Vespa Pizza in New Farm is our favourite pizzeria at the moment. Even though they only opened earlier this year, you’ll need to book a table to get a seat on the weekend. Big M was searching for a pizza that was as good as the ones they serve in Italy or the stone baked ones at The Stoke in Guildford, UK. In our younger days we have both worked in places that served pizza. Big M also cooks his own pizzas, so a high standard had been set.
Originally we had a list of about seven or so places to try in Brisbane. We decided to start off with Vespa Pizza after I found out that they had fitted out the restaurant using mostly recycled materials from Reverse Garbage. I was keen to see the results.
I noticed that some of the furniture has come from car parts, but not in a kitsch way. The booths are bench seats, and a car grill and headlights has been used as a table divider. The fit out looks eco-chic modern and only adds to the character of the place.
The key to a good authentic pizza is in the crust – you need a high heat and super thin base, with just a smattering of toppings. Some of the staff had wristbands on, so I guess it might be hot work near the large wood fire oven. Many of the ingredients used are organic.
If you are lucky enough to live nearby, you can order delivery and your pizza will arrive on a Vespa. Hence the name.
We started off with a firm favourite of mine, Panzanella salad with red wine vinaigrette. We also had to try the mixed olives with garlic, rosemary, lemon zest and coriander seeds. Big M quickly polished of his pizza bianca: with pancetta, olives, cherry tomatos, artichokes, capers, sea salt & buffalo mozzarella. I struggled to eat my baharat lamb pizza: with hommus, roasted red peppers and zucchini, only because I was full.
We were both very happy with our choices, although when we tried a slice of each others pizzas we preferred our own. Tempting as it was, I had to pass on desert.
This was our third visit to Vespas, and since discovering this little slice of Italy in Brisbane, we never have made it to any of the other pizza places on the list! Highly recommended.
