Appetito Pizza and Pasta

In Carrum Downs, Appetito Pizza and Pasta is the kind of family-run spot that makes Italian comfort feel wonderfully close to home. It is warm, unpretentious and built around togetherness, where the clink of cutlery and easy laughter set the pace for a relaxed meal.

The kitchen leans into beloved classics while flirting with a few crowd-pleasing twists. There are familiar flavours in the likes of Americana and Hawaiian, but the tiger prawn pizza steals the limelight: a garlic butter base beneath plump prawns, baby rocket and panko crumbs, lifted with a bright squeeze of lemon. For something heartier, the lamb pizza layers slow-cooked lamb and baby spinach with fresh tomato and a silky garlic yoghurt sauce. Pasta faithfuls will feel right at home with bolognese and lasagna, best preceded by simple pleasures such as garlic bread and mushroom arancini.

True to its family-first spirit, little diners are well cared for with spaghetti bolognese or nuggets and chips, while bigger appetites can turn to BBQ chicken wings or a golden chicken schnitzel, with garden-fresh sides to share. To finish, a Nutella pizza or classic tiramisu brings a sweet, indulgent finale.

Gather the gang, settle in, and let the ovens do the talking. Your next slice of la dolce vita awaits one delicious bite at a time.