400 Gradi: Award-winning Italian pizza

In a crowded pizzeria market in Melbourne, 400 Gradi continues to reign supreme, maintaining its claim as one of the best authentic Italian establishments. Growing in size and scale since first opening its doors in 2008 in Brunswick, its expansion has seen restaurants dotted across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, with locations at Crown and in Essendon, Eastland, Mornington and Mildura. Milk Bar visited the OG restaurant and was impressed by the classic Italian dishes and incredibly attentive service. 

To many people, 400 Gradi is almost a household name. Likely due to the global recognition it has received. The year was 2014. The Apple iPhone 6 was released. Aviva Drescher shocked audiences with her iconic leg-throwing scene in Real Housewives of New York. Life was good. It was also the same year when Johnny Di Francesco was lauded with the title of best pizza chef in Australia for making the perfect Margherita pizza at the World Pizza Championship held in Palma, Italy. Judged against over 600 competitors from over 50 countries around the world, 400 Gradi was put on the map forever. 

Johnny’s method of perfecting pizza is based on the guidelines of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN) – the world authority on traditional pizza. This level of detail filters through the very appealing food and drinks menu. Scanning the antipasto offerings is tantalising and features all your Italian favourites. Decide between the tagliere di salumi, calamari fritti or arancini. We opted for the mouth-watering and satisfying burrata served with heirloom tomatoes and basil, and polpette du sugo, beef meatballs served with sugo al pomodoro, Grana Padano D.O.P with a side of charred pane di casa to soak up all the juice and flavour. Drool. 

For mains, it’s hard to not order the world-famous Margherita. It’s basically rude not to. The Margherita was fresh, not too heavy, and the crust thin. The San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, fresh basil and the added Mozzarella Di Bufala D.O.P was divine. The other pizza recommendations include the Capricciosa, the veggie-friendly Ortolana or the luxe Tartufo. We paired the pizza with the linguine frutti di mare, a pasta dish of king prawns, scallops, calamari, spring bay mussels, vongole, pomodorini in seawater, chilli, garlic and parsley. The pasta was perfect for sharing between two and flavoursome. For dessert, while tiramisu is a favourite, I was intrigued by the Italian pavlova. The perfect fusion of traditional Australian and Italian flavours, the decadent artisan dessert is constructed with a hazelnut meringue, passionfruit curd, raspberry gel, mixed berries and Zero Gradi gelato. Quench your thirst with a limoncello spritz and a chianti wine. 

It is easy to see the appeal of 400 Gradi. The level of hospitality and attentive service to all diners was lovely to see, immediately setting the restaurant higher above many others in Melbourne. Indulge yourself at 400 Gradi one evening soon, or grab a post-dinner gelato from the neighbouring Zero Gradi, and re-live your favourite Italian memories.  

400 Gradi Brunswick
99 Lygon Street, Brunswick East VIC 3057