D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar - Carlton

It had been a while since we were at DOC, and it was nice to return on a hot Saturday evening. The outdoor seating was just right, with a bottle of Prosecco, some antipasti, and a Cornuto spicy pizza to match the vibe. The pizza was solid, just like we remembered, though the crust could’ve used a bit more fluffiness to take it up a notch. Still, the overall atmosphere, service, and food were all spot on, making for a laid-back and enjoyable evening. A few small tweaks, and it could be even better next time.

DOC Pizza and Mozzarella Bar was bustling when we arrived. I almost thought we wouldn’t get a seat, but luckily, there was a table available in the back. We got to sit by a cozy faux fireplace and enjoyed excellent service. The beautiful waitstaff took our orders and checked in on us throughout the evening. With soft music and beautiful artwork, the space felt genuinely authentic. We decided on a margherita pizza and drinks, which were delicious! There were so many tempting options, including a variety of mozzarella spreads. Since we’d already eaten earlier, we opted for something light to share, but I’d recommend trying their cheese selections. Based on the pizza, I’d definitely be excited to come back and explore them more. It’s a beautifully designed, truly authentic restaurant full of charm and atmosphere. I highly recommend getting adventurous and sampling their cheese selection—it’s something I’d love to do on my next visit!

D.O.C. Carlton is hands-down one of Melbourne's finest pizzerias, offering an authentic taste and feel of Italy. If you’re searching for artisan pizza that’s the real deal, this is your spot. The atmosphere is electric, lively, and reminiscent of a bustling Italian trattoria—perfect for both quick bites and long, leisurely meals. The no-bookings policy for smaller groups might mean a bit of a wait, but don’t let that deter you. It’s well worth it, and you’ll be dreaming of Italy as you soak in the ambiance. The staff are absolutely lovely—warm, welcoming, and always ready to recommend their favorites. The focus on high-quality, authentic ingredients shines through in every dish. Plates of creamy fior di latte mozzarella and perfectly sliced San Daniele prosciutto are just the start. The pizza? Outstanding—a balance of crisp yet chewy crusts, fresh toppings, and robust flavours. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, D.O.C. never fails to deliver an exceptional Italian experience. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a true taste of Italy in Melbourne!

I went to Pizza DOC and honestly the pizza is very tasty! Like real italian pizza in Melbourne. The wine selection is great as well! I very much appreciated service from Giovanni, he was very attentive, nice and polite. I will come back for sure. Thanks Pizza DOC.

After a long flight, my friend recommended this restaurant. We tried five different pizza (with fior di latte, anchovies, olives, mushrooms) and it was a delight - the perfect balance of fresh cheese, tomato sauce, and a beautifully crisp crust. The staff were friendly.

Great lunch experience with my family and it was our first lunch in Melbourne! Texture of the pizza crust was just nice to our preference and the pizza itself was an explosion of flavours! There wasn’t much crowd when we arrived (maybe because it’s past lunch hour). It’s a right place to have lunch and spend time with your family! Highly recommended.

Yum yum yum. Best pizzas on Lygon Street are off Lygon Street. All tasty and all Italian. Wait times is unfortunately longer than usual almost every night .

Thought we drop in for a Sunday dinner. Service was great and staff are friendly. We sat upstairs which was comfortable. Upstairs would be great for a private function. Just needs a little more ambiance. We ordered the Salumi Board and Gnocchi in a delicious tomato sauce. Even though we didn’t order Pizzas, they looked delicious on other tables. Would definitely come back again

I ate here quite some time ago and had the best eggplant parma, I hope they still have it! I didn't order pizza but I remember everyone else in the restaurant seemed to have a pizza so they must be very popular. I am looking forward to visiting DOC Pizza again

DOC Pizza & Mozzarella Bar has amazing Italian food. The pizzas are some of the best. The service is excellent and the ambiance is really nice. Enjoyed the dining experience here.

There are few reviews on Yelp for D.O.C. mainly because the Aussie's don't use Yelp in the same way we do in the states. If you judge success by the lines, the buzz and the reviews on other sites, you'll have to conclude this cozy neighborhood joint is popular, busy and is serving up some very good Neopolitan pizza, which is fitting in Carlton, considered to be Melbourne's Little Italy. Of course, D.O.C. stands for 'Denominazione di Origine Controllata' and while typically you'll see this on wine bottles to authenticate their Italian origin, you can also certify D.O.C. on pizza. To do so, you need to make two pizzas at the proper level to earn certification: Marinara: tomatoes, oil, oregano , garlic and a Margherita with tomatoes, oil, mozzarella, basil. We found the pizza here excellent, and they had some delicious simple salads, wine and dessert. Pizzas are small, so ordered three pizzas for three people, including their margherita, a meat and olive and a mushroom and truffle. The size of the restaurant is cozy boarding on claustrophobic, with the caveat that were dining here on a warm summer's evening, and the heat from the pizza oven turned up the sticky factor inside considerably.

Enjoyed my meal here. I had the spaghetti and a glass of wine. I think I got lucky as there was no line and a table open inside (outside was full). This a cute aesthetically pleasing little spot. If you are craving Italian food this is the spot. The only caveat was the staff wasn't particularly friendly, but I'd come back for the food

This place is awesome, particularly since it acurately reflects its Italian theme. Sure, they have pizzas, but they aren't those faux italian pizzas that you find being made at the multitude of pizzarias that are scattered across the country, and when they have wine, they are proper italian wines. I landed up here since a friend of mine was heading home and she decided to come here, and woah, it was impressive, especially the cheese and meat platters that came with out meals. All I can say is that this place was awesome, though judging by the crowds, it certainly wasn't a secret.

Superb pizza here. We had two the names of which I didn't capture as I was too engrossed in conversation. They were extremely good. Expertly made and super tasty. I didn't mind even when a bit of very hot chilli lodged in my throat making for a very uncomfortable minute or two. Our server here was outstanding - pleasant and very efficient - but also thinly spread. She was a super trooper but was being asked to do far too much, in my view. This is a very nice pizza as was underscored by the healthy crowd in on a cold Melbourne night.

Easily what I would recommend as one of the best pizza joints in Melbourne. It can be tough to get a table because of is popularity, but the wait is most certainly justified. Fresh mozzarella with a satisfying salumi board to get your gastric juices flowing is the perfect way to start. I had the Pizza ai Porcini - wild mushrooms, truffle oil & mozzarella. The balanced hint of truffle blended into the pizza beautifully without overpowering the other ingredients. My dining partner had the Pizza Speck - prosciutto, fontina, wild mushroom and thyme. It's my favourite and something I usually order, but I thought I'd try something different. It's another perfectly balanced flavour of all the toppings, and one I'd recommend. Definitely looking forward to my next visit.

First greeted with a smile accompanied by some italian phrases Immediately asked if we wanted drinks and our beverages were delivered right away. Once we decided on our pizzas we ordered. Not 10 minutes later they arrived...together! Amazing! Better than ones in Italy!!!! Honestly! A must is the gorgonzola cheese with fig! And the fancy mushroom pizza with truffle oil!!! Wow

You've got to admire a menu that has a whole glossary of cheese and cured meats on the back. And, you may just need it when dining at D.O.C if you're unfamiliar with some of the more unusual Italian delicacies. My most recent visit here was loads of fun - a glass of Prosecco to start while we tackled the antipasto plate. It was less meaty than I had imagined it would be, but with an abundance of cheese (four generous portions!) my dining companion and I were pretty happy. The funky peccorino with a slick of truffled honey on the top was an absolute winner. Next - pizza! D.O.C makes MY kind of pizza style - a thin base with not too many toppings. The Nepolitana got three thumbs up (yes, three!) as it was a simple creation of tomato, mozarella, anchovie and olive. There may have been some eye rolling as I took my first mouthful... The waiters were fabulous - not too intrusive and with a nice amount of spunk and authority that leaves diners feeling cared for and also entertained. My hot tip? Leave room in the dessert stomach for the tiramasu...

To me D.O.C. is clearly the front runner for pizza in the Melbourne area! Darn near perfect crust and great flavor combinations will put a smile on your face. Its very busy but these guys can knock out some great food so waiting a few minutes is no problem. I know pizza. ALOT of people say that I'm sure but i feel very comfortable telling you to try these. Its not just the quality of the ingredients but how nicely they combine them that makes D.O.C. the one to beat. Great Caprese salad also! Using the rocket gives the delicate buffalo mozz and heirloom tomatoes that little pepper bite and completes the dish nicely. Super popular, loud and tight. They forgot my salad till we were done with the pies but once I tasted it all was forgiven. Cannot wait to go back here! Thank you D.O.C.

Perfect venue for after movie dinner. Luckily for us there were still a few tables empty as hasn't been here but had heard great things. Good service, had time to look over the menu without feeling pressured. Drinks came about 30 seconds after we ordered them so more bonus points. The mozzarella on the pizza DOC was seriously good. Pomodoro was also tasty but fave was the DOC. Would definitely return!

This is my Italian mate's favourite pizza in Melbourne. He's a bit of a walking cliche that eats pizza probably 5 times a week (yeah, he a bachelor) so that claim is no small proclamation. He introduced me to it recently, and after a short wait outside having my nostrils taunted by all the al fresco diners (a wait that I thought would take 30 mins but was thankfully under 10 - they must turn tables quickly here) I had to agree that he was onto something here. Very similar to +39 Pizzeria in the city in their pizza styles, thin base with scarce but tasty toppings, the food flies out to your table quickly here (explaining the short wait time) and the wine list was decent, but could do with more 'by the glass' options. I know there are those who call out that this style of pizza is like the Emperor's new clothes - bursting the hype bubble to ponder why you would pay more for a pizza with much less on it. Each to their own but while there's definitely a time and a place for your local take-away joint greasy pizza piled high with packet ham and cheese, my own thinking is that the quality of the ingredients at places like D.O.C might seem like an exercise in minimalism, but ends up maximising the taste. Just ask my mate. He's probably there right now.

D.O.C. is owned by the same people as nearby Carlton Espresso, but specializes in pizza and mozzarella. Actually, pizza and mozzarella is all that is on the menu, so if you're lactose intolerant it's probably not the place for you. If you're not, then go! Now! Seriously, it's the best authentic Italian pizza I've had outside of Italy. 'D.O.C.' is actually some kind of food certification standard in Italy, so I can only assume that's why it's so damn good. I'd recommend going with a large group so you can order one of everything because as far as I'm concerned, there's no clear highlight on the menu. It's 100% hits. You don't need to book, and they turn tables over pretty quickly. Of the 10+ times I've been, I've never waited more than 20 minutes to be seated. Don't expect silver service - the staff are always run off their feet, there's often families with noisy children and you'll sometimes be seated on communal tables, but D.O.C. isn't about having a laid back meal. It's about stuffing your face with pizza then slapping the table with satisfaction. Seriously, it's that tasty.

The menu is a delicious mix of amazing fresh mozzerella, antipizza, beautiful big hunks of prosciutto loaded to the old fashioned slicing machine and lots of amazing sounding pizzas. There is no changes, no half half 'scusi'! But the pizzas are a fabulous mix of the traditional with Capricciosa, Napolitana and Calzone. I go for the Pizza ai Porcini with wild mushrooms and truffle oil and mozzarella in bianco with grated pecorino, it smells fantastic!... read more on my blog

Delicious pizza and worth the journey from the CBD! Had a delicious pizza with prosciutto and Buffalo mozzarella with perfectly cooked crust. Couldn't have asked for better service!

Beautiful food here!!! We started dinner with the appetizer platter - all items (cheeses, olives, ham and salami) were very well matched and paired, complementing each other in terms of taste and visual beauty. With such a great kick off, we continued with a pear salad. It had a surprisingy light and yet sweet dressing, which brought out the contrasting textures and taste of rocket and pear. A must try. This salad matched well with our porcini pizza, which was prepared with truffle oil. The thin crust pizza's dough was really light, fluffy and very tasty - one of the best doughs I've tried. The restaurant has a good selection of Italian beers and wines, great company to great pizzas, hams and cheeses.

A group of my friends and I regularly do a "boozy ladies lunch". Usually we go for more fine dining options however one of the group members recently became a mum so we thought that D.O.C may be more suitable this time. The food was all delicious, we started with an antipasto platter and a mozzarella platter and then shared pizzas. On a recommendations from a friend we had the porcini and truffle oil pizza which was just devine! We had a scampi pizza off the specials board which had the most delicious herb cause on the base, and we had a margarita. The pizza bases are thin and crispy which in my opinion is just how they should be. The pizza base should be there just to hold all of the yummy toppings in place. Unfortunately the space at D.O.C is not the most suitable for prams however the staff were very accommodating and happy to rearrange some furniture to find a spot to park it. D.O.C is worth a visit!

'' this could be the best pizza I ever had! '' good service, friendly waiters, simple good food.

DOC is right up there at the top of the list for the best pizza in Melbourne. I find that for the most part Italian restaurants on and around Lygon Street and overrated and overpriced. They are taking advantage of tourists who have heard that Lygon Street is the place to go for Italian Food. DOC, however, whilst being somewhat pricy, offers authentic Campagne style pizzas with a thin base, not too much sauce and toppings that are to die for. My personal favourites are the mushroom with truffle oil and the San Daniele prosciutto pizzas. To start they have impressive cheese plates with many different kinds of Mozzarella. And to finish you have to try the white chocolate and strawberry pizza. The place is always packed and the atmosphere is buzzing with happy people talking and stuffing their faces. It is run by Italians fresh from Italy and the service is usually really good. They also have an impressive wine list with wines from all over Italy. This and +39 are my two favourite Italian retreats.

This place is great. I tried three of the best rated pizza places in Melbourne, when I visited and this took the pie (so punny, get it!). But only by a tiny bit. The crust is perfectly charred, crispy, airy and chewy with a solid ratio of sauce to cheese to toppings. Overall, the place had a nice chill vibe too. Highly recommend it!

Make the effort to come here if you're in the Carlton area. It was pretty busy when we stopped by, but the host saw us to their outside waiting area which is stocked with a bar. They serve Italian craft beers and their Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Spada wine was delicious. We ordered the antipasto platter (highly recommend) and a pizza which was plenty of food for the two of us. The staff was all friendly and upbeat and we would definitely return. Felt like we were dining in Italy!

By far the best pizza I've ever had in Melbourne. It's obvious right now why they are always fully booked but one thing for sure it's definitely worth the wait. My 2nd visit here, planning for my 3rd soon.

Sooooooo freaking goooooddddd. Possibly one of the best pizza places I've had in ages. Better than anywhere in adelaide... Or Brisbane Or Melbourne Or Australia, Well my friends think so! Enjoy! Even the basic margharita is fab fab fabuloso!

Solid pizza spot that I tried out a few days ago while on a business trip from the US. I ordered the soppressa (forgot to nix the olives) and the ensalata mixta. Both were quality! My only concern was with the service. I was 1 of 2 parties there- placed my order, but the server never came back to offer more water, or ask if I needed/wanted to order wine. Then, I had to flag someone down to pay- and when I asked to pay, they still went to help other patrons as then it started to become busier... I don't know?? But, pizza is the bomb . Service- eh.

I had never appreciated that pizza with very few ingredients could be so good. I remember hearing from many a pretentious lefty that "real"pizza should have few and yet quality ingredients on a perfect base. Well now I am a convert. DOC is remarkable! I do not care that I cannot make a reservation, I would happily line up for an hour to put away one of their delightful pizzas. The base is perfection, the toppings are sublime an include the freshest basil and buffalo mozzarella. I am in love.

A very busy restaurant on Lygon st, this place has a dining area and a separate deli. We got a small sharing platter between the two of us $15 and a apricot jam donut. The small deli goods were my favourite as we got chorizo, mortadello and jamon and my friend thought the bread was really fresh. The drinks on the other hand took awhile to come and were quite pricey. I would go back for the food but the restaurant staff seemed quite loud and arrogant. The only person I got friendly service from was the staff at the counter where you go to order and he did well recommending the dessert.

Prosciutto was excellent. Not too salty like most places. Melt in your mouth texture Had the Pappardelle mushroom truffle butter. Perfect blend of flavours. Quite a warm meal that satisfies the senses. Will definitely come back

this place is a lot of fun! The staff are what makes this place good but combine it with the food and it becomes excellent. Great relaxed place to enjoy time with friends and family. you have not had a real pizza till you've had one from DOC's

Okay pizza. The ingredients were fresh and natural, but a little bit bland for my taste - although it may have been the pizzas my table ordered. The calzone was pretty tasty. Out of the whole meal the sweet pizzas were probably best. We had the Nutella calzone and a pizza with white chocolate/ strawberries and ice cream. Service was upbeat, friendly and fairly attentative considering how many people were packed into such a small space. I'm not sure I believe the hype, but I probably would return with friends if it was suggested.

Very nice on traditional Italian pizza. But outdoor seating was very cold without burner at night. And indoor was very noisy, not a good place for quiet chitchat.

We really enjoyed the pizza, anti pasto board and beautiful wine. Going to DOC pizza is always a great experience.

The food was really good but the service was not great. The male waiters touched us several times and we're obviously ogling us, it was gross. We don't want to be touched, even on the shoulder/arm, by strange men, and objectified by our waiters when eating at a restaurant. I would think twice about going back which is a shame because the pizza and salad we had were great. The music was also so loud it was difficult to hold a conversation.

Closer to 5stars then 4. Came here while visiting Melbourne earlier this year. The pizza was brilliant - maybe a touch more cheese then I like but everything else from the base to ingredient quality was perfect. We did not have to wait for a table however 15 minutes later, there was a lineup down the sidewalk - speaks volumes for the quality of food. Only disappointment for me is that there were no spirits available. The waiter suggested an alternative beverage which I assume was a combination of wine , orange spritz and not sure what else? Very nasty tasting drink. I struggled to finish and the others in my party let it go to waste. Will return but avoid the vino.

Australian's love a good bar, and so do the Italians but they're into a different type of bar. I'm talking mozzarella bar. And D.O.C is quickly becoming the place for authentic buffalo mozzarella and the best traditional pizza in Melbourne. It's a big call, I know. I can say that if you want a heavily topped pizza or a thick fluffy crust then you may not be impressed. But if it's minimal fresh ingredient that you want to see laying on a crisp base and chewy crust then come right in. You can order big balls of creamy mozzarella from Australia or Italy accompanied by various sides to start with, and maybe a salad too. The rocket, pear, pecorino, and honey salad was one of the highlights, and believe me I'm not one to order a salad when I go out, but this was really special. As for pizza, may I recommend Pizza Cicoria with chicory, cheese and lemon? Or the Pizza Abruzzese with porchetta, mantovana fruit mustard, mozzarella and radicchio? Next on my list has got to be the wild mushroom and truffle oil pizza. Of course, you have to end the meal with a dessert pizza too. They don't take reservations, and it's a pity cause this place packs out fast. If at all possible try and nab a table upstairs. It can be a little quieter but the service is just as attentive.

Bad things first: they forgot our order. We never got our mozzarella and our pizza was 50min late and only after we pointed it out! Now to the good: We had the Capricciosa Nuova, Salsiccia & Porcini... Beautiful! Tiramisu and macchiatos for desert. The tiramisu was heaven and the coffee one of the best I've had. 4 star because of the inexperienced waiter... Otherwise perfect!

This was the perfect place after a long day. The pizza was one of the freshest I have tried in a long time. I had the spicy pepperoni was over the top. Generous pizza sizes with a great variety. The atmosphere was very inviting and the staff was very quick. The food was great and the drinks were just as refreshing. This is the place to go after a long day and you don't want to be disappointed. If we had stayed longer I would have gone back for another visit. Well worth the trip!!!

Best pizza in Carlton! I come here on a regular basis...nice wine with authentic pizza's (pizze)..buonissimo

The ingredients were very high quality and the pizza was excellent. Although I thought it was strange that they put cold mozzarella on hot pizza, causing the pizza to be luke warm. The waiters were super pretentious and cold.

Came here for a party and everything was . Great atmosphere, great food, amazing service! I was totally impressed by the attention they gave to all guests and their dietary req. making sure everyone was happy (incl. myself ) Great work D.O.C Definitely will be back :)

I've long argued that I Carusi has Melbourne's best pizza, but after tasting DOC, my loyalties have changed. I've only tried takeaway, but it was fantastic - perfect thin bases with just a few excellent toppings. The mushroom is sublime, with a gorgeous truffle flavor, and the potato and tallegio (one of my favourite combos) is rich with melty cheese without being too overwhelming. Can't wait to try more!

The waiters are intimidating and very arrogant when they spoke but still have good customer service. We asked for recommendations but the waiter said everything was "good" and the pizzas we had were just mediocre. Bad experience overall

One of the best pizzas I've had in Melbourne. Authentic Napoleon style and very friendly staff. Delicioso!

We ordered the seafood pizza, fig/prosciutto pizza, rucula and radicchio salads. Pizzas were amazing and the salads were large / delicious. friendly and accommodating staff made it a fun night for all. motto graci DOC..motto bene. ..

Just off Lygon Street and across from the Carlton Wine Room is the D.O.C. Pizza and Mozzarella Bar. People speculate what the initials D.O.C. stands for firstly. Sadly nothing easy to remember like "Department of Corrections" but instead is an abbreviation for Denominazione di origine controllata ("Controlled designation of origin") which is a quality assurance label for Italian food products, especially wines and various cheeses. An apt way to infer that the restaurant serves great produce. When I was at the Prahran Market earlier in the week, I sourced some Australian scamorsa unsmoked mozzarella since the proper Italian buffalo mozzarella was sold out at the delicatessen. This left my being longing for some of what I couldn't have which is one of the reasons why I ended up at the D.O.C. Pizza and Mozzarella Bar. They technically have a "Mozzarella Bar" section on their menu where you can purchase each of the aforementioned cheeses and match it with pesto, sardines, air cured beef, lightly smoked proscuitto, cured meats or what we opted for - San Daniele Prosciutto from Italy. It was great to match the cheese from the water buffalo's milk and when washed down with a Peroni, it was even better. More than a dozen pizzas and a calzone are available to order from the "Pizza Bar" and the same high quality produce is used. We ordered the Pizza Speck - with smoked prosciutto, fontina, wild mushrooms and thyme ($22.50) where you have the option of substituting the cheese on the pizza with buffalo mozzarella for an additional $5.50. The introduction of the fontina (cow's milk Italian cheese) was excellent and there was a strong smell of thyme. The thin-based pizza essentially was crispy and if it was possible, every time I wanted a pizza, I would turn up here. You have the option of dining outside on the street, which is protected by a tree. The brick building holds the air conditioning in well but not the noise. I found it can get quite loud but this is not a fine-dining option by any means, so it really doesn't matter. There is a row of seating near the fireplace that lines the wall toward the bathroom that you probably would want to avoid as you will receive an endless flow of traffic skirting past you as the happy patrons traverse the aisle to relieve themselves. Service was relatively non-existent however I noticed that if you possess an Italian accent you will be entitled to a chat and some additional enthusiasm. Once we were asked if we wanted anything else and the server posed the question and never stopped walking. I ordered a Nutella calzonocino with vanilla bean ice cream ($10.90) and an additional beer whilst the server was doing something at another table. The place wasn't packed so I thought it was bizarre that he couldn't stop for a few seconds and attend to us. Did I mention that the Nutella in the calzone was just so good that I feel guilty typing this instead of languishing at the gym and sweating it out? The opportunity cost certainly was worth it.

Heard lots of good stuff about the food here so was looking forward to trying the pizzas. The staff had the authentic Italian feel, accents and service. Liked the menu - plenty to choose. Had the selection of cured meats which were fantastic and loved the buffalo mozzarella. Absolute fave was the mushroom pizza with truffle oil! Awesome flavours!

Proper Italian ingredients (DOC = Denominazione di Origine Controllata, Italy's answer to the EU's "Protected Designation of Origin" laws), buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes (It's concerning how many Italian restaurants and delis have never even heard of this staple ingredient), etc. Dishes here range from rustic to elegant, but the variety appears intentional and appropriate. The wine cocktails... remind me of Brioni casual wear in all it's bright gaudy glory. You want to think they must be counterfeit, but they are just way too sickly sweet, brightly and confusingly flavored to not be absolutely authentic. That said, they do feel like a bit of a cultural adventure, if not something I'd actively seek out to enjoy. The starters are perfect, they almost feel like your on tour at the producer. A particular ingredient is served with minimal handling and perhaps a few accompaniments to highlight characteristics worth highlighting. This respect for and faith in the quality of ingredients is not as common as it should be, but DOC nails it. Pizzas are no different from the starters, everything simple and respectful of the ingredients. You will find no muddled flavors here, every topping serves a specific purpose. This lends itself to the primary criticism about price. People used to their "Meaty, Meaty, Meat Lovers Max Supreme Forte" will be angry at being served less than the 2kg of random meats they expect and will complain about price. I found that the amounts of meat, lemons, or whatever were near perfect. Flavors of the crust, base, and cheese are complimented and present in every bite. Once again, highlighted, not dominated by toppings. The desserts, while very nice, I feel they were a departure from the rest of the offerings. I'm not sure this is a bad thing, however. The light and modern take on the tiramisu, might be the ideal accompaniment to a post dinner coffee. without making you feel stodgy after the meat and cheese heavy mains. (They should totally add a dark chocolate mousse with a peppery olive oil and finishing salt.) On standard eating out nights, you will wait in line to be seated, for quite awhile, so be prepared, and you will wait further as you food is prepared. I think, in reality the wait for food is reasonable, just so many places focus on speed and turnover, which skews perspective. The staff seem to receive a bit of criticism. I don't remember being impacted much one way or the other. Questions I had were answered, my awful attempts at Italian pronunciations were politely tolerated, and food was served as it was ready. DOC isn't going to blow you away with glitz and glam, hence so many reviews about "it's not that great," so don't expect that. DOC will serve you top quality Italian ingredients expertly handled and for that, they are currently my favorite pizza place in Melbourne.

Food is great, simple and authentic. Table service is great, fast and fits the atmosphere. However, the door staff were very curt, bordering on arrogant. We were asked to wait 30 min for a table and we were not allowed to go for a drink elsewhere as we would loose our spot. If a restaurant is not going to have a booking system, then at the least have a walk in queue and notification (SMS or call etc) system in place.

I must say very hit and miss - both service and standard of pizza. Sometimes staff are very friendly and accommodating, making you feel welcome. Other times you feel as though you are a nuisance. Pizza is sometimes very overcooked and ingredients are sparse, other times the pizza is good. It isn't a cheap eat, I look for value in both service and food standard when spending good money on a pizza.

It's actually difficult to get good pizza on Lygon Street (and even harder to get it delivered). D.O.C. doesn't feel touristy, and doesn't have touts trying to get you to impulse-buy their restaurant. The staff appear to have actually been to, or just come from, Italy. The food and atmosphere are simple and authentic, which is commendable so close to Lygon Street.