We’re from the firm belief that every night is pasta night, and our region has a number of Nonna-worthy pasta dishes that are guaranteed to perk you up after a tough day.
Next time you’ve got pasta on your mind, let one of these restaurants sort you out with some of the best takeaway spaghetti, fettuccine, pappardelle, and ravioli you can find this side of Victoria.
Centra, Geelong
If you’ve got an urge for Italian done right, look no further than Centra which has become the go-to place for authentic rustic Italian in the Geelong region… and they’ve just recently reopened to provide us all with epic takeaway. It’s modern, stylish, classy, and best of all is only about locally sourced seasonal produce that’s flavoursome, expressive, honest and (most importantly) delicious.
Now, back to the pasta. If you’re craving something vegetarian, Centra has a mouth-watering ricotta gnocchi dish with tomato sauce, Mozzarella and basil, or pumpkin tortellini with brown butter sage sauce and amaretti biscotti. If meats more your style, indulge in the lamb ragu pappardelle, or embrace the ocean and go for the Seafood Linguini with comes with prawns, scallops, calamari, mussels, olive oil and white wine… um sold? Pair with a glass of vino and you’ll be thanking us later.
The team are also offering pizza takeaway and they’ve even got some pretty tasty ‘Centra Deals’ which are worth checking out.
Centra is open for takeaway Tuesday to Sunday’s 5pm-8pm. Call 5224 1515 to place your order! They are even offering delivery to 3220, 3219, 3216, 3215 and 3218 for a $10 delivery fee or you can pick up your order at 131 Yarra St, Geelong.
Pearl Torquay
A Surfcoast favourite serving up happiness in a bowl.
While a relative newcomer, Pearl Torquay has quickly become known for serving up some of the tastiest Italian cooking outside of Italy itself, providing locals with a go-to destination for fresh pasta.
Adapting the perfect dining experience to one customers can enjoy at home, Pearl Torquay pair their homemade pasta with classic sauces, ideal for an unpretentious hot meal on the go. Their takeaway menu is small but faultless. Choose from the pappardelle with lamb shoulder ragu, feta and tarragon; the linguini with scallops, zucchini, chilli and garlic butter; the spaghetti with pork and veal meatballs and rich Napoli sauce; or the portobello and porcini mushroom ravioli, complete with cream and truffle oil.
Vegan’s won’t be left behind either, with Pearl Torquay offering up their delicious vegan penne with puttanesca, capers, olives and tomato.
Making good on their promise of authenticity, you can even chase your pasta with something big, bold, Italian and interesting, like a bottle of the Gran Sasso Montepulciano.
Pearl Torquay is open for takeaway from 5pm Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. Call them on 5261 7017. You can pick up direct from 8 Pearl Street, Torquay, or you can score free delivery if you’re ordering in the Torquay and Jan Juc area.
Lipari Espresso Bar, Geelong
Geelong’s home of too good to refuse carb-loaded, butter-drenched pasta. Building on recipes passed down from the family, Lipari has created a menu that pays homage to all the family classics.
Here you just need to choose your pasta of choice (Penne, Spaghetti, Fettuccine, Tortellini, Ravioli or Homemade Gnocchi) and then match it to your favourite Italian sauce and you’ll be dreaming of it for days to come. Sauces range from your classics like bolognese, pesto, matriciana, a marinara seafood mix and napoletana, to more flavoursome options like calabrese, carbonara, a Chicken, Mango & Avocado sauce and the Chef’s Special Bacon, Spring Onions & Chicken (our pick!!).
Regarded by many as Geelong’s best Italian restaurant, one which people talk about and come back to time after time – you’ll soon see why.
Lipari is located at 10 Union Street, Geelong. They’re open daily from 5pm so call 5222 5600 to place your order.
Pompei On Pakington, Newtown
Located at the river end of Pakington Street, Pompei Geelong opened their doors back in September with a clear focus on combining Italian simplicity with high-quality produce, delivering a delicious and authentic Italian dining experience to locals. A local family run business of four, comprising Alastair, Alastair’s partner Tamara, Kai, their daughter, and Brendan, their brother-in-law, Pompei combines about 50 years of experience working in food, dishing up the kind of devotedly rustic, no-frills authentic Italian food that you can feel doing you good, body and soul… and you can feel that all at home with their takeaway pastas.
The pasta menu strikes all the right notes, featuring the likes of homemade tagliatelle alle cozze, spaghetti alla carbonara, homemade gnocchi Osso Bucco and penne pesto. You’ll also find a refreshing Caprese or pear e noce salad among the other items listed on the menu. You can find the latest via their website.
Pompei is located at 321 Pakington Street, Newtown and can be contacted on 03 5298 1414.
Two Sugars on Pako, Geelong West
Two Sugars on Pakington Street is known for giving customers the real Italian experience at an affordable price, and now you can now enjoy this experience from the comfort of your own home with their authentic takeaway dishes.
With their full menu available, it’s of course the pasta that has captured our carb-loving hearts. From the delicious linguine marinara, to the wholesome spaghetti alla carbornara and their spaghettini con polpette (traditional spaghetti and meatballs), you’re in for an absolute treat. You can even branch out and try their homemade ricotta gnocchi in rich tomato sauce, or the mouthwatering lasagna with Bolognese sauce and cheese.
If you’re not feeling pasta, there’s barely a person in the world that doesn’t seek comfort in the cheesy aromatic goodness of a pizza fresh out of a wood-fired oven – and these guys have you covered there too!
Call 52210377 to organise a pick up (available between 5pm and 8:30pm), or you can order through Deliveroo and UberEats for delivery.
Il Matto, Torquay
From Sicily to the Surf Coast, Il Matto has been bringing the true taste of Italy to Torquay for the last three years and is continuing to serve their home-style Sicilian food with generosity and heart for locals through this time.
If you need a warm pasta hug, we’d recommend the Linguine del Pescatore (seafood linguini), the Farfalle al Salmone (farfalle pasta cooked in a Vodka Flambee Sauce with diced of Fresh Local Salmon, Fresh Zucchini, Cream and topped with crushed Pistacchio of Bronte) or the Fettuccine al Ragu’ di Agnello (fettuccine with braised lamb ragout). There’s also the Spaghetti & Polpette (traditional Italian meatballs) which is always a favourite.
If pasta in the simple pillowy soft potato parcel form is more your style, Il Matto’s gnocchi is the real deal. You can get Pumpkin and Pesto gnocchi, Bolognese gnocchi, butter and sage gnocchi, or just the good ol’ Napoli gnocchi.
This is Italian with sparkle, and everything they touch turns to gold.
Order online via their website, at their ‘eatappy’ app or call them on 042412008. Delivery is available in Armstrong Creek, Freshwater Creek, Mount Duneed, Charlemont, Torquay, Jan Juc and Bellbrae or pick up instore, located at 3/15 Bell St, Torquay.
Clogs, Bendigo
After 45 years of looking after the families in Bendigo, the van Haandel family’s vibrant, late night restaurant and home delivery service has been responsible for shaping Bendigo’s social landscape – so you can bet you’ll find some quality comfort food for when you need it most.
While their pizzas have earnt Clogs a spot in the Herald Sun’s top 20 favourite Victorian pizza places, their pastas are simple, unfussy, and utterly satisfying – just as they should be.
Whether you opt for the pesto penne, the spaghetti bolognese or the beef lasagne, or you step it up and try the spicy chorizo orecchiette, the Portobello mushroom risotto or the mouthwatering seafood linguini, this is the type of pasta for curing colds and foul moods.
There’s even a pasta deal where you can enjoy two pastas for only $32.90? Make that Seafood Linguini order a double!
Order online, phone through an order for delivery on 03 5443 0077, or come in and pick it up! Clogs is located at 106 Pall Mall, Bendigo.
The Forge Pizzeria, Ballarat
The Forge Pizzeria in Ballarat has long been a favourite among visitors and locals who love sharing good, regional fare with friends. While their renowned for creating delicious wood-fired pizzas made with fresh, local produce and high-quality ingredients, they’ve got a handful of special pastas that are on par with your nonna’s.
If you’re having pasta cravings, we absolute recommend the toasted potato and parmesan gnocchi with wild mushroons, thyme, parmesan and truffle oil, or their famous Carbonara, complete with pappardelle pasta with Guanciale (cured pork) finished with free-range egg and Pecorino Romano Cheese.
If you’re feeling cheesey, the Gnocchi Gorgonzola is a must!
The Forge Pizzeria has two locations in Ballarat, 1771 Sturt Street and 14 Armstrong Street North. Visit the website or call (03) 5337 6635 to place your order.
Town and Country Pizza, everywhere
Whether it’s dinner, lunch or even the odd cheeky leftovers for breakfast, there’s no going past delicious saucy pasta or creamy gnocchi.
If you’re after variety AND quality, Town and Country Pizza is the neato Italian chain that has somehow managed to maintain is authentic home-y vibe despite its size – and having been around for over 25 years, these folks definitely know what they’re doing in the kitchen.
With a huge range of pizzas that are truly delicious, it’s their pastas and risottos that are nonna-level forces to be reckoned with, covering everything from your tomato-y lasagne fantasy to a creamy pesto chicken dream.
Simply choose your sauce (bolognese, marinara, napolitana, carbonara, vegetarian, pollo al crema, chicken pesto or our favourite, the chicken and spinach) and then choose your type of pasta (fettucini, gnocchi, penne, ravioli, spaghetti or tortellini).
You can order from the several locations around Geelong including Central Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Leopold, Lara, Armstrong Creek and Torquay or visit online at www.townandcountrypizza.com.au/. Open 7 days for pick ups or delivery.
It’s not rocket science. A simple slurp of spaghetti or forkful of fettuccine can make life suddenly look very sweet indeed – so round up your pasta loving mates (just five for now!) and buon appetito!
