Ladro

5.5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  6     

Simplicity is the key to this timeless classic. The perfect pizza when you have a good quality base and that’s exactly what Ladro has. Thin, crispy, crunchy woodfired base topped with tomato, mozzarella and basil. Simple food done so well, the margherita with three basic toppings is a must every time you go.

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Feb 03, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

I have never written a review before, but felt compelled to about Ladro after reading the ones below. I am not sure if they went to the same Ladro I did as my experience was fantastic and I look forward to going back soon. As someone who lived in Italy for a year I ate a lot of pizza and Ladro's was the best I have had outside of Italy.

I have heard they are a pricey but I could tell they use only the best ingredients and their pizza was bigger than the other fancy pizza joints I have already dined at. All the other food I tried was just as good. On the down side it was a bit noisy. Only wish I lived closer so it could be my local.

Jul 01, 2009 

5.8 Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  9      Value  4     

I visited Ladro back in 2007 after watching Rita (owner) making pizzas on cooking shows and reading many great reviews of the place. We heard the place was booked out far in advance but when we called we got a booking that same day on a Saturday night.

The atmosphere was a little bit noisy but the food was what brought me to Ladro so as we perused the menu for two pizzas as starters, one of the two we landed on was Radicchio with Fennel Sausage which ranked up there with the best pizzas I've ever tasted. Pizzas are pricey but worth the money. After two delicious pizzas we eagerly awaited out mains which we thought were a little on the pricey side to begin with but as long as the quality and taste was anywhere near that of the pizza, the money was well worth it.

Here is where the review gets interesting. I ordered the Roast Lamb after hearing about how it is done in the pizza oven. I thought that at a whopping $36, that the Roast Lamb would be something special seeing as it isn't an expensive cut of meat that is usually between $14-$16 in most other places. To be truthful I was disappointed. The lamb was tough and not tender at all. I've had nicer Roast Lamb in more modest restaurants and pubs for just over $10, which made me realise just how overpriced Ladro really is.

I mean $36 is what I might expect to pay for Eye Fillet in any number of top restaurants but for a simple Roast Lamb that maybe costs them $2 to make per serve, I'd say the mark-up is unable to be justified. The others that I was with both ordered pastas that were such small serves I just couldn't believe. The ravioli serve came with just four ravioli. I couldn't believe how much the pastas and mains paled in comparison to the great pizza.

If memory serves I believe that we were still hungry after dinner. We decided on that night to just stick to pizzas on the next visit.

Apr 08, 2009 

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

Had many great meals here in the past. Sadly the original chef/owner has left and it shows in the food and atmosphere. What a bummer.

Mar 14, 2009 

5.3 Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  4     

Very over-rated pizzas here to be honest, also some of the other dishes like chicken were a bit on the dry side. The pizza base is actually quite thin and sometimes its perfect while on other nights might be too hard and crunchy, the problem is, there are hardly any toppings on the pizzas. Think 1/4th to 1/3rd of what you would expect on a normal Lygon street pizza, and you get the idea why on occasions the greatly 'exposed' base of the pizza becomes overcooked and biscuity like.

Sorry to say, over-rated, both before and after their senior staff left recently. Poor prices. Nice communal feel though.

Jan 19, 2009 

3.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  3     

My last visit to Ladro was a fair few years ago, and it left a good impression, so I thought I'd come back for nostalgia and a slice of good pizza. I got neither. The place has turned up the wanky pretentiousness, and turned down the quality in food.

We ordered a pizza and salad to share, and was quite disappointed. I could make better pizza than this at home, and I'm not the best cook in the world. The base was chewy, but not in a good way, and the topping was dry and lifeless. The salad was worse. It was just a few leaves tossed in olive oil. No dressing, no nuts, no cheese. That's not a salad.

Definitely wouldn't recommend, and definitely won't be back.

Dec 28, 2008 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

My son and I ate there on thursday night 5/6/2008 and could not fault the restaurant. The service was efficient and friendly, my risotto was perfect and my son's steak was delicious. I had the italian donuts for dessert and my son had honey pannacotta which were both fantastic. I come from Sydney and I have not had such a good meal in a long long time, my son lives in Melbourne so he is use to good quality food @ reasonable pricing. Our meal of two courses each plus drinks and 1 coffee was under $100 un heard of in Sydney! And the quality superb, well done to all at Ladro.

Jun 07, 2008 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  7     

We shared a couple of pizzas which were delicious (I love the thin bases), had a salad on the side and a good bottle of Italian red. A really good meal.

Jun 23, 2007 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  3      Value  3     

So loud you can't hear yourself think let alone talk to you friends. Their pizzas are overrated, mine was awful, overpriced for what they offer so no value for your dollar. Go anywhere but here!

Jun 26, 2006 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Definitely the best pizzas I've had this side of Napoli- thin, crisp with delicious toppings. Despite being told there was no way I could eat all of the food I ordered (I did!) the service was fantastic, enthusiastic and efficient. This is a noisy, bustling and vivacious place.

Mar 27, 2006