Look at MOI, look at MOI – Hope Island Marketplace welcomes Mad Over Italian
Every neighbourhood has its local haunts. The kind where you can roll in on a whim and be greeted with a kind of dependable familiarity that hits the sweet spot, every time. For Hope Island residents, Mad Over Italian (or MOI, as it is also known) is that place. The northern noshery has filled a gap in the local dining scene for authentic Italian eats – think pizza, pasta and irresistible desserts.
If the name wasn’t a dead giveaway, Mad Over Italian is Hope Island Marketplace’s charismatic and lively newcomer. While the majority of Italian-inspired venues can easily categorised as traditional or modern, Mad Over Italian is both, simultaneously. The family-owned establishment is underpinned by a deep-rooted passion for hospitality, promising more than just a meal, but rather, a dining experience. Here Italian flavours that would make Nonna proud are weaved through the extensive menu, which meanders from antipasti starters such as bruschetta and truffle-filled arancini, to share plates featuring burrata with grilled tomatoes, capers and basil pesto, alongside a calzone and fries loaded with bolognese and a sprinkle of parmesan.
When it comes to the mains, there are more than a dozen different pizzas to choose from, ranging from classics (prosciutto, margherita and the decadent quattro formaggi) through to a popular seafood-topped offering featuring garlic prawns, calamari and clams. Moving on, the menu branches into secondi selections and pasta. The venue’s carbonara has earned quite the following, with some diners gushing on Instagram that it’s the best they’ve ever had. Bring your Italian feast to a fitting finale with a scoop of the tiramisu or the pistachio-ricotta cannoli. Mad Over Italian also offers a range of cocktails, beers, wine and non-alc options for you to sip while you savour.
Keen to experience Mad Over Italian? Head to our Stumble Guide for opening times.
Image credit: Supplied, Here Agency
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.
