Sydney's most unique Italian dining experience

Sydney’s latest addition to the restaurant scene, Italian eatery Pizza Autentico, is delivering delectable simple, traditional Italian fare in a brand new way to diners. In a revolutionary new concept, there is no menu choice for patrons, patrons simply take a seat at the communal table whilst attentive waitstaff offer endless slices of pizza and pasta. Patrons are served a delicious selection of roving, delightfully fresh and tasty traditional pizzas and pastas by attentive wait staff for only $20 - all over a relaxing hour and a half. A selection of generous side dishes are also available for $9 each as well as melt-in-the-mouth dessert tasters for just $4.50. The menu is complemented by an impressive list of only Italian wines and classic Italian cocktails.

Pizza Autentico’s interior is also a breath of fresh air. The red, white and black colour scheme is simple, chic and reminiscent of the sort of stylish, intimate eatery one would discover tucked away in a side street of Rome or Milan. Pizza Autentico’s lower floor is taken up by a large communal table seating up to 30 diners, with funky graphics on one wall and an imaginative selection of elegantly framed black and white photographs on the other. On the restaurant’s upper level is a selection of tables seating 36, and adjoining this area a spacious bar in which up to 20 people can enjoy drinks, cocktails and desserts. Here the lighting is a little lower than downstairs and an element of whimsy is added by inspired fittings including light shades made from red colanders suspended from the ceiling.

Parties and group bookings are also more than welcome at Pizza Autentico, and large gatherings of eight people or more can book their own space upstairs.

Pizza Autentico owner and founder Hamilton Kings spent two years searching for the perfect venue in which to realize his vision of an upbeat, friendly eatery delivering the best quality Italian food at an unbeatable price. “I did this because I love the philosophy of Italian food,” Hamilton said. “It’s all so simple and fresh – I wanted to do something a little bit different that no-one else had done before. It was also important to offer our diners a reasonable price point as these days people don’t want to spend a fortune.”

One mouthful of the pizza or pasta will win over any first-time Pizza Autentico diner in seconds: pizza bases are made by hand by their Italian chefs, as is the Napoli sauce which bursts with that perfect, rich tomato flavor, so savored by lovers of Italian food. There are 12 pizzas to try, all traditional toppings you would find in Italy, ranging from the simplest creations to others with toppings such as shaved beef, buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto. Don’t expect to find any toppings of lamb, chicken, potato, pumpkin or pineapple on the menu.  Pizza Autentico’s five pastas also cover the spectrum, from traditional bolognese to orecchiette norma (eggplant and ricotta). Side dishes include generous Sicilian-style arancini balls, anchovy cigars, chicken stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella, and the ever-popular rocket and parmesan salad, not to mention caprese salad with air freighted buffalo mozzarella. What’s more, the minute diners arrive, a basket of home made bread, tapenade and olives appear on the table, which is already set with candles, all-important red pepper grinders, freshly grated parmesan and chilli oil. All meats and fresh produce come from renowned Alexandria-based European food wholesaler Salt Meats Cheese, assuring the highest of quality.

Desserts are definitely something to write home about. Served in small, elegant macchiato glasses, the raspberry semi freddo, chocolate mousse topped with chocolate shavings and pannacotta are perfectly balanced with just enough creaminess and sweetness to make having just one bite an impossibility.

An all-Italian wine list complements the food beautifully. There is Tuscan soave and chianti, Sicilian chardonnay and Piedmont Barbara just to name a few. Pizza Autentico specializes in Italian cocktails too, with five tipples on offer featuring such traditional spirits as Campari, Martini Rosso and of course Prosecco. Wine prices range from $8 to $12 per glass, $24-$29 per carafe and $34-$60 a bottle, while cocktails are a reasonable $15 each.

As if all this were not authentic enough, in the kitchen you will find three chefs all hailing from Italy. Even the wait staff hail from the same part of the world. As co-owner and founder Jonny Allen explains: “This restaurant all about introducing a unique food offering in Sydney which is authentic and true to itself.”

Pizza Autentico is sure to become go-to place for true Italian fare for thousands of Sydney diners. Try it and see!