TAKE ME OUT
THE SEARCH FOR PERTH'S BEST TAKE-OUT CONTINUES... WHERE: Delisio, Subiaco WHAT: 2 x pizza slices (Mushroom Trio + Sausage & Mushroom) PRICE: $12
There's nothing remarkable about Delisio on the surface, it could be any other cafe in Subi. But once you squeeze inside, you know you've found something special.
It's literally written on the walls.
Owner Raffaele Brotzu's awards fill the tiny space; he's won Best of the Best Pizza Challenge in both WA and Australia. But that's nothing compared to his title of World's Best Gourmet Pizza at the International Pizza Expo in 2008.
During lunch and all day Friday, Delisio serve their pizza al taglio – by the slice. The pizza sits cooked in the warmer and is blasted once more in the oven when you've made your pick. Handy if you're on a short lunch break, or looking for something quick and greasy after Friday night drinks.
I had to try the Mushroom Trio - after all, the combination of white wine button mushrooms, wild Italian chiodini and famigliole mushrooms, sprinkled with ricotta, won Brotzu his international award.
For those not feeling as adventurous, it's not all fancy famigliole. There's always The Sell Out; your basic Hawaiian pizza with ham and pineapple.
The pizza base was spot on; thin but not too crunchy, allowing you to focus on the flavour of the toppings. Unfortunately, in this instance they were a let down. The mushrooms were bland, oily and indistinct from one another, and the mild ricotta cheese did nothing to boost their appeal.
The second slice I tried, Sausage and Mushroom, was much better. The tomato base with spicy meatballs may not be winning any international gourmet awards, but it tasted great so who cares?
Delisio make their meatballs by mincing Italian sausage. The result is far superior to the hard, grey lumps on your Domino's Meatlovers. However, the slice was let down by greasy puddles of semi-congealed mozzarella. Not even Delisio have found a way to successfully reheat cheese.
But don't let that turn you off - because the reheated pizza being served at Delisio is a class above the soggy, overloaded pizzas that plague most of Perth.
And if chewy cheese really isn't your thing, come down on a Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday night and they'll make you a whole pizza to order. LAURA SHACK
THE SCORE Taste: 5.5/10 Affordability: 4/5 Convenience: 1/2 Healthiness: 0.5/2 Hangover Cure: 0.5/1 TOTAL: 11.5/20
WHAT IT MEANS: 0-7 (Last resort), 7-10 (Acceptable), 10-12 (Decent), 13-16 (Recommended), 17-19 (Obsession-worthy), 20 (Move next door)