Joanne's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Melbourne

Well well well. They (Joanne’s Pizzeria via Instagram) did say to us that once we try their NY style pizza we will be converted (from Neapolitan). So what was it like. One word, well a few actually. Let’s just say that it makes us want to downgrade (rating wise) some of the best pizzas we have had in Melbourne.

But before we get to the pizza, let’s talk first about their warm welcome, tremendous hospitality, amazing service, yes all are that, and it made us feel like we walked into someone’s home for dinner. Love it. Joanne’s Pizzeria is a gorgeous venue, cosy with the aroma of fresh pizza filling the entire eatery.

We ordered a bottle of Prosecco to get us going, and to wash down the antipasto platter that was served with a decent amount of melt in your mouth prosciutto and burrata along with pickles and olives. The focaccia on the side was fluffy and great to scoop up everything in the plate. An excellent start; sip, graze, sip, graze and continue to salivate as we see pizzas being served on adjacent tables.

For the pizza we went with an OG, Margherita, that’s our go to for when we want to critique the quality of a pizza joint we haven’t been to yet. No masking of the base and crust (with intense flap fire from too many toppings), and the tomato and cheese need to shine, otherwise no matter what else you put on top it ain’t gonna cut it if the core is a failure.

So how was it? Thin, and crispy, with enough chew and bite on the airy crust. Obviously the sourdough base has been fermenting for days (3 minimum they tell us) otherwise you would not get a base and crust like that. The toppings on the pizza were quality, flavours came through, a great distribution of cheese and each mouthful was bliss. And the size of the pizza is plenty to share between two as we had the antipasto prior. So yes, we’re converted, NY style is next level (if done right) and although Neapolitan will always have a place in our heart, the NY style from Joanne’s hit different, in the best possible way. There’s food and there’s pizza.

Oh and the side salad. A great accompaniment to the pizza for some freshness, those olives, don’t know where they got them from but they are mammoth, tasty, juicy, and in that salad made it so damn awesome.

So Joanne’s Pizzeria has taken the ranks for our best Margherita in Melbourne, and now it’s time to go back and try their other creations. What should we try next?

Thanks for having us crew!

Edit: Oct 31 2024 Second visit: they kicked every goal again. Amazing!...

after being seated for longer than 20 minutes before someone even acknowledging us, we had to call over a waitress to take our order. for her to roll her eyes at us, it must’ve really been an inconvenience to her! as she was taking our order it was clear that she was giving us attitude, even making a smart comment implying that we were the ones being rude. after this exchange it was obvious that she had gossiped to the rest of the staff, which led to us receiving the same cold treatment. we did not once feel comfortable the whole time we were seated, as we continuously received dirty looks from the rest of the waitress’. I believe this place would do better as just a takeaway shop and not as a restaurant, as the girls working there have ZERO...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this fantastic pizza restaurant in Carlton, and I must say, it exceeded all expectations! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warmth and hospitality. The service was top-notch, with staff who were incredibly friendly and accommodating, making me feel right at home.

Now, let's talk about the food – absolute perfection! The antipasto was a delightful mix of flavors and textures, leaving me wanting more with every bite. And don't even get me started on the bread – it was simply divine, freshly baked and oh-so-delicious.

Overall, my experience at this pizza restaurant was nothing short of amazing. If you're in Carlton and craving some mouthwatering pizza, look no further. You won't be...