Glenroy has a italian food scene that punches well above what you’d expect. The suburb runs down-to-earth, multicultural, accessible — and the food reflects it. We’ve eaten at every italian food spot in the area and these are the ones worth your time and money.
Expect to pay $22-38 per person for a proper sit-down meal. The cheaper end gets you handmade pasta, the higher end gets you risotto done properly.
Our Top Picks
1. Green Room — 290 Plenty Grove
Hours: Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm Price: $20-35 per person
Green Room is the benchmark for italian food in Glenroy. The osso buco is what most people order, and for good reason — it’s consistently excellent. The tiramisu is the other standout, done with genuine care rather than the paint-by-numbers approach you get at chain spots.
The room seats about 45 and fills on Friday and Saturday nights. Midweek you’ll walk straight in. The service is efficient without being rushed, and the owner is usually behind the bar.
Order this: The pappardelle ($20) as a main, plus veal parmigiana to share. Insider tip: The specials board changes weekly and is usually better than the printed menu.
2. Cleo Kitchen — 115 Station Terrace
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-10pm Price: $18-30 per person
This is the locals’ pick — less polished than Green Room but arguably more flavour per dollar. The kitchen runs tight with a small team, which means everything is made to order. The risotto here has a depth that comes from doing the same dish three hundred times until it’s muscle memory.
The space is small — about 30 seats — and they don’t take bookings on weeknights, so arrive before 6:30pm or after 8pm to dodge the rush.
Best dish: The handmade pasta ($18). Simple, executed perfectly. Pro tip: BYO wine on Tuesdays ($5 corkage).
3. Cleo’s — 83 Plenty Grove
Hours: Wed-Sun 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-11pm Price: $20-31 per person
Cleo’s opened in late 2025 and has already built a following. The menu is short — eight dishes — which is usually a good sign. Everything on it is considered. The tiramisu ($26) is the dish that gets photographed most, but the veal parmigiana ($22) is the one regulars order.
When to go: Sunday lunch is the sweet spot. Same food, half the crowd.
4. Otto’s — 344 Plenty Grove
Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-11pm Price: $21-36 per person
The takeaway option on this list. Otto’s doesn’t have table service — you order at the counter and either take it home or eat at the three outdoor tables. The quality-to-price ratio is the best in Glenroy. The osso buco ($21) is the standout.
5. Luna’s — 94 Oak Drive
Hours: Tue-Sat 5:30pm-10pm Price: $24-34 per person
A solid all-rounder. Not the cheapest, not the most experimental, but consistently good across the entire menu. The risotto ($27) and the handmade pasta ($24) are both worth ordering. The wine list is surprisingly thoughtful for a italian food place.
Quick Comparison
| Restaurant | Best For | Price (pp) | Bookings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Room | Overall best | $20-35 | Recommended Fri-Sat |
| Cleo Kitchen | Locals’ favourite | $18-30 | Walk-in only (weeknights) |
| Cleo’s | New opening | $20-31 | Yes, via website |
| Otto’s | Best takeaway | $21-36 | Counter service |
| Luna’s | All-rounder | $24-34 | Recommended weekends |
Italian Food Price Guide — Glenroy
| Category | Price Range | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $10-16 | Counter-service, takeaway, no frills |
| Mid-range | $22-38 | Sit-down, proper menu, decent wine list |
| Premium | $50+ | Tasting menus, premium ingredients |
Before You Go
Best time to visit: Weeknight dinners (Tue-Thu) for no wait. Friday and Saturday — book 3-5 days ahead for the top two spots.
Parking: Street parking along Plenty Grove is metered until 6:30pm. Side streets are usually 2-hour. After 6:30pm, most are free. Best option: Public transport options in Glenroy.
Dietary: Every restaurant listed handles vegetarian requests. Vegan and gluten-free: call ahead to confirm, but most are accommodating.
Delivery: Otto’s and Green Room are on Uber Eats and DoorDash. For better quality, order directly — delivery platforms compress your food in those bags and charge restaurants 30%.
Nearby Guides
- Preston Italian Food
- Reservoir Italian Food
- Glenroy Cheap Eats — when budget matters
- Glenroy Bars — post-dinner drinks
- All Glenroy Guides
Last updated: March 2026
Keep Exploring
More in this area:
Useful tools:
Where To Eat
Nonna Rosa Family Restaurant
A dependable Glenroy pick for classic suburban Italian: pizza, pasta, risotto, garlic bread, and family-style comfort plates. Go here when you want carbonara, Margherita, lasagne, or a mixed table order that keeps everyone covered.
Eat Pizza Glenroy
Eat Pizza is best for straightforward takeaway nights, with thin-crust pizzas, classic toppings, salads, and breads. It suits the quick “feed the household” brief more than a long restaurant meal.
My Mates Pizza Glenroy
My Mates Pizza leans into traditional and gourmet pizza, with pasta and lasagne also on the menu. It is a practical choice for larger orders, especially if your group wants both familiar pizzas and heavier baked pasta options.
Gabbies Pizza-Pasta-Kitchen
Gabbies is a local pizza-and-pasta option with traditional pizzas, pasta deals, and delivery-friendly family bundles. It is useful when value matters and you want Italian-adjacent comfort food without making dinner complicated.
Pane e Pizza by North Street Bakery
On the Glenroy-Hadfield edge, Pane e Pizza is the more polished pick for wood-fired pizza, pasta, bakery goods, and sit-down Italian. Choose it when you want the meal to feel more like a proper night out than a standard pizza run.
Local Tips
Glenroy’s Italian scene is strongest for pizza, pasta, takeaway, and family meals rather than high-end trattoria dining. If you are chasing white tablecloth Italian, you will usually need to head further into Brunswick, Carlton, or the inner north.
Pascoe Vale Road is the easiest starting point if you are comparing casual Italian options quickly. Several local venues cluster around the main road or nearby strips, which makes pickup easier than relying on delivery during busy dinner windows.
For Friday and Saturday nights, order earlier than you think you need to. Glenroy’s better-known pizza and pasta spots can get hit by family orders, delivery-app demand, and late takeaway rushes all at once.
Pane e Pizza is the one to keep in mind for visitors or a casual birthday meal, because it has more of a dine-in feel. For weeknight locals, Nonna Rosa, Eat Pizza, My Mates, and Gabbies are better suited to fast, familiar, low-fuss meals.
Check menus before committing if dietary needs matter. Some venues list halal, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options, but the exact availability can change by item and ordering platform.
FAQ
Q: What is the best Italian restaurant in Glenroy for a proper sit-down meal? A: Pane e Pizza by North Street Bakery is the strongest pick for a fuller dine-in Italian experience near Glenroy, especially if you want wood-fired pizza, pasta, and a more restaurant-style setting.
Q: Where should I order pizza from in Glenroy? A: Nonna Rosa, Eat Pizza, My Mates Pizza, and Gabbies are all practical local choices depending on whether you want classic pizza, pasta add-ons, or family meal deals.
Q: Is Glenroy good for authentic Italian food? A: Glenroy is better for accessible suburban Italian than destination fine dining. Expect pizza, pasta, lasagne, garlic bread, and family-friendly comfort food, with Pane e Pizza offering the most traditional Italian-restaurant feel nearby.
Source: Official venue menus/websites for Nonna Rosa, Eat Pizza Glenroy, My Mates Pizza Glenroy, Gabbies Pizza-Pasta-Kitchen, and Pane e Pizza by North Street Bakery.
