MELBOURNE | There’s been a lot going on behind the hoardings at 297 Lygon Street, since Jamie Valmorbida closed King & Godfree in 2024. He’s been working on three distinct venues, aimed at breathing new life to the area, while staying true to his family’s and the neighbourhood’s Italian heritage. The first venue, Garfield Pizzeria, opens today. I was invited to the launch for a sneak peek.
Garfield is inspired by the pizza tradition of Italy, Tokyo’s forward-thinking pizza scene, and Melbourne’s own Italian-Australian pizza heritage. It’s named not for the lasagne-loving cat, but for a local cat that kept builders’ company during the build.
Dough is made using Molino Casillo wheat flour, fermented at high hydration for 72 hours. It’s hand stretched using the Tokyo stretch method, before being topped and baked in a Marana Forni ‘Rotoforno’ wood-fired oven from Italy. The resulting base is lighter and airier than a Neapolitan one, with more char. It was long pizzas at the launch, but usually, they’ll be 23cm discs.
Flavours have been developed by culinary director Karen Martini, head pizza-maker Sangsub Ha, and executive chef, Mark Glenn. For familiar flavours, you can’t go wrong with a classic margarita, or the namesake ‘Garfield’. It’s lasagne in pizza form, with Donati’s beef and pork sausage meatballs, red sauce, and parmesan.
For a more unexpected flavour combo, I recommend the Hawaiano. Inspired by the divisive Hawaiian pizza, Garfield’s version uses lacto-fermented, roasted pineapple; zippy house-made barbeque sauce; and unctuous, thin-sliced mortadella.
Beyond pizza, there’s salads, and snacks like labneh eggplant chips, sushi rice four cheese arancini, and Sichuan pepper salt calamari. Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy lemon Biscoff tiramisu cheesecake, and Pocky-topped yoghurt soft serve made in collaboration with Jamie and his sister Lisa’s gelateria, Pidapipo, next door.
To drink It’s local and Italian beer, wine, and cocktails on tap and in the fridges. Wines lean fun and minimal intervention, and if you find something you really like, you can grab a bottle or drink to-go
Garfield Pizzeria
297 Lygon Street
Carlton
Victoria 3053
Australia
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Website
Open
Tue – Sun: 4:00pm to 10:00pm