Queen Margaret

Queen Margaret is owned by Robert Coco and his wife Natali Bortignon-Coco, the pair who also own and operate the smart cafe and patisserie right next door Cavallini. The space that is Queen Margaret was previously an Italian restaurant and when the opportunity arose to take the lease, the Cocos grabbed it.

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. Chefs rush about, 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.