Pizza Pizza Pizza

Pizza Pizza Pizza has been dishing out slices of New-York-style heaven to Meyers Place since mid 2016. Owners Michael Chen and Lazaros Papasavas met in high school, and instantly bonded over a shared love for hip-hop, sport and American culture. That was reflected in their first venue, the soul food-focused Mr Big Stuff. When that closed, they kept the location and proceeded to build their shrine to New York’s big, thin and crispy by-the-slice pizza pies.

The front room is plain and simple. Prolific designer Wendy Bergman (Chin Chin, Mr Miyagi, Hawker Hall) has deftly placed the fit-out’s focus on Pizza Pizza Pizza’s sole product. A menu overhangs the pizzas on one side of the room. There’s a stack of boxes on the other. It’s bright, tiled and open ‘til late. The neon signage outside attracts plenty of hungry late-night revellers.

By the slice or by the pie, all the pizzas are classics, with just the right measure of inventiveness. The magic mushroom’s mix of cheese and mushrooms drizzled with truffle oil is satisfying, while the pepper pepperoni provides just enough bite. There’s always an interesting special or two to look out for.

But Pizza Pizza Pizza’s biggest surprise is the unnamed bar at the back, beyond a glossy black curtain. It’s a comfortable, moody, sitting-room only bar that specialises in classic cocktails. Melbourne is full of secrets, but this is undoubtedly one of the best kept.