The Shop 225 Team Brings Its Vegan- and Coeliac-Friendly Pizzas (and More) to Northcote With 113 Eatery

Pascoe Vale South pizzeria Shop 225 – known for its plant-based cheeses, sausages and even “Nutella” – is proof traditional Italian food can be optimised for vegans. And those who can’t eat gluten; it was the first pizzeria to be accredited by Coeliac Australia.

But now owners Lorenzo Tron, Roberto Davoli and Edoardo Nicita are introducing those same principles to Northcote with their new all-day spot, 113 Eatery – and they’re collaborating with global coffee brand Illy to bring it to life. “Illy comes from my city, Trieste [in Italy],” says Tron. “I grew up with it. For me, it’s the best coffee you can get.”

Given it was named one of the world’s most ethical companies in 2021, Illy also aligns with 113 Eatery’s values. “We try to be as sustainable as possible,” says Tron. “It’s not just because of the vegan concept, but also because I’ve got a seven-year-old and I’m thinking about what we’re going to leave to the next generation. It’s not easy to make change, but I feel if everyone does it, maybe we can still save the planet.”

While 113 Eatery is owned and operated by Tron, Davoli and Nicita, Illy sponsors the operation, provides the coffee and guides its preparation. Eventually, there’ll be Illy-led barista and coffee-education classes hosted upstairs. “Illy has a concept cafe pretty much everywhere in the world,” says Tron. “We’re trying to recreate the Italian spirit here.”

Sibling eatery Shop 225 specialises in woodfired pizza as well as pasta, most of which can be adapted for vegan and gluten-free diets. 113 Eatery offers all that and more.

For now, it’s serving a limited takeaway dinner menu, mostly centred around pizza made with dough rested for at least 72 hours; it includes the Zio Edo, a trio of mushrooms with stracciatella, and the Graten, with prawns, pancetta and parsley. The menu also includes eggplant parmigiana, house-made gnocchi (with Napoli sauce or pesto) and more. Almost everything can be made vegan or gluten-free, of course. It also opens from 9am for coffee and grab-and-go snacks like vegan brownies, Italian-style carrot cake and croissants.

But the team plans to expand the menu when dine-in resumes. Expect Italian-inspired breakfasts like vegan scrambled eggs with nduja; beetroot-and-gin-cured salmon with puffed rice and pickled cucumber; and mushroom ragu with crispy truffled polenta.

There’ll also be ricotta pancakes with seasonal fruits which, according to Tron, aligns more closely with the Italian breakfast palate. “We don’t eat anything savoury in the morning,” he says with a laugh. “We have cannoli, bombolone, croissants. The mums say it’s good to eat Nutella because the sweetness enters your brain and makes it work better.”

Filled with plenty of natural light and greenery, the space was designed to easily adapt from morning to night. “In the front, we have two beautiful art deco windows,” he says. Beyond that, there’s a bar on the left and banquette seating on the right, set beneath a row of skylights. And at the back: a covered courtyard perfect for lounging in the evening with a spritz. “Shop 225 doesn’t have a bar, but here we’re going to do much more alcohol,” says Tron. “Once we open, we’re even considering doing a tiramisu cocktail for breakfast.”

113 Eatery is takeaway-only during Melbourne’s lockdown.

113 Eatery
113 High Street, Northcote

Hours:
Mon to Thu 9am–9pm
Fri & Sat 9am–9.30pm
Sun 9am–9pm

113eatery.com.au
@113eatery