Eat’aliano By Pino

Ever heard of pizza fritta? Well it’s like a pizza donut and you should definitely try it.

There are more Italian restaurants in Melbourne than there are cars on the road (slight over-exaggeration, but you get the point). With such a vast variety of restaurants on offer – that all sell delicious pizza and pasta – how does one set itself aside from others?

Head chef at newly opened Italian eatery, Eat’aliano by Pino, Pino Russo, thinks he has the answer.

‘You have to make money, but you also have to do the right thing as a chef for the difference in taste. We work with a few local products, but also products that have been imported from Italy. It’s better to have a good product and put the price up a little bit,’ Russo tells Milk Bar Magazine.

Eat’aliano is based in Windsor, just a stones throw from the bustle of Chapel Street. When I asked Russo whether the restaurant had so far fit in well in the area, his answer was modest and simple. ‘Yeah, I think so,’ he said.

But there is competition in the area, which Russo thinks he’s so far been able to manage. ‘Pizza has become as popular as Asian food is in Melbourne. Everyone opens up a pizza restaurant; it’s become the cool thing to do.’

But Russo has an advantage – he has worked in the industry for over 15 years, and says he’s used this time to find the best products in not only Australia, but the world. ‘Most items we get are from Italy, but we do try and source as much food locally as we can. We get our mozzarella from Sydney, I found this company that do really, really good mozzarella,’ he said.

So they’ve managed to find the best possible ingredients to put into their meals, but what else does Eat’aliano have to offer? Co-owner, Alessio Alia, says there’s been effort put into every detail of the restaurant to ensure it’s as authentic as possible.

‘Nothing reminds me more of home than eating and sharing classic Italian cuisine. It was important for Pino and I to capture the essence of Europe in all that the restaurant offers, from the design, to the menu, wine list, playful waiters, and even the authentic music,’ he said.

‘Pino cooks with special techniques passed down from his Nonna and Nonno, creating a truly special dining experience whereby diners are welcomed to indulge in the freshest flavours of Italy.’

Russo and Alia have worked together for many years; their first venture was Williamstown’s Mascalzone Pizzeria.

Russo’s favourite item on the menu? ‘The pizza fritta is really, really good. It’s like a donut of pizza. You put ham, cheese, sauce, basil, or whatever you like, inside of it, and you seal it up and fry it and it’s delicious.’

Yum.

Eat’aliano By Pino
122 High Street, Windsor
Open for lunch Tuesday to Friday from 11:30am to 3pm, and dinner Tuesday through to Sunday from 4:30pm to 10pm
eatalianobypino.com.au