Lucky’s Pizzeria

Working off a casual eat-in or take-away vibe, Lucky’s Pizzeria in North Carlton is one of those sweet little pizza joint that locals love. It’s like your surrogate kitchen, really. Wander over and pick up Classic Lucky (traditional) such as margherita, hawaiian and americana, or Fancy Lucky (gourmet) that ranges from the rathdowne (ricotta, olives, prosciutto, tomato, mozzarella, fresh basil and olive oil spread), to fungi, BLT or a parma pizza.

Salsicce is the pet pizza for most natives, its tomato, mozzarella, mini Italian sausages, caramelised onion and crumbled fetta makes it a tough combination to resist. At Lucky’s, it’s all about baking a tempting crust then keeping things simple. Especially given that it resides in a suburb that's known for doing the pizza thing better than anywhere in Melbourne.

You’ll pay $11–$12 for a medium and $15–$17 for a large (eat in or takeaway) – gluten-free is an extra $3 across the board. Flatbread focaccia, hardy calzone slabs and salads are serviceable sides, but pizza is the governing player. Sure, she's no Pizza Meine Liebe, Pizza Farro or I Carusi, but Lucky’s Pizzeria holds an allure all of her own.