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And nothing is over $25 at this casual spot on a busy strip in Melbourne’s south-east.
Nothing will cost you more than $25 at a new Italian street-food spot opening this week in Bentleigh and serving everything from a hefty pizza-sandwich hybrid to made-to-order pastas.
The team behind two award-winning suburban Italian restaurants – Shop 225 pizzeria in Pascoe Vale South and Il Caminetto in Moonee Ponds – is shifting its attention to Melbourne’s south-east to open a third venue, Pronto 478, that’s more affordable and fast-casual than its siblings.
“The cost of living is affecting everyone,” says co-owner Lorenzo Tron. “We wanted to do something less expensive while spreading more of the food inclusivity people love so much at Shop 225,” which was the first pizza shop to be accredited by Coeliac Australia.
Opening on Centre Road this Saturday, Pronto 478 channels the rosticcerie found across Italy: takeaway spots with displays of readymade hot food. Most focus on rotisserie meats, but others – like Tron’s newcomer – are all about carby comfort food.
“I don’t think there’s anywhere else [in Melbourne] doing it quite like this,” he says.
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The headliner is a hybrid, handheld creation that involves cooked pizza bases being loaded with fresh fillings and folded in half into a sandwich. “It’s a Roman thing called sorisi,” Tron says. “It’s pizza made to be folded that you can easily eat while walking.”
We’ve seen similar pizza-sandwich mash-ups at places like Baba’s Deli and Noi Pizzeria.
At Pronto 478, fillings start from $14 and include saucy meatballs finished with parmesan and basil, another with porchetta and roasted potato, and sweet variations with Nutella or pistachio spread. All can be made gluten-free or vegan.
By day, the cabinet will be full of all sorts of sorisi as well as pizza al taglio, the rectangular slices, with a variety of toppings. Deep-fried delights range from arancini to calamari, polenta chips to frittatine (cheesy pasta croquettes). Slabs of lasagne – either classic with bolognese and bechamel, or laden with greens – are pre-made to take home or eat on the spot. Or you can choose your own pasta shape and sauce to be cooked to order.
By night, the space will morph into more of a Roman-style pizzeria, with the team firing thin, round, crisp-based pizzas to order. Find all the usual topping suspects such as margherita, capricciosa, and quattro formaggi with mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmesan and asiago. When the liquor licence kicks in, there’ll also be spritzes, plus Italian beers and wines.
The old Taste of Pho site has been gutted, fitted with a pizza oven, and splashed in the red and yellow of the Roman flag. Takeaway is the main game, but there is some seating.
Tron is excited to finally be servicing this side of town. “Most people include a postcode when they book [at our other restaurants], so we know there are many travelling from around here.
“And if it’s a success, we can recreate it in the city – or somewhere else!”
Pronto 478 opens on Saturday, July 18. The first 478 customers will each get one free item of their choosing.
Open lunch and dinner Tue-Sun
478 Centre Road, Bentleigh, instagram.com/pronto.478
