Jacqui Felgate reviews: Sunnyside Sliced — ‘epic’ pizza

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How far would you go for great pizza?

Sunnyside Sliced is worth the trip to Mentone. Named after the suburb in Queens, It’s New York-style pizza…and it’s epic.

Owner Ali began making pizza as soon as he grew tall enough to reach the bench of his father’s shop in Melbourne’s outer south-east. By 14, he was running the place. But it was only after marrying an American chef he realised what we were missing. The partnership didn’t last but he’s love for New York style “pies” did.

Sunnyside serves up 18 inch pizza- whole or by the slice. They are huge. Loaded with toppings, served on paper plates with the option of a sprinkling of chilli flakes from the shaker on the table — this is the pizza you get in the Big Apple…in bayside Melbourne.

What makes this restaurant so good? The base. Sunnyside’s pizzas are cooked directly on a giant stone oven imported from Italy — not in the pan. It’s a style of cooking that sets these slices apart from the pack.
There are two types of bases: thin and the thick fluffy Sicilian-style chewy bases reminiscent of your childhood.

Toppings include classic pepperoni, the white Sicilian and the Sunnyside cheese. The Brooklyn green point comes with Ciao tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushroom, capsicum, red onion, Kalamata olives, and garlic seasoning to finish.

The Hella Honey is made up of Napoli tomato sauce, mozzarella, Spanish chorizo, jalapenos and is topped with Mike’s hot honey sauce.

There’s also 3-day-old garlic focaccia, the classic spaghetti bolognese and Nonna’s Lasagna.

You can wash it all all down with an Arnold Palmer — iced tea and lemonade — a drink claimed to have been invented by the American golfer. There’s old fashioned coke imported from Mexico, cherry 7up and strawberry Fanta. Cocktails include Madison Square Martini and the the On Broadway -that’s Midori, lychee, orange juice, cranberry juice and pineapple juice.

To get to the groovy courtyard out the back you pass through the open kitchen where you can see the pizzas being made. Sunnyside also has a heated marquee where you can keep warm in winter. And you can book functions in the space.

Pro tip: if you don’t have time to wait – you can grab a slice to go from the cabinet on the street for just $7.

Sunnyside Sliced
34 Como Parade W, Mentone
sunnysidesliced.com.au

Image: Sunnyside Sliced