Melbourne's Much-Loved DOC Is Opening Its First Sydney Pizza and Mozzarella Bar in Surry Hills

DOC is more than a familiar name to most Melbourne Italophiles. Having launched its first restaurant on Carlton's Drummond Street back in 2007, the group has since spawned a whole collection of delicatessens, espresso bars, and pizza and mozzarella bars across the city and even on the Mornington Peninsula.

But, come the end of this month, DOC is sure to have won over a few locals, too, as it makes its Sydney debut with a new restaurant in the heart of Surry Hills. The Campbell Street outpost will be built on the group's love for timeless Italian simplicity, heroing classic pizzas with crisp bases and restrained, but high-quality toppings.

You'll spy plenty of top-notch imported Italian ingredients, showcased across iterations like the pizza ai porcini — wild mushrooms, truffle oil, mozzarella and pecorino — and the pizza san daniele topped with tomato, buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto. And no one's about to get bored, with two new specials set to grace the menu each week.

DOC Carlton by Josie Withers/Visit Victoria

DOC's Italian-made buffalo mozzarella is the star of its antipasto offering, though pasta fiends will likely be tempted by the group's much-loved lasagne, available here in both classic and gluten-free vegetarian format.

It'll all be backed by a considered mix of local and Italian vino, including some natural wines and a prosecco made by third-generation winery Cester Camillo in Treviso, Italy. And, if this one's anything like its siblings, we're sure an abundance of spritz and hearty 'ciao' greetings are also on the cards.

Not only is DOC's new Sydney home just a stone's throw away from that of fellow Melbourne import Chin Chin, it'll soon be around the corner from the first Aussie outpost of the USA's Ace Hotel, which is slated to open next year.

DOC Sydney is set to open at 78 Campbell Street, Surry Hills, from late February. It'll open for lunch Thursday to Sunday and for dinner nightly.