400 Gradi | Essendon

The Verdict

It seems that Johnny Di Francesco's 400 Gradi empire just continues to grow, one delicious margherita pizza at a time. The latest addition to their family is an Essendon restaurant, complete with cocktail bar and gelateria inside the handsome 200-seater space. While you'll find their famous wood-fired Napoli-style pizza at the new venue, you will als find an incredible selection of antipasti, pasta dishes, mains and seasonal specials, each one bursting with Italiano flavours. 

Stand-outs include truffle oil drizzled carpaccio, calzone crammed full of fresh ingredients and only the best buffalo mozzarella, and the goat capretto – a slow-stewed goat dish that comes served in a rich, spiced sauce derived from a traditional Italian soup base. If you haven't filled yourself to bursting with salumi, pizza and pasta, the dessert selection is a treat, too. Nutella calzone, hand-blended gelato and a fantastic selection of aperitifs?! We'll take all three, please!

With Gradi set to open Zero Gradi, their stand-alone gelateria, later this year on Lygon Street, we can't wait to see what's on the cards for this Italian-Australian monolith's future. Bring on the pizza revolution, Johnny. 

Image credit: 400 Gradi Essendon