Port MacDonnell’s The Bay Pizzaria & Cafe named best pizza place in the Limestone Coast
From baker to pizza maker, a Limestone Coast pizzeria has been named the best in the region.
Mount Gambier
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When Jason Jackson suggested buying a Port MacDonnell pizza place, now wife Aleena thought he had had too many beers.
Just over two years on, The Bay Pizzaria & Cafe has topped the field in our search for the Limestone Coast’s best pizza in the latest Delicious Local poll.
A baker by trade, Mr Jackson was ready to be his own boss.
“We decided to take that outrageous leap of faith and become business owners with no knowledge at all but we’ve learned a lot along the way,” Mrs Jackson said.
“We knew that we needed to make a few sacrifices but in that first 12 months.”
“I’d easily do double the hours that I did at the bakery,” Mr Jackson said.
“But it’s all worth it when you’re doing it for yourself as opposed to working for someone else.”
Within that first year, they got married, welcomed son Ned who celebrated his first birthday with a pizza party in January and developed their business as a team.
Mrs Jackson runs the front of house and Mr Jackson is out the back, making the dough and wood firing pizzas.
“I’m the engine and Aleena is the stirring wheel,” he said.
There’s nothing else like the Bay Pizza experience in the region, they serve up gourmet pizzas in a restaurant atmosphere with live music and Port MacDonnell beach views.
Mrs Jackson said they were grateful to everyone who visited.
“It’s unreal, it makes it worthwhile coming down and opening up every day, just to see the smiles on everyone’s face,” she said.
“COVID hasn’t really hit us that hard and I think we’ve got the locals to thank for that because without their support we wouldn’t be able to continued.”
Looking for a menu recommendation? The Bay supreme may be the bestseller but Mr Jackson’s top choice is the lamb yiros, Mrs Jackson prefers the tandoori chicken and Ned is partial to pizza crust with Vegemite.
TOP SIX PIZZA BARS IN THE LIMESTONE COAST
1. The Bay Pizzaria & Cafe, Port MacDonnell
2. Caffe Belgiorno, Mount Gambier
3. 25acres Pizza Pasta Cafe, Mount Gambier
4. Ottelia + Fodder, Coonawarra
5. Country Post & Bistro, Glencoe
6. Paradise Pizzas, Mount Gambier
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