DOC Espresso

The Lygon restaurant strip has long been a destination for weary sightseers and out-of-towners looking for something Italian to eat. Answering the call of these bemused travellers and local foodies alike is DOC (formerly Carlton) Espresso.

From its more humble beginnings serving coffee, Italian hot chocolate and bomboloni (bombe), DOC Espresso has transformed into a pasta and focaccia bar of venerable mention. Open seven days a week, they offer a fresh section of breakfast focaccias and piadinas filled with such scrumptious fillings as prosciutto San Daniele and Pugliese buffalo mozzarella.

From lunch onwards look out for the daily house-made pasta special. Also, take a look at their spunito (snack) selection of cured meats and cheeses, which is perfectly accompanied by a Peroni on tap or a glass of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

Whilst the menu and coffee machine have been supersized and the bombe is now a Saturday special, many of the traits that made this local haunt so popular, even before the DOC juggernaut (DOC Delicatessen next door, DOC just around the corner, DOC Mornington and DOC Albert Park), continue to set it above the rest.