Adelaide's best pizzas: Here are 25 pizzas with pizzazz
FORGET cheesy stuffed crusts: seek out these gems and get the real deal, instead — pillowy bases, perfect toppings. A slice of heaven.
School Holidays
Don't miss out on the headlines from School Holidays. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FORGET cheesy stuffed crusts: seek out these gems and get the real deal — pillowy bases, perfect toppings, a slice of heaven.
We sent our reporters out to find Adelaide’s best pizzas.
And don’t forget to tell us below where your favourite pizza joint is — as well as the toppings you like best!
Also, you can cast a vote in our 2015 The City Awards where you get to vote for your favourite things in Adelaide’s CBD — from small bars and boutiques to galleries, coffee places and gourmet grub. Vote here
THE CITY
Compiled by Sophie Perri
Ace’s Bar and Bistro, Adelaide Central Market, 61-63 Grote St
THOSE in the know rate this place as one of the best pizza joints in the city. Chef Ferruccio Fagionato, also a waiter at La Trattoria, whips up these carby creations so effortlessly he could probably do it with his eyes closed.
He says the secret is in the way he prepares the ingredients, for example he’ll roast the capsicums first, or marinate the mushrooms.
He’ll also work the dough to your liking, so don’t be afraid to ask for a thicker base if that’s your preference.
He’s visiting his home city of Milan during May, but you can still get your pizza fix from the other great chef who usually works the Wednesday shift on Fagianato’s day off.
Pizza e Mozzarella bar, 33 Pirie St
WHEN I was in Italy — unfortunately there’s no way to write this sentence without sounding pretentious, sorry — I had the best pizza of my life. The cheese was stretchy. The tomato tasted like it had just been picked from the garden. And the base was THIN, and cut into quarters. What does this have to do with this Pirie St pizzeria? The wood oven pizzas from here taste just like that one in Italy. The margherita, with tomato, basil and Fior Di Latte cheese is simple, and simply the best.
Etica — Ethical Pizzeria e Mozzarella Bar, 125 Gilles St
HERE’S another mozzarella bar who knows how to go authentic. Take a seat at the bar to watch the chefs prepare their dishes and tuck into a big, quality slab of pizza cooked in the handmade wood-oven from Naples. Bases can also be gluten-free
Don’t expect a huge menu of topping options; it’s all about basic, traditional flavours using tomato, olive oil, sea salt, basil and mozzarellas. Served unsliced. Go ahead and roll up that baby in your hands.
EST Pizzeria, 30 East Tce
EXPERIMENTING with more exotic flavours, this boutique pizzeria offers toppings that will please the meatlovers as well as the vegetarians. The prawn pizza with provolone cheese, black truffle and rocket is a hit. Other options include the margherita with bocconcini cheese, pancetta, potato and cottechino sausage. Gluten free bases also available.
Melt Pizzeria, 38 Waymouth St
WANT Spanish meatballs as a topping? Lamb and yoghurt? Scallops? If not, there’s 12 other flavours on the menu, so no stress. As well as being a fine pizza destination, Melt is one of those classic, go-to places for fun, after work dinners. So get a group together and order up.
NORTH
Compiled by Tom Bowden
Cafe Farina, 485 Main North Rd, Evanston
CAFE Farina produces wood oven pizzas and makes many of their own toppings — including pickled vegetables — in house. The cafe also imports ingredients, including cheese and flour, from Italy. Chef and owner Julian Pezzaniti opened the restaurant three years ago after more than a decade working in city restaurants. The pick of the menu is the Pollo di Prosciutto, which includes oven roasted chicken with housemade pesto, housemade roasted capsicum and caramelised onion and shaved prosciutto.
Tony Tomatoes, 155 O’Connell St, North Adelaide
TONY Tomatoes Pizza e Cucina at North Adelaide takes traditional pizza to a new level and there is no shortage of amazing choices. Starting at the base, your options go far beyond “deep-pan” or “thin and crispy”.
Choose from the Superleggera, made from rye, oats and wheatgerm, a gluten-free base or the 72-hour Classic, made from a high-protein, white-flour dough which is allowed to prove for 72 hours. Gourmet toppings include roast duck, house-smoked ham, Barossa speck and imported Asiago cheese.
Gigi’s Pizza, 255 Montague Rd, Ingle Farm
GIGI’S offers tasty, handmade, topping-laden pizzas at reasonable prices. The Ingle Farm pizzeria serves up all the classic local pizza bar toppings including Hawaiian, meatlovers and seafood starting from just $10 for a large pizza and $20 for party size.
The gourmet range includes the New Orleans with chicken, ham, onions, pineapple, jalapeños, diced tomatoes and herbs with a drizzle of barbecue sauce.
Claude’s Pizza, corner of North East Rd and Grand Junction Rd, Modbury.
THE family-owned restaurant has been turning out some of the best pizzas in the northeast since 1978 and offers a huge range with top-quality ingredients. The menu includes all the classics as well as New Yorker, with mushroom, salami, onion and bacon, a Mexican with pepperoni, capsicum, anchovies, olives and jalapeños and Thai chicken pizza with sweet-chilli chicken, mushroom and capsicum.
Pizza Capri, 89 Stanbel Rd, Salisbury Plain
DROP in to Pizza Capri at Salisbury Plain for a huge range of mouth-watering pizzas. The menu ranges fro the traditional local pizza bar fare to more creative offerings. For something different try “The Pom”, which includes bacon and eggs, the “Yiros” pizza, with marinated lamb or chicken and garlic sauce and the “Szechuan Special”, with marinated chicken and szechuan sauce.
EAST
Compiled by Eugene Boisvert
360 Gradi, 324 Magill Rd, Kensington Park, phone 8332 4114
OWNER Nick Vadagnini came to Adelaide from Italy six years ago and couldn’t find the pizza he loved back home so, last year, he set up 360 Gradi on Magill Rd.
The name 360 Gradi comes from the perfect oven temperature for cooking a pizza as well as its round shape. Made with imported Italian flour and San Pellegrino sparkling water, pizzas start at $16 for the marinara, going up to $28 for the Truffle, which includes porcini, prosciutto and, of course, truffle cream. Vegan options are popular, with regular cheese exchanged for “notzarella”.
Antica Pizzeria, 144 King William Rd, Hyde Park, phone 8272 6696
ANTICA only opened in 2013 but has already made its mark on Adelaide, becoming known as one of the best pizza places in the city.
Owners Anthony Crea and Adrian Nigro toured Italy to refine their skills and hone their Italian-style pizza recipes to create an authentic experience for diners.
Their pizzas don’t have a huge amount of topping but what you get is high quality and well balanced. Prices start at $18 for a margherita.
Toto’s Pizzeria, 176 Daws Rd, Melrose Park, phone 8277 5955
TOTO’S is certainly up there with the best-value pizza in Adelaide, offering an all-you-can-eat deal for $10 on weekdays and $11 on weekends. Each pizza is made fresh when you order but you have to finish the first pizza before ordering another. Even takeaway pizzas are cheap, starting at $8 for a small regular pizza or $13.50 for a gourmet version.
Grotto Pizza-Teca, 61b Edward St, Norwood, phone 8331 1114
JUST off The Parade, Grotto specialises in traditional pizzas made with quality, fresh ingredients. They also offer a few off-kilter flavour combinations, such as the Quacker with confit duck and Swiss brown mushrooms covered in plum sauce, and the No Sauce with ham, prawns, spring onions and, yep, no sauce. Prices start at $14.
Da Mario’s Pizza Restaurant, 337 Gorge Rd, Athelstone, phone 8365 1477
DA Mario’s is an institution in Athelstone, with owners Mario and Lucia Valente operating pizza bars since as far back as the 1970s. The restaurant, in the Athelstone Village Shopping Centre, is popular with the Adelaide United soccer team as well as local clubs, who enjoy pizzas such as the Gorge Special (ham, bacon, mushrooms, egg) and the Inferno (tomato, pepperoni, chilli, basil, oregano), both from $17.
SOUTH
Compiled by Erin Jones
Pizza Pan, 5/109 Penneys Hill Rd, Hackham, and open Tuesday-Sunday, 4.30pm-9pm. Details: 8326 2330
THIS takeaway outlet is a crowd pleaser. Our Facebook readers voted it as the best pizzeria in the south. So what is all the fuss about? Consistency, according to owner Isa El Abbas.
Whether you choose the Alfredo gourmet chicken, or the chef special, all pizzas are generous in toppings and always the same.
The store branched out two months ago to offer gluten-free pizzas, which are quickly becoming popular. Other dishes on offer include homemade pasta and gelati.
Pizza’s start from $8.90 for a small, $11.90 for a large, $18.90 for a family and $22.90 for a party.
MVP Pizza & Pasta, 1/14 Main South Rd, Morphett Vale, and open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 4pm-9pm, Thursday-Saturday, 4pm-10pm. Details: 8384 2477
OWNER Doug Saba has more than 16 years experience making pizza for loyal customers.
His pizzas and customer service has seen his family-run takeaway shop receive considerable votes as being one of the best pizzerias in the region.
“I’m here six days a week, so I know what most of my customers want and I ensure they get the same consistency of pizza every time,” Mr Saba says.
The chicken yiros pizza is one of the store’s more popular toppings. Homemade pasta is also on offer. Mr Saba is the former owner of Woodcroft Pizza & Ribs.
Pizza’s cost for a small $9, large $13, family $17 and party $23.
Pizza at Christies, 9/303 Flaxmill Rd, Christie Downs, and open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 4.30pm-9pm, Thursday-Saturday, 4.30pm-10pm. Details: 8384 7486
SAM Haddad and his brother Danny took over this pizza shop three years ago and say things are going well.
The duo spent “a fair bit” of money to improve the shop’s appearance and to buy new equipment to ensure their customers keep coming back.
“We’ve been able to build on this business by offering good customer service and we sell quality pizzas for quality prices,” Sam says.
Try their most popular pizza — super supreme. The brother’s family own a number of pizza shops across Adelaide, including Hilltop Pizza at O’Halloran Hill.
Pizzas start from $7.50 for a small, $11 for a large, $16 for a family, $21 for a party and $13.50 for gluten-free.
Hilltop Pizzeria, 71 Main South Rd, O’Halloran Hill, and open Sunday-Saturday 4pm-10pm. Details: 8321 9038
OWNER Haneen Haddad has learnt the pizza-trade from her father, Sam, who has 30 years experience.
Her father has passed along his recipes, which are ensuring customers keep coming back to this O’Halloran Hill store.
“People are usually surprised with how much topping we put on them,” Ms Haddad says.
“We have a good quantity of toppings and people say a couple of slices from us and they’re usually full.”
The family-run business prides itself on its customer service and spending that little bit extra on ingredients.
Their most popular pizzas are the supreme, Hawaiian and meat lovers.
Pizzas cost for a small $9, large from $12, family from $17, party $21 and gluten-free large $16.
Woodcroft Pizza & Ribs, 10-12 Sherebrooke Blvd, Woodcroft, and open Monday-Wednesday, 4.30pm-9pm, Thursday and Sunday 4.30pm-9.30pm, Friday-Saturday, 4.30pm-10pm
THIS store offers something a little bit different than the rest.
Manager Brett Sanders says most of what they use in the shop is for sale. That includes dough, toppings, sauces and trays.
“A few of our customers, who bought pizza ovens, were wanting to make their own at home, so it became a bit of a thing for us to offer our supplies on the menu,” Mr Sanders says.
Another point of difference is the competitions run by the store encouraging customers to suggest new pizza toppings.
Mr Sanders says at least three of those toppings are now on the menu. Try their more popular pizzas being the salt and pepper seafood, Mediterranean and Portuguese.
Pizzas are $9 small, large from $11.90, family $15.90 and party $18.90.
WEST
Compiled by Amy Moran
Godzilla Pizza, 542 Brighton Rd, South Brighton
MEAT lovers do not have to tear their hair out trying to cater for their vegan friends, thanks to the large selection of plant-based fare at Godzilla Pizza. The Brighton Rd bar has become an institution for vegans, who travel from all over Adelaide to sink their teeth into a fake ham and pineapple pizza. Meat eaters will be happy with the wide range of meat and seafood pizzas as well.
Benevento Woodfired Pizzeria, 218 Port Rd, Hindmarsh
THERE is something special about the chewy bases of wood-fired pizzas and Benevento’s are cooked to perfection. There is a good mix of traditional, simple toppings and flavours a bit more out of the ordinary. The Villagio, a potato and blue cheese pizza, is rich and delicious and just as good for lunch the next day.
Good Life Modern Organic Pizza, Level 1, 42 Jetty Rd, Glenelg
GOOD Life was serving organic fare before it was cool. Operating with the philosophy of “if you have good food, good wine and good friends, you’re in for a Good Life”, the company uses fresh, organic produce often sourced from regional SA. The business has achieved carbon neutral status, but most importantly it makes darn good pizzas.
La Romana Pizza Bar, 5/329 Henley Beach Rd, Brooklyn Park
WHETHER it is gourmet pizza that tempts your tastebuds or pasta, La Romana has it. The shop offers a delicious selection of traditional and gourmet pizzas, as well as a variety of pastas such as alla panna and puttanesca. If you are after something different, La Romana has an extensive menu including seafood, steaks, salads and schnitzels.
TELL US BELOW: Where’s your favourite pizza? What did we miss?