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Just Open: Ovest pizzeria, Footscray West

Hilary McNevin

Napoletana pizza at Ovest.
Napoletana pizza at Ovest.Pat Scala

Perfecting the dough was priority No. 1 for chefs Ben Sisley and Alex Rogers, whose pizzeria, Ovest, opens on Tuesday in Footscray West.

Before they had even put the bench space into the Barkly Street venue, the new business partners, and old friends, started trialling their pizza dough recipe at Roger's Seddon bakery, Sourdough Kitchen.

"Then we'd drive it over here [Ovest] to cook in the pizza oven," says Sisley, who was head chef at St Kilda pizzeria Mr Wolf before spending the past two years as a food stylist.

Business partners chef Ben Sisley (left) and Alex Rogers at their new restaurant.
Business partners chef Ben Sisley (left) and Alex Rogers at their new restaurant.Pat Scala
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They wanted a crisp, robust dough for the core of Ovest's menu, which features margherita and napoletana pizzas alongside discs topped with prawn, zucchini, mint and ricotta or sardine and smoky scarmorza cheese. The menu also includes bar snacks such as salumi plates and buffalo mozzarella with bresaola so "people can just stop by for a drink and a snack if they wish", says Sisley, along with larger dishes such as There is also choice beyond chicken schnitzel with coleslaw, nicoise salad and pork and veal lasagne.

The site was a former bank, then a card-playing club. It has re-emerged with bar seating for up to 20 at the front including outside tables and seating for 50 in the dining room. The space, designed by Fitzroy studio Mcleod Design, is filled with natural light and finished with parquetry flooring and pale Thonet timber chairs. The wine list, by Trembath and Taylor, has an Italian focus punctuated with interesting Australian drops and the restaurant's branding has been sharpened by Ortolan studio in Carlton North.

It will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm. The pair hope to open for weekend lunches by the end of July.

Ovest, 572 Barkly Street, Footscray West, 9687 7766, ovestwest.com.au

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