Sorrento Pizzeria opens serving wood-fired pizza and gelato in Empire Bay

Simple, handmade, fresh … when it comes to wood-fired pizza there’s nothing better as a new restaurant opens in Empire Bay.

It’s fresh, handmade, simple and divine at the new wood-fired pizza joint in Empire Bay. Picture: Sue Graham

Elia Eliopoulou remembers the first time he ate at a restaurant at just five years old.

“The first thing I ever ate outside my home was a wood-fired pizza,” he said.

“It has stayed with me forever.”

Mr Eliopoulou’s dream of opening his own restaurant has been a long time coming and the moment is here.

Sorrento Pizzeria opens on Sorrento Rd in Empire Bay on Wednesday, specialising in wood-fired pizza and gelato, with resident pizzaiolo Andy Martin.

“One year ago, Andy and I were having a coffee on the doorstep here and looked at the sign for lease,” Mr Eliopoulou, who was co-owner of Remy & Co in Erina, said.

Elia Eliopoulou and Andy Martin open Sorrento Pizzeria. Picture: Sue Graham

“We mulled over it, said yes and it’s been full steam ahead ever since. It’s paradise here, a vibrant village where you can walk up to the wharf and enjoy the natural beauty of Brisbane Water.”

The restaurant serves handmade, fresh Neapolitan style wood-fired pizza in a warm, homely environment where you can watch the pizza making take place or sit outside in the alfresco area.

“We want it make it easy for everyone from families and couples to a big crowd,” Mr Eliopoulou said.

“We pride ourselves on simple fresh food with our pizzas and antipasto boards. It’s simple and there is no taste like it.”

Elia Eliopoulou said the restaurant was a merger od the Amalfi Coast and Central Coast. Picture: Sue Graham

The restaurant has a theme of the Amalfi Coast and the 100 year old front doors have come all the way from a citrus farm in the southern Italian region. However there’s also a touch of local history with Empire Bay originally named Sorrento Estate.

“We are saving people thousands of dollars in flights to Italy by bringing a bit of the Amalfi Coast to Empire Bay,” Mr Eliopoulou said. “It’s really a merger between the Amalfi Coast and the Central Coast also with the use of local produce.

“We want people to feel at home. We are community orientated and want to build stronger communities through good food.”

At this stage the menu is ever evolving, with the team keen to take you on a journey starting with antipasto boards and moving onto pizza.

“Customers can tell us what they want – we have everything from truffle oil, mushrooms, different meats and cheeses,” Mr Eliopoulou said.

Fresh out of the oven.

“We also have the best tasting gluten free and vegan pizzas.”

The restaurant has spent the last week doing the final touches and also cooking for locals who – including this writer – have fallen in love with the garlic and cheese pizza. The dough is nothing short of incredible and has to be tasted to be believed along with the signature pizza – pepperoni, olive oil, chilli, rosemary and a honey glaze.

Mr Martin has been in the wood-fired pizza game for many years and has a passion for building wood-fired ovens and cooking with them.

He said the oven at Sorrento, named Sophia, was Neapolitan style which generated higher heats than average wood-fired ovens of 400-450 degrees.

Andy Martin with his woof-fired oven creation named Sophia. Picture: Sue Graham

“This oven will produce a pizza in 90 second of the heat and dough are right,” he said.

Mr Martin said there’s a science behind making the perfect wood-fired pizza. He said the dough at Sorrento is created over two days, including six hours fermentation at room temperature and 48 hours chilled.

Now onto the gelato – all natural and made by a third generation Italian family who has been in the gelato game for 60 years.

There’s a variety of flavours but we couldn’t go past the smashed pavlova and lemon. So smooth, naturally sweet and left us keen to return to this slice of paradise.

Sorrento Pizzeria is at Shop 3/1 Sorrento Rd, Empire Bay and open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday. Catch them on Instagram and Facebook @sorrentopizzeriaempirebay or their website sorrentopizzeria.com.au.