It’s the new restaurant of Pietro Barbagallo, who started i Carusi fame, arguably the place that kicked off Melbourne’s pizza renaissance, so it’s a safe bet that the pizzas are going to be good, and they are.

The pizzas subscribe to the less-is-more theory, with minimal toppings. My salsiccia pizza was topped with passata, cheese, chilli, red onion and, of course, sausage. The flavours worked well together, but the passata could have been richer and the sausage could have been a little more multi-dimensional.

I also found the base a little bland, and worse still, by the time I had finished, it had turned a little soggy in the middle. To be fair though, it was only the first week, so it may be that they’re still getting used to the oven.

The biggest problem that I can see, however, is the pricing, with most pizzas sitting around the $18 mark. Given the Lonsdale Street location, I’d imagine they’re expecting to draw in the lunchtime crowd, but I think the pricing is a little steep. Drinks are also pricey, with pots of Trumer Pils costing $7.50.

WIth +39 serving up pizzas that are not only much cheaper (around $12), but also better in my opinion, Barbagallo Trattoria e Pizzeria still has a bit of work to do.

These are no miserly little discs either, unlike other places that serve ‘cheap’ pizza deals, but are actually very reasonably sized. Quality is just as important as quantity, and these bases deliver. They’re flavoursome and are the right mix of chew and crispness. The quality extends to the toppings, with my margherita covered with a wonderfully rich tomato sauce, quality mozzarella and a few basil leaves.

Other cheap lunch options are available, like a range of filled focaccias, along with more expensive dishes such as risottos and pasta dishes.

A nice selection of sweets and friendly service are the icing on the cake. This one is going to be a regular!

Update (23/05/09) - As of a couple of weeks ago, most of the $10 (except for the Margherita) have increased in price to $12.50. This is still good value in my opinion.

Located up the southern end of Errol Street, Oskar doesn’t have much signage, except for one reading “Pizza”, so it could be easy to miss if not for the outdoor tables and delicious smells wafting outside.

There are quite a few pizzas to choose from, including some fairly unusual ingredients and a pretty good selection of vegetarian offerings. On this occasion we went for a simple margherita and a tomato, fior de latte and ham – both in large, and both priced at less than $20.

A large is plenty for all but the biggest appetites, partly due to the base, which is somewhat thicker than at many other new-wave pizzerias. The texture is good, with the right balance of crispness and chewiness. Of the two, I preferred the margherita, with good quality bocconcini, and a generous serving of basil. The ham pizza was overwhelmed by a 1cm thick blanket of densely packed ham. Hopefully they’ll learn that less is more.

However, reasonable pricing, good (not great) pizza and a well chosen beer menu ensures that I’ll most certainly be back.

The menu is short, with just 8 tapas, 3 mains and 4 pizzas, but despite this, there should be something to tempt most people. There’s a pollo parmigiana, which seemed a little bit out of place on the menu, but with tasty crumbing and a good salad with what seemed to be house made semi-dried tomatoes, it’s a cut above the average parma. The hand rolled gnocchi with three mushroom (varieties) and sage butter could have done with a bit more seasoning and saucing, but otherwise was good.

Equally brief is the wine list, with just a handful of reds and whites, none more than $9/$39 by the glass and bottle respectively.

If there is a weakness, it’s probably the service, which was a little too anxious during our visit. With the bright, airy space, I’m also a little surprised it doesn’t open for breakfast on weekends.

Pizza Meine Leibe is just as popular as ever, so much so that they’re now serving pizza in the bar next door, Joe’s Shoe Store.