I was looking for something a bit different for breakfast and stumbled across Ladro Greville. I’ve heard about their sister property Ladro Gertrude but have never actually been. From what I’ve heard, they make one mean authentic Italian pizza on a beautiful thin crust.
ATMOSPHERE
This is a beautiful cafe turned relaxed Italian eatery in the afternoons and evenings. With a converted warehouse feel, the natural light warms up the space and the smell of a wood-oven fire completes the rustic feel. The visible white brick walls together with the black framed windows and exposed lighting all add to the atmosphere of the restaurant.
The restaurant is divided into a few different sections. They have a small front patio area with a few small tables plus their large open concept dining room and bar area. If you make your way through the dining room you will find yourself in a natural sunlit room, which looks like it serves as their function space for larger groups.
MENU
I arrived at the restaurant just after 11:30am, which was still a bit too early for their lunch menu, so wasn’t able to try any of their ever so popular pizzas. I decided to go with the ‘Organic Wood-Oven Eggs #1 Peperonata’ wood-oven baked organic ‘Josh’ eggs (2) sugo, peperonata, persian feta, salsa verde, ciabatta. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was ordering, but thought I would be a bit adventurous and see what came out. The size of the dish was quite small, however was pleasantly surprised on how filling it was. The flavours were beautiful and was the perfect dish for a rather cool Melbourne Autumn morning.
Their menu is fresh and unique, perfect for the Prahran market. Monday evenings are their charity night where you bring your own wine and pay a small $5 corkage which goes to the Prahran Mission. Such a great idea! I would simply visit Ladro on Monday nights purely for the BYO charity nights.
SERVICE
The service here is flawless. The waitress we had today was genuinely friendly and was a breath of fresh air during our visit. She was attentive without being overly visible. For a breakfast or brunch service, you want to be able to enjoy your breakfast without having someone constantly interrupt you. For a relaxed Italian restaurant, the service was spot on during our visit.
Every Friday and Sunday from noon Ladro serves up a mean spit roast for only $7. Served with crispy crackle and artichoke aioli on delicious buns is the perfect way to start or end your weekend.
Although there have been a number of mixed reviews about Ladro Greville, I think this is a great neighbourhood gem. The staff are genuinely friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing yet vibrant. The food is creative and very well put together. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Prahran area.
