Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

Il Carretto Pizza

479 Nicholson St, Carlton North VIC 3054, Australia

Recommended by 0 people

Updated

Find Il Carretto Pizza

479 Nicholson St, Carlton North VIC 3054, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9347 6571
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 9:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About Il Carretto Pizza

Il Carretto channels pure trattoria nostalgia along Nicholson Street, serving generous vintage Italian comfort minus the tourist traps. Walls display faded snapshots of visiting celebrities alongside a traditional Sicilian cart, with famous names carved straight into the wooden chair backs. Complimentary slices of continental bread and Lurpak butter land on the table the moment you sit. Longtime regulars lean toward the heaping platters of fettuccine marinara, balanced by pillowy house-made gnocchi and thin-crust pies straight from the oven. Garlic focaccia wipes plates clean before a wedge of wedding-style cassata ice cream caps off the night.

  • Retro Sicilian Atmosphere: The dining room features a traditional Sicilian cart, vintage photos, and the names of visiting celebrities inscribed on chair backs.
  • Generous Italian Staples: Generous portions of classic dishes like spaghetti marinara and house-made gnocchi anchor the menu.
  • Complimentary Bread Service: Guests are welcomed with complimentary continental bread served alongside Lurpak butter upon seating.
  • Heritage Desserts: Classic sweets like traditional cassata ice cream and layered tiramisu round out the meal.
RestaurantItalianPizzaRestaurant

What's On at Il Carretto Pizza

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Il Carretto Pizza

Discover why generations of diners gather at Il Carretto for authentic meals, nostalgic heritage, and warm family hospitality.

  • Generous Classic Italian Portions

    Dishes arrive in generous, sharing-friendly portions prepared with time-tested Italian flavors and traditional techniques.

    The serving is enormous and full of flavour.

    Kana Am

  • Complimentary Warm Bread Service

    Guests receive complimentary continental bread paired with Lurpak butter served immediately upon seating.

    We were delightfully surprised with a complimentary serve of continental bread with lurpak butter.

    Mary

  • Vintage Italian Memorabilia & Decor

    The dining space is decorated with traditional Sicilian cart ornaments and signed celebrity photos that reflect decades of Italian-Australian dining history.

    This restaurant is a blast from the past with ornamental Italian decorations and photo memorabilia of the owner with famous visitors.

    Mary

  • Celebrity Inscribed Dining Chairs

    Guests dine among unique personal touches, including the names of visiting celebrities inscribed across the dining room chairs.

    One of the most unique aspects of the restaurant is the personalized touch of having the names of celebrities who have visited inscribed on the backs of chairs.

    Hatsumi A

  • Welcoming Intergenerational Gatherings

    The unpretentious, spacious dining room easily accommodates multi-generational group celebrations and family dinners.

    I came with family as a group. The restaurant has lots of fantastic photos of famous celebrities adorning the walls of this cosy authentic Italian venue.

    Leo Peters

  • A Decades-Long Family Tradition

    Decades of continuity make the dining room an enduring institution where patrons return across generations to share nostalgic traditions.

    This was my first revisit in 20 years. I was happy to be able to show the grandkids Il Carretto and tell them something of its history.

    julie moran

Hearty, traditional pasta and pizza crafted from enduring family recipes

  • gnocchi

    The gnocchi was the best I've ever had, or in a very long time.

    Mary

  • spaghetti marinara

    We had the spaghetti marinara accompanied with a garlic foccacia. They go marvellously together. The serving is enormous and full of flavour.

    Kana Am

  • meatballs

    Meat balls are fantastic

    Paul Haigh

  • Il Carretto Special

    Picked up a takeaway pizza (I'll Carretto Special). Easy phone order, 10 minutes later, large was $17 and very tasty!

    Charles Sevior

Other favorites

Traditional appetizers, sides, and classic Italian desserts to round out your meal

  • cassata ice cream

    We were impelled to conclude our dinner with a cassata ice cream and were not disappointed.

    Mary

  • tiramisu

    And no meal would be complete without their tiramisu, which is simply divine. It’s light yet indulgent, with layers of mascarpone and coffee-soaked sponge that melt in your mouth.

    Hatsumi A

  • garlic foccacia

    accompanied with a garlic foccacia

    Kana Am

  • caprese salad

    The caprese salad was also a highlight, with the pesto adding such a nice touch to the tomatoes and mozzarella.

    Lina Meier

Before you head over

Practical tips on timing, portion sizes, and dining logistics at Il Carretto Pizza.

  • Plan Around Peak Family Hours

    While walk-ins can sometimes be seated promptly even on busy nights, the dining room packs out quickly with families and groups, leading to bustling noise and occasional wait times.

  • Pace Ordering for Generous Portions

    Portions across classic pasta dishes like spaghetti marinara and house-made gnocchi are enormous and arrive alongside complimentary bread, making family-style sharing ideal.

  • Enjoy Easy Parking and Vintage Memorabilia

    Street parking around Nicholson Street is straightforward, and late-evening or off-peak visits let you easily admire the celebrity photos and inscribed chair backs without feeling rushed.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Browse all Melbourne venues