Off the Boat Pizzeria — Restaurant in Melbourne

A well loved local treasure with consistently great and authentic, homestyle Italian food. We have moved around a lot in the past 5 years and have travelled from near and far to return to eat here. Thankfully, we now only live a short walk away as this is our semi-regular meet up place for dinner with our friends who LOVE and rave about this restaurant (our friends travel from far North to meet with us here). We also frequently order UberEats from here with no complaints. The staff are always smiling and lovely and the overall experience is usually wonderful!

Some honourable mentions: 🍆 The eggplant pasta (Alla Norma if my memory serves me correctly), 🌶️ The Diavola pizza if you love spicy, 🍗 The kids chicken tenders are house crumbed, like cottoletta and they’re absolutely delicious, 🍝 Their polpette are to die for, just like Nonna’s and truly authentic, 🍝 Gnocchi Sorrentina is always perfect, 🐠 Don’t get me started on the Mussels and seafood pasta’s… 👌🏻😍

Everything on the menu is a sure winner and the kitchen definitely knows what they’re doing!!

Note to parents dining with babies: Dining with babies is a little bit and miss these days, so I do wish the staff were a little bit better with communication. A few months ago we rang and booked a table for 6 people and asked if we should bring our pram as our young baby was in a bassinet and we would be walking to the restaurant from home. We were prepared to be told that there was no room for the pram and would’ve made other arrangements if that was the case (I could’ve brought my baby wearing wrap), however, the young lady on the phone said that she would find us an accessible table for our pram. When we arrived, our reserved table was the bench seat table in the back corner inside and there was absolutely no way to get the pram through, it was quite embarrassing for us as the restaurant was pretty full and we now had to awkwardly figure out somewhere to put the pram and we felt like a big inconvenience which was unfortunate.

Once our baby had just started sitting up, we dined again and booked for 5 people and a high chair as he was big enough to sit upright in a proper high chair (like the standard wooden or white plastic ones that are at most restaurants). When we arrived, there was no high chair at the table and I asked the waitress if we could please have one… She came back with a Dreambaby travel booster and said “sorry, this is all we have”, which was a little frustrating as our son was just that little bit too small so we were constantly worried about him slipping out of the restraint throughout our dinner. Again, in this instance communication from staff on the phone when we booked could have been a little better as we would’ve brought our own seat for him 🙁

All in all, the food is wonderful, the staff are very friendly and the comeback since Covid is admirable, local restaurants like these copped it pretty tough during Covid and I’m glad that this local gem was able to see it through (we ordered a lot of takeaway from here during Covid and it was always amazing as usual).

I am pleased to say that our son is now big enough for the booster seat without worry, so we will be back in the next few weeks with our...

I felt compelled to reach out and express my utmost appreciation for the incredible pizzas. From the first bite, it's evident that your team has mastered the art of making pizzas with exquisite dough, soft, fluffy, and utterly divine.

The attention to detail in perfecting the dough truly sets your pizzas apart. It's the foundation upon which every flavor and topping combination shines. The texture is just impeccable, light yet substantial, with a delicate chewiness that leaves me craving more with each slice.

What's truly remarkable is your gluten-free options that surpass all expectations. As someone with dietary restrictions, finding a gluten-free pizza that not only meets but exceeds my standards is a rarity. Your gluten-free pizzas are, without a doubt, the best I have ever tasted..

Beyond the exceptional pizzas, I must commend your team for their outstanding customer service and attention to detail. Every visit is a delightful experience, and it's evident that you prioritise customer satisfaction above all else.

In conclusion, thank you for consistently delivering pizzas of unparalleled quality and taste. Your dedication to excellence has earned you a loyal...

An excellent range of high-quality wood fired pizza, with flavoursome options. The menu is a mix of tried and true Aussie favourites, in Neapolitan style, and some more traditional fare .

The inside restaurant space is rather crowded, and has lots of hard surfaces, so can get rather noisy when it's busy, which is most of the time. It's also a bit of a confined space if waiting to collect take away near the register. Later into the dining period it gets a bit quieter, but early on, when it's busy with families, it's a cacophony of noise. It is a family dining destination at it's heart.

They did at some point and perhaps still do, offer a cash discount. Personally, I prefer this over a place that locks you into card only payments, at least you have the choice.

Pizza range is not extensive, nor does it need to be, and offers some really tasty pizzas. Nothing bland here. I've only had one pasta dish, of which I can't remember, but it was worth it.

Great for take away, but also good to experience the other side and dine in. On weekends they open for lunch, Yay!

Recommend the wood fired pizza, and with a steady stream of customers, it seems the...