Welcome to Conca's Pizza Restaurant

Conca's on the corner of Miller Street and Shepperton Road may resemble a greasy diner and may actually be actively striving towards American greasy diner greatness with its neon sign, aged wallpaper and blockmounts of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Boulevard of Broken Dreams (albeit with brand new plasma screen), but it sure makes great chilli mussels! The owners may not speak much English, but the woman who was serving was soldiering on with an arm in a plaster, how,s that for dedication? Unlike other places where the sauce is no more than a miserable tomato salsa, Conca’s chilli mussels have bite. You can choose your strength from mild to extra hot; Starrsheep ordered hot and let me tell you that one was hot enough to make me turn into a lamb spit roast. The sauce is thick with lots of chilli and garlic. A large serve will comfortably feed two (as it also comes with a side serving of either garlic bread or spaghetti) or a party of four (like us) if you throw in a large pizza as well.

Service is order at the counter. You might want to buy a newspaper or a packet of cigarettes or be tempted by something from the hot food display (some nice looking spiced potatoes and various pasta dishes) while you’re at it. Make sure you order the garlic bread to soak up the chilli mussel sauce. I didn't see a lot of garlic on the bread, but the crispy, chunky, buttery, rustic style slices are delicious in themselves. Now let's talk about the spaghetti. With the thick, cheesy sauce. As Kimmik comments, "This taste like Heinz spaghetti would if it were not soggy". Delicious! Not salty with clumpy mince bits, but a luscious, molten taste. I must have more. Starrsheep scrapped the bottom of the bowl. Then the pizza - we ordered supreme and it was homemade with chunky ingredients and very simple, very wholesome, not one bit oily, no cheap gimmicks. Starrsheep and Kimmik also had milkshakes. They come in big tall metal milkshake cups. Order the banana one, it's very yummy. I felt as stuffed as a haggis.

Overall it felt like having a comfortable dinner at someone's house. The food comes out thick and fast and to the table once you wave your arms in the air to indicate it's yours. If you don't mind sitting with the large amount of students that pile through on a Saturday night or the dingy (but not obtrusive) surrounds, then this place is for nighthawks on the hunt for soul food. If you're heading up Shepperton Road from Albany highway, there is a carpark you can turn into directly after the lights. The best time to go? When the neon sign at the front shines bright in the night. Just pull in. Starrsheep says "You can't conquer Conca's for chilli mussels!"