Nonna's Nightmare

Nonna's Nightmare is a chic, Italian eatery offering a fully vegan menu of plant-based pizzas, pastas and burgers. 

Nestled on the corner of Boundary and Vulture Streets, Nonna's Nightmare adds a touch of sophistication to boho West End with a slick fit-out including polished flooring, floor to ceiling sheer curtains, subdued lighting and a monochromatic colour scheme. 

The 100% plant-based menu, crafted by the Italian born chef/owner, features all your favourite Italian fare made with fresh, seasonal vegan ingredients, that tastes so good even Nonna wouldn't know it was vegan.

Entrees include crumbed fried olives stuffed with seasonal veggies and truffle mayo, warm marinated olives served with house-made breadsticks, and red wine arancini served with blue cheese mayo.   

Pasta dishes range from Gnocchi Salsiccia (petite potato pillows filled with pork and fennel sausage ragu), and Funghi (pappardelle pasta with roasted mushrooms in creamy sauce), to Gemelli al Pesto (spiral pasta with walnut and rocket pesto, semi-dried tomato and feta).  

While not quite authentic Italian fare, Nonna's Nightmare also offers a selection of burgers from the Plain Jane (plant-based patty topped with lettuce, pickles, onion and vegan cheese) to the Grandioso (smoked vegan patty with tomato, lettuce, pickles, vegan bacon, double cheese and hash brown).

The stand-outs on the menu though, are authentic Italian-style pizzas with house-made sourdough crust that's light and crispy. The pizza menu is equally divided into red and white sauced pizzas. The former includes a traditional Margherita,  Salsiccia (mozzarella, tomato, and spicy sausage) and Italian Nightmare - mozzarella, tomato, grilled pineapple, vegan bacon, chilli and lime salsa; while the latter ranges from Magic Mushroom (mozzarella, mixed mushrooms, chestnuts, truffle oil and lemon thyme) and Potato (mozzarella, roasted potato, pork and fennel sausage, capsicum and rosemary oil), to Verde (mozzarella, zucchini cream, cherry tomatoes, black pepper sausage and snow pea tendrils). 

If you still have room for dessert, there's traditional cannoli filled with citrus-infused ricotta and chocolate chips, Frangelico tiramisu, and vanilla bean panna cotta. 

Nonna's Nightmare is fully-licensed offering carefully curated vegan-friendly beer, wine and cocktails. The concise wine list is predominantly Italian, while beer includes local craft brews such Stone & Wood and Balter Brewing, served along with Peroni and Moretti. Or indulge in a delicious cocktail like a classic Negroni or Aperol Spritz, or for something sweet, a Bellini (prosecco and peach puree) or Rossini (prosecco and strawberry puree). 

Otherwise, there are non-alcoholic drinks like Lurisia Italian soft drinks and Kreol prebiotic sparkling drinks.   

Nice to know - Nonna's Nightmare is child-friendly with a dedicated kids menu that includes a cheese burger, Margherita pizza and pasta with Napoli sauce.  

By Deb Lidster