Deep End Pizza

Pizza options in Melbourne are innumerable. Whenever you crave a cheesy, fulfilling slice, the possibilities range from the token local pizza joint “up the road” where you can order ashamedly (Hawaiian or BBQ Chicken, for me) to the upmarket restaurant boasting an authentic Italian experience with all the provincial options (Buffalo mozzarella, San Daniele prosciutto). While pizza palaces are quite literally dotted around the city, Deep End Pizza has generated a cult following with its fierce dedication to serving American-style pizzas. Milk Bar visited the eatery one evening and is ready to (deep) dish on its experience.

Situated on Brunswick Street, and entry on Westgarth Street, Deep End Pizza specialises in true-blue American pizzas and the menu is split between New York-style thin crust, Detroit-style square crust and its signature Chicago-style deep dish pizzas. The brains behind the mission is chef and co-owner Paul Kasten, who studied in the US and yearned to bring his obsession with American-style pizza to Melbourne’s inner north foodie scene.

Now to the menu itself. It is a vision of gluttony, satisfaction and extreme delight. Small plates include the appetising Caesar salad and whipped taleggio, but the cheesy garlic focaccia is hard to resist – especially when you see another table eating it. The dense focaccia is crafted with confit garlic butter, mozzarella, grana and a smattering of herbs. The New York-style thin crust 15” options include the always faithful Cheese, Mushroom and the 7 Cheese. The standout is the White Sausage, a pizza topped with mozzarella, goat cheddar, taleggio, gorgonzola, smoked bocconcini, Italian sausage, Sicilian olive, spring onion and chilli oil.

The Detroit Pan Pizza is rectangle-shaped and is 8” x 10” (for the size queens out there). We opted for the Potato Carbonara. This mouth-watering dream is constructed with confit garlic, mascarpone, mozzarella, cheddar, thyme, potato, egg yolk, grana and guanciale. Absolutely divine, hearty and scrumptious. The Spicy Meat-A-Ball and Spinach + Pumpkin would be the next options. The show-stopping Chicago Deep Pizza 10” is no joke; it’s best to assemble a gang of people to tackle this spectacle. The options include the Cheese, the Pepperoni or the Classic (mozzarella, sausage, mushroom, onion, capsicum, tomato sauce, black olives and pecorino). Allocate 30 minutes of baking time for these bad boys.

Deep End Pizza has made deliberate choices when it comes to its impressive drinks list. Scan your eyes over it and you will come across an array of local craft beers, Fizzy Boi Pet Nat cans, natural Rosé and Maison Soleil Pinot Noir. The venue recently teamed up with natural wine pioneers at Dirty Black Denim to create an energetic and gritty Pinot Grigio called Born in Fitzroy, a small-batch orange wine made with minimal intervention that pairs well with thick crusts, oily cheese and a buzzing atmosphere.

A definite bucket-list food experience for those visiting Melbourne and a faithful pizza option for locals, Deep End Pizza understands the assignment and excels in serving authentic American-style pizza pies for energetic crowds of mates or those on a date night.

Check it out for yourself!

Deep End Pizza
412a Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, 3065
Open Wednesday – Sunday, 5pm–11pm
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