The Five Most Over-the-Top Takeaway Eats to Get in Melbourne

For OTT decadence with a European edge, you can’t go past the shattering goodness of cannoli — those classic Italian treats featuring sweet tubes of fried pastry loaded with creamy fillings. And when it comes to those delicate morsels, many will tell you Avondale Heights’ Cannoli Bar is the undisputed master. This cheery cafe serves up hundreds of the little beauties each day, favouring traditional Sicilian-style recipes filled with ricotta cream, sprinkled with crushed pistachios or chocolate nibs and showered in icing sugar. There are also less-conventional versions based on Oreo, Kinder Bueno and lemon meringue.

But for an ultra naughty hit, treat yourself to The Cannolone — a giant version filled with one kilogram of ricotta filling. This monstrous treat is actually designed to feed between four and six people — but we think you can manage it. The best part? In Italy, Cannoli actually falls into the realm of breakfast food, which means a cheeky morning fix is totally acceptable.

Image: Julia Sansone.

When a sandwich reaches viral internet sensation status, you know it’s got some serious wow factor. And indeed, it’s not too hard to see why the signature Idol Sandwich from newcomer Dari Korean Cafe has stirred up such huge buzz. A reimagining of the inkigayo sandwich, which achieved a cult following thanks to a bevvy of K-pop stars on South Korean TV show of the same name. And this ain’t your average sanga — it boasts an unlikely combination of strawberry jam, slaw and egg salad nestled between four white bread slices to create a somewhat mammoth lunchtime feed. It’s the OTT answer to an adventurous eater’s cravings.

Image: Julia Sansone.

Acclaimed chef Guy Grossi made us all fall back in love with the humble pizza pocket, when he opened the doors to Pezzo in 2017. The Flinders Lane eatery’s menu features a modern take on those piping hot creations. The flavours are sure to bring back memories of childhood snacks, but these gutsy little packages are a far cry from the tuckshop snacks or frozen McCain lumps you may remember. These fluffy pockets are made with 48-hour fermented dough and stuffed with fresh, Italian-style fillings — think meatballs, tomato and provolone or eggplant, mozzarella and basil. Our pick is The Shepherd, a decadent number that’s sure to have carnivores drooling — the bread is loaded with slow-cooked lamb shoulder, rosemary potatoes, onion and parsley.

Image: Giulia Morlando.

These top-notch toasties first crashed onto Melbourne’s culinary consciousness back when Maker & Monger was but a tiny French food cart at Prahran Market. Celebrated cheesemonger Anthony Femia has since moved into roomier, permanent digs in South Yarra. Thankfully, his signature grilled cheese creations remain on the menu — with as big a following as ever, mind you. As far as toasties go, the Flaming Reuben is your best bet — its crisp golden shell and stretchy, cheesy centre are the stuff of dreams. Loaded between two slices of Q le Baker Kingbrot rye bread is a molten mess of mustard, homemade sauerkraut, wagyu brisket pastrami and that all-important dose of cheese, which is melted with a blowtorch.

If you’re going to get stuck into a pizza feast, you might as well go big, right? Well, if size matters, you’ll find yourself in excellent company at Footscray’s Slice Shop Pizza. From the crew behind Burn City Smokers, this tiny corner joint is slinging hefty, 18-inch New York-style pizza by the slice or the pie. And these cheesy, foldable triangles are almost as big as your head. There’s just a handful of options listed on the wall menu, though the New York Cheese is always a stand-out. Expect a perfectly chewy base, crafted on tipo 00 flour and crowned with a mix of mozzarella, goats cheese, cheddar and taleggio.

Image: Parker Blain.