The service
Very friendly service and friendly staff.
Bottom line
A property that doesn’t look like much, but where you can eat very well. A very good example of an unpretentious neighborhood restaurant that exists because of the quality of its cuisine.
Was it worth going 3km for a pizza? Well, the answer is yes.
The articles about this trip to Australia
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