When good things succeed make more good things. This seems to be the ethos of Melbourne restauranteur, Lorenzo Tron who has been changing the way Melbournians eat pizza. Previously regarded as carb-loaded and meaty; vegetarians, vegans and Celiacs can now enjoy this cuisine at its most authentic.
113 Eatery recently opened on the popular High Street Northcote. Open from 3pm Wednesday to Sunday makes it the perfect spot for an aperitif before dinner. Kitchen opens at 5pm, and stays open until late.
Just entering the restaurant, I felt like I was on holidays. Bright green vines hand from the over-head banisters, sunlight floods from the front and back windows, and modern frescos adorn the front wall prompting Lorenzo to recount the story of the Sicilian Moorish heads.
Two lovers, with the wife beheading her husband when she found out he had another family. The traditional ceramic Moorish heads also decorate the front bar top.
The menu is extensive, with almost all dishes available vegetarian, vegan and even free of gluten. It is an innovative and modern accommodation to this traditional cuisine.
We started with Pomé Mules- pomegranate Moscow Mules. These looked so pretty. Sweet, tangy and fizzy, the perfect aperitif.
The polenta chips were really crispy, with a delightful crunchy crust and moist, light polenta inside. The thin cheesy dressing was the perfect accompaniment. crunchy, cheesy dressing.
The potato gnocchi is made with potato and is low in gluten. The beetroot gorganzola sauce was salty and more-ish. The gnocchi itself was soft. With the roasted walnuts and herbs, this was a colourful dish!
There are many vegan and vegetarian options for pizzas. For each, the dough is rested for 72 hours, which makes it light, with the authentic Italian chewiness and roasted taste. The Melanzane pizza was spread with smoked eggplant cream. Instead of pancetta, we had vegan meat. The fake meat slices added interest, which the eggplant cream topped with melted cheese was salty and delicious.
There is too much to tempt for dessert! We decided to try the novel pistachio calzone. Both the Nutella and Pistachio cream are made in house. It may not look a treat, but this light hot dough filled with oozing nut butter was delicious. It was sweet, without being overly sugared, and so rich that we were glad we had one between two.
Overall, we were very impressed with the food, service and atmosphere of 113 Eatery. The vibe was relaxed but fun, and the food was a perfect blend of authentic with an innovative flare, and modern catering to dietary needs. I also love that the kitchen opens earlier than most restaurants along High Street, Northcote for an early dinner.