Mr Wolf Restaurant & Bar

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
What once was Luxe is now a pizzeria with a cool name that butts heads with its Fitzroy contender, Ladro. Thankfully this town is big enough for the two of them, and Karen Martini and partners have created a great restaurant that’s smart and modern, offering exceptional wood-fired pizzas that are unique in taste and combination. A separate bar area also doubles as a waiting area when tables fill, as they regularly do, and two private rooms, one above the bar, one below, are perfect for parties and small gatherings.

Start with salt cold fritters with horseradish creme fresca, or a salad of fennel, pea, parmesan and mint. From the pizza selection try the Signore Lupo with roast tomato, roast cauliflower, mozzarella, sausage, pancetta and chilli, or the Sicilian with prawn, garlic, peas, cherry tomato and lemon chilli. From the aptly named “not pizza” selection try the maltagliata: roughly chopped minute steak with endive, rocket, provolone, ricotta and green chilli, or the lasagne of traditional veal and pork ragu with basil and mozzarella. Kids are also catered for with options like the bambini margherita: margherita pizza with no green stuff. Finish with a black forest pizetta with cherries and hot chocolate sauce. The wine list features Italian wines and Italian varieties grown in Australia.

Veda Wickens