400 Gradi - Brunswick

400 Gradi - Brunswick is the original 400 Gradi venue, established in 2008 in the heart of Brunswick. The restaurant centres on Neapolitan pizza, with the website describing pizzas cooked at 400 degrees for 90 seconds. Its broader Italian offering includes fresh pasta made by hand, antipasti and other traditional fare, making it suited to a full meal rather than a pizza-only stop.

The venue’s identity is closely tied to founder Johnny Di Francesco, who began making pizza at 12 and later travelled to Italy before bringing his take on Neapolitan pizza to Australia. 400 Gradi follows the guidelines of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, and Di Francesco was the first Australian inducted into the organisation. The restaurant also points to awards for its margherita and for being named Best Pizzeria in Oceania three years running.

The atmosphere is described as warm and inviting, with a design-focused setting built around Italian hospitality. The Brunswick restaurant is presented as a place for dinner with any number of diners, while its functions offering caters for occasions of different sizes. That makes it a practical option for a meal with friends, a larger gathering or an Italian dinner in Brunswick, with the menu’s combination of pizza, pasta and antipasti offering something beyond a single signature dish.

For groups planning an event, 400 Gradi also offers catering at the venue or elsewhere, with the team inviting enquiries so an experience can be tailored to the occasion. The business runs pizza and fresh pasta masterclasses, including sessions for children, which adds another way for families and pizza enthusiasts to engage with the brand. For a straightforward visit, the strongest draw is the restaurant’s focus on carefully made Neapolitan pizza, supported by a wider selection of Italian dishes and the story of a Melbourne-founded group that began with its flagship in Brunswick.