If the Caffe Primo Italian food franchise had a twin brother, Caffe Buongiorno would be it. With about half a dozen stores across the state, the menu offerings are very typical of any Italian eatery. There are pizzas, pastas, salads, foccacias and meat dishes. With Italian food being the most popular take out cuisine, there’s basically something for everybody.

The Norwood store is conveniently located right in the heart of the Parade. It’s corner position gives it a dual frontage and allows plenty of natural light into the store. There’s plenty of seating at this place, both inside and out, and the outdoor seating has the benefit of being under cover and protected from the elements. Ordering at this place can be a bit confusing. Food orders are at the counter at the rear, while drink orders are at the counter in the middle.

Tonight, I ordered the Buongiorno Pizza which consists of ham, salami, mushrooms, capsicum, olives and cheese. The pizza was ready after a 10 minute wait and was nicely presented. The crust was light and fluffy, and had a consistent thickness throughout. The amount of toppings was generous with the meat to vegetable ratio being one to one. The vegetables were fresh and the meats were of a good quality. The only criticism I had with the pizza was that it tasted a bit bland and could have done with more salt.

My friend had the Pollo Principessa which is basically chicken with asparagus, ham, cheese and cream. She said it tasted great and is one of the regular dishes she orders when she comes here.

The staff were friendly and the service was good. The atmosphere was vibrant, particularly with the high customer turnover. The pricing is average but competitive due to the other Italian eateries in the area.

Not the best Italian food you’ll ever experience, but OK for the middle of the range Italian eatery.

WHERE: 145 The Parade, Norwood