Pizzeria struck by disaster makes winning comeback as Redlands’ best

“Booked solid”: Good luck finding a weekend table at this bustling pizza parlour that has just been voted the Redlands’ best for 2021.

A pizza restaurant with a diehard following, where customers don’t mind waiting up to an hour-and-a-half for their slice, has quite literally risen from the ashes to claim the Redlands’ best pizza crown.

Chosen from more than a dozen local pizza joints Valley Way Pizza and the Phoenix Bar in Mount Cotton beat all comers in the inaugural competition hosted by celebrity food critic Matt Preston.

Valley Way Pizza and The Phoenix Bar in Mount Cotton has grown a strong following. Picture: Valley Way Pizza and The Phoenix Bar.

It is a story of rebirth – a la a phoenix rising from the ashes – and “unprecedented” community support.

Support so strong VWP “books out nearly solid” on weekends with loyal customers waiting patiently.

Opened two years ago by former plumbing company owners Andrew and Angela Murphy while seeking a “sea-change”, VWP, was a write-off when fire struck in October.

Fire started by an electrical fault guts Valley Way Pizza and The Phoenix Bar. Picture: Valley Way Pizza and The Phoenix Bar

Under-insured and down for the count for five long months it has roared back to life with all 13 of its staff remaining.

“It was an electrical fault, took us by surprise and wrote the whole place off,” said Andrew.

“We had to do a complete rebuild and we have been going for a month since reopening.

“Our community has been amazing, we are going a thousand miles an hour.

“The support has been unprecedented.”

Valley Way Pizza in Mount Cotton is fully licensed. Picture: Valley Way Pizza and The Phoenix Bar.

Humbled and taken aback by the win, Andrew said the depth of loyalty shown by the community to the business was something special.

“We are really humbled by our customers’ loyalty,” he said.

“It is amazing how far reaching our little hole-in-the-wall pizza joint has become and it is not something we push for.”

Plenty of space to eat in at Valley Way Pizza and The Phoenix Bar. in Mount Cotton. Picture: Valley Way Pizza and The Phoenix Bar.

However, the organic wellspring of support has not been solely sentiment driven.

With four beers on tap and generous seating among Mt. Cotton Central Shopping Centre’s “village feel”, there is a priority to serve a winning slice, according to the couple.

“We do authentic gourmet pizza,” Andrew said.

“We make the dough and sauce every day with fresh ingredients.

“And we have a beautiful outdoor dining area; we are one of the few places in Brisbane where you can sit down and have a beer and a pizza.

A close-up of something delicious. Picture: Valley Way Pizza and The Phoenix Bar.

“And the centre has a really fantastic community vibe and good feel, with many of our customers walking to the restaurant.”

Nestled among Mount Cotton’s lush surrounds the venue is easily accessible and also sees business from Cleveland, Victoria Point and Logan.

House favourites include the Cheese Burger Pizza – bacon, beef, onion, pickles and mustard – and the Queenslander Pizza – ham, bacon, beef, pineapple, onion and egg on a barbecue base.

And for those inclined for an accompanying dish, Andrew reckons their ribs is a go-to choice for the finger-licking.

The couple gave special thanks to their staff of 13 “mostly students” who stayed true to the business during its extensive lay-off.