HOT: Zonzo, Yarra Glen

Wow. I did not expect to eat some of the best pizza I’ve had in a long time in the Yarra Valley. Zonzo at Train Trak winery has won my heart with its wood-fired goodness, bucolic views and friendly service.

Zonzo is a big restaurant inside a glamourous version of a big tin shed. The tables are long and communal and encourage feasting and revelry.  Lots of glass provides a stunning backdrop of vines and fields.

The menu is Italian inspired and split into starters, pizza, mains, salads and desserts. Forget everything else, just get to the pizza!

The pizzas are cooked in a fiery wood oven and toppings come on either a rosso (tomato sauce) or bianco (olive oil) base. We had the pizza alla salsiccia (pomodoro, mozzarella, asiago, pork and fennel sausage, Spanish onion and rosemary) and bianca con scarmoza (scarmorza, capocollo, mini roma tomatoes and basil). From the kids menu we ordered a margherita ($10) with more margherita variations and pastas being the other options. Plastic plates were automatically brought for the kids.

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What excited me was the paper-thin pizza dough which held all the ingredients in a crispy layer, not a hint of sogginess anywhere. Honestly, that pizza crust defied gravity! I kept staring at it, waiting for it to wilt – and it didn’t. The authentic, fresh toppings were almost played second-fiddle to the base.

For dessert the tiramisu was a classic affair of espresso soaked savioardi biscuits, mascarpone and a liberal dusting of chocolate ($14). I had to fight the kids for my share!

At $24 each Zonzo’s pizza prices are some of the highest I’ve seen in my pizza-eating experience. But Zonzo provides a meal with a stunning view, exemplary service and some of the most memorable pizza I’ve had. So hang the cost and just enjoy it!

Zonzo Restaurant at Train Trak, 957 Healesville-Yarra Glen Rd, Yarra Glen (03) 9730 2500

Wednesday-Sunday (lunch) and Friday-Sunday (dinner)