400 Gradi adds desert bar, seafood, wood fired meat to world’s best pizza
Peninsula foodies can now order takeaway and delivery from this pizza giant. You won’t believe what else is on the menu.
South East
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Peninsula foodies had just a few days to sample the Italian classics on offer at 400 Gradi before lockdown forced a pause.
But the team at Johnny Di Francesco’s newest eatery has been working hard behind the scenes and the Mornington venue is now serving take away and delivery.
And the response has been “epic”.
The team said it had been overwhelmed by demand in their first days offering take away.
“Thank you Mornington!,” 400 Gradi posted on Monday.
“We are so grateful and overwhelmed by your continued support. Yesterday’s first day of takeaway was epic.”
Hungry locals can pick up more than the world’s best pizza and traditional pasta dishes.
The online menu also offers a taste of the sweet treats from Zero Gradi Gelateria and Dessert Bar including tiramisu.
Marcato Gradi is open daily for those within 5km and also taking orders for delivery of antipasto ingredients, pantry items and ready made meals.
The Mornington eatery is the first time a stand alone Gradi site has hosted all three venues.
The two storey homage to Italian classics is larger than Di Francesco had in mind when he first started looking at adding a Mornington Peninsula address to his pizza empire.
The restaurateur was initially offered a shop behind Mi Mexico, but managed to not only secure the Main St shop front location, but the upstairs and next door venues as well.
“What was a small little venture, ended up becoming a 400-seater restaurant,” Di Francesco said.
400 Gradi favourites like its world famous margherita pizza have stayed on the menu, but unlike other locations, the Mornington offering was more seasonal and seafood-forward.
Speaking before the July 13 opening Di Francesco said fire-scored meats from the Josper would also be a focus, with plans to rollout the wood-fired ovens to other Gradi locations.
“We’ll have two kitchens — one upstairs and downstairs — and both with have Jospers. We’ve found the quality of the meat and fish to be unbelievable,” he said.
“The wood-fired element makes sense, we’ve always cooked our pizzas in wood-fired ovens.
“Maybe we’ll start cooking our pasta over coals? Never say never.”
400 Gradi was also likely to spice up competition for the best slice in town.
It has opened opposite long time favourite DOC Pizza and Mozzarella Bar.
The wood-fired pizza and pasta specialist opened a Mornington version of it’s Carlton original more than 10 years ago.
It also has a deli boasting Italian produce and farm fresh fruit and veg.
