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MELBOURNE | Leonardo’s Pizza Palace Carlton is the latest venue from the team behind Leonard’s House of Love. It sees the former La Cacciatore and Da Salvatore Pizza By the Metre space, which opened in 1959, transformed into something more modern with a retro vibe.
The 1970s wood panelling has survived, as have the old style carpeted and tiled floors and some of the paintings and decorations. Dark brick walls and archways, lead light windows, and glass lamps finish the look. With most of the venue’s windows permanently closed, there’s a moody, den like feel to the space. It’s topped off by old school classic rock being played over the speakers, and sometimes live by DJs.
There are three main spaces at Leonardo’s – the main bar at the entrance, booth dining section to the side, and dining room behind. From the dining area you can see the chefs stretching dough and adding toppings before putting the pizzas into the custom built rotating wood and gas fired oven. Wood for flavour, gas for temperature consistency.
Similarly to nearby Capitano, the pizzas here aren’t Neapolitan style and, along with the rest of the menu, have more of an Italian-American / Italian-Australian thing going on. Bases are light, springy and charred, and toppings are generous. The cheese pizza is topped with tomato sugo, fresh basil, and a lot of fior di latte and a mix of monterey jack, mozzarella and provolone cheeses. Expect big stretches when you pull each slice.
Other toppings include things like pork and fennel sausage with garlic oil and sage, pepperoni, and ham and pineapple. There’s even a very tasty vegan option topped with tomato, Swiss chard, kale, broccoli, eggplant, and macadamia crema. They’re all served with small cups of ranch dressing to dip your crusts into.
Beyond pizza there’s a selection of home-made pasta dishes like the classic spaghetti bolognaise, and a mushroom pasta with Porcini sauce, button mushrooms, and pecorino. There’s also salads and a few starters like fried sardines and whipped bottarga on crostini, and stracciatella with salt and vinegar marinated jalapenos.
For drinks, and Leonardo’s is as much a bar as it is a restaurant, there’s a sharp selection of traditional and minimal intervention wines, along with spirits and cocktails, and beers on tap and in cans.
Whether its a sit down meal or just a few drinks and a snack at the bar, Leonardo’s fits the bill. The food is tasty, service fantastic and atmosphere a lot of fun. Come for the food and drink, stay for the party.
Leonardo’s Pizza Palace
29 Grattan Street
Carlton
Victoria 3053
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9242 0666
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Mon – Thu: 5:00pm to 1:00am
Fri – Sat: 12:00pm to 1:00am
Sun: 12:00pm to 11:30pm