11 Inch Pizza, Little Collins Street
The Overview…
Food: Margherita, Capricciosa, Meat Feast Special, Patata, Zucca, and a sneak peak at a couple of their brand new desserts
Ratings:
Food: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value: 5/5
The details…
It was nice to revisit one of the first places we ever went in Melbourne – and I’m relieved to say it lived up to our awesome memories! 11 inch is tiny – it seats barely 20 people and is an open fronted unit hidden away on Equitable place – a laneway of similar restaurants, street food and cafes off Little Collins Street.
Staff are lovely, which is a good thing as you’re in pretty close quarters with them, and while the venue is simple, it still has table service for the mos part and pizzas are well presented, on real plates with real cutlery. There’s a sense of pride in this venue and once it gets busy, there’s a brilliant atmosphere and you quickly forget you’re in somewhere the size of a shipping container on a back street. It attracts an eclectic mix of people, from groups of young friends, to families looking for a casual bite, to backpackers. It’s also an ideal takeaway spot for people based in the CBD (or staying there on holiday).
Pizzas are hand crafted and there’s lots of choice. While much of the menu is focused on classic pizza styles, look to the wall for the boards containing their specials. As the name suggests, they are 11 inches, so pretty filling, but the bases are light and the toppings are fresh, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself finishing it (and if you don’t, never fear, you can take it for breakfast)!
We tried a whole range of pizzas. The first thing that struck me was how every pizza looked different – they aren’t starting with a base pizza and just adding one or two things, they are uniquely crafting each one. The patata pizza was something of a highlight for me; the potato slices had a perfect consistency and there was a good kick of flavour from the gorgonzola and shallots. We also loved the fully loaded meat lover special and even the classic margherita was nicely flavoured with a decent cheese hit!
Despite having bellies full of pizza, we found our dessert stomachs and tried a couple of their new sweet offerings. Even if you share, you need to get your hands on one of these. The nutella dessert – featuring thin layers of sweet dough, nutella, candy, fresh fruit and topped with fairy floss – is perfect for all those with a sweet tooth and is a funky, fun end to your meal.
We adored the banana and peanut butter sweet pizza, and though its presentation doesn’t have quite the same wow factor as the nutella dessert, once you eat that first bite you’ll be happy. It’s just a perfect, perfect flavour combination and despite being full I just couldn’t stop eating it! Both of these desserts were sneak peaks, so you might not spot them on the menu yet, but if you ask nicely, I’m sure they’ll see what they can do!
Everything else…
Website: http://www.pizzamelbournecbd.com.au/
Address: Equitable Place, 353-359 Lt Collins St
Opening Times:
Mon 11am to 10pm
Tue 11am to 10pm
Wed 11am to 10pm
Thu 11am to 10pm
Fri 11am to 10pm
Sat 5pm to 10pm
Sun 5pm to 10pm
Parking: As to be expected CBD parking is quite expensive, but you will easily find plenty of paid car parking nearby.
Getting here on PT: It’s about a 7 minute walk from Flinders Street Train Station, and an easy walk from almost all of the City Centre trams. Alight at either Collins Street, or Elizabeth Street depending on the tram you’re on.
Disclaimer: We dined as guests of 11 inch pizza, Melbourne. Reviews are honest and based on our own personal experiences. We cannot guarantee things at a cafe won’t change including, but not limited to, menu items and opening hours, so please confirm any details with the venue before visiting.