It’s a good time to be a resident of Everton Park. The suburbs busiest intersection is in a state of constant activity, and a brand-new eatery has arrived to add a dash of Italy to the precinct. Sitting snugly next to Burger Time 69 is Mozzarella Cucina, a colourful restaurant opened at the beginning of March. Beyond the venue’s alfresco dining area is a vibrant interior, boasting lush greenery, Italian movies projected onto the wall and an eye-catching mural dominating the restaurant’s feature wall. Intimate timber booths provide secluded spots for group dining, while tables with cushy cerulean-coloured leather chairs adorn the rest of the floor space.

As far as authenticity goes, Mozzarella Cucina looks to score top marks, recruiting Italian chefs for the kitchen while also importing a large array of Italian ingredients. Mozzarella Cucina’s menu runs the gamut of iconic Italian fare, starting with small plates and working its way through salads, pasta, pizza and mains. The best course of action when faced with such a stacked menu is to round up your friends and try it all. Roman seafood baskets, arancini, pizza fritta with speck and stracchino cheese and buffalo mozzarella with smoked salmon are great starting points, but save room – this is only the beginning. Twirl your fork around pasta selections like linguini with mussels, traditional Italian lamb ragu and crab tagliolini, or devour slices of classic and quirky pizzas (we hear good things about the beef-brisket pizza). The main event delivers lamb cutlets with mashed potatoes, salmon fillets with pistachio crumble, eggplant parmigiana and house-made meatballs – all hearty and filling options for those with a sizeable hunger. Over at the bar, sippers can select from a range of Italian wines, tap and bottled beer and spirits, with a creative cocktail list to debut in May.

Mozzarella Cucina is open for dinner every day of the week, and for lunch on Fridays and weekends. Check out the Stumble Guide for more details.