Pausa Pranzo

‘Pausa Pranzo’ means ‘lunch break’ in Italian but you’ll find me here for breakfast, lunch and dinner (kidding - they close at 3pm but if dinner was an option, you’d still find me here). The owners Mauro and Diana clearly have a passion for what they do; it is evident in their service as well as their food. It’s authentic, top quality and true to its roots. They serve up freshly made-to-order panini’s and now pasta options for lunch. They have 4 options for their panini’s — salami, prosciutto, mortadella, and vegetarian, all with various fillings on offer. I ordered the Il Caprino - fresh ciabatta, mortadella, grilled zucchini, goats cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. Whilst I’ve only tried one, I’m confident in saying there’s nothing to fault here. The ingredients are fresh, good quality and the portions are fantastic for the price. It is constantly busy for a reason — if anything, I feel it is underrated. I’ve never been to Italy, but I feel like if there’s a little slice of it in Melbourne, you’ll find it here.

If you are craving for a real Italian-style panino, you should definitely try this place: great vibe, great people and fresh and simple ingredients that will immediately take you to one of those family-run places in a pictoresque Italian town, where you would stop to enjoy a light and tasty panino made in the traditional way. Highly recommended for your lunch break. Oh and while you wait, they offer you a coffee. Such a nice touch! Loved it!