ueen Margaret opened about a month ago and is owned by Robert Coco and his wife Natali Bortignon-Coco, who own and operate Cavallini, the smart cafe and patisserie right next door. The space that is Queen Margaret was previously an Italian restaurant and when the opportunity arose to take the lease, the Cocos grabbed it. “My two loves are patisserie and pizza and we thought Queens Parade could do with a good pizza place at night time,” explains Robert.

Designed by South Yarra studio The Anatomy, the room is relatively minimal aside from the oversized text emblazoned across the white walls, which gives the space a happily chaotic feel. An open kitchen in the middle of the long room gives the place a buzz, with chefs rushing about and pulling pizzas from the large electric oven.

The menu includes a handful of small plates – including calamari and pork and veal meatballs among others – but the rest is almost entirely pizza, with fun names. The ‘Yeah...Whatever’ is a play on the Capricciosa (ham, mushroom and olives) and ‘The End of the Affair’ takes a classic Napoletana and adds oregano and chilli. It’s good to see a pizzeria with urban smarts open in Clifton Hill.

Queen Margaret
356 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill
(03) 9482 5988

Hours
Tue-Sun 5.30pm–10.30pm