Best of Canberra - Pizza to go

miz said :

My adult kids like Arnolds – more generous toppings than Dominos (which are minimal), but not overly pricy like Crust. Let’s face it, pizza is mostly bread dough.

Arnolds are they still around? I used to love the Kippax store and their Ribs, do they still do ribs?

dungfungus said :

John Moulis said :

Piratepete said :

A pity you can’t fit it into the oven.

I don’t understand this comment – Our old house had a 600mm oven, nothing fancy Chef brand and they fit, our new house has a 900mm oven and they fit… Is your oven a tiny box?

Their Kirkland frozen pizzas can’t fit into our oven. We own a Euromaid SC-1531. I’ll stick to their hot pizzas in future even though they are cold by the time I get home from Majura Park.
The best pizza is the one you make yourself and to do this you need a good quality pizza stone that will fit into your kitchen oven.
I had an old Chef in which my Emile Henry 37cm stone (cost abuot $70) would just fit and I recently renovated my kitchen and installed a Euromaid oven (works great) after ensuring the stone would fit.
Set the oven to 250 degrees using top and bottom heat + fan and let the plate heat up fully before dropping the pizza on top. Takes about 12 minutes.
From there just use your imagination as to what toppings you want and if you don’t want to make your own dough (it’s very simple) get ready made ones at the supermarket together with Leggos tomato pizza paste, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, cheeze etc.
My favourite is smoked salmon (packet stuff roughly chopped for pasta dishes) with lashings of wasabi enriched mayo.
The pizza stones can also be used in the backyard barbie if it has a hood but don’t let it burn.
I am going to get one of those Costco B Double pizzas and try it on my oven stone, even if I have to cut it to size.

After our pizza stone spectacularly shattered in the oven, I have been using a half a dozen unglazed terracotta tiles I bought from the tile shop for about $3.60 each IIRC. They work really well and stay in the oven as a heat sink when not in use.

dungfungus said :

The best pizza is the one you make yourself and to do this you need a good quality pizza stone that will fit into your kitchen oven.
I had an old Chef in which my Emile Henry 37cm stone (cost abuot $70) would just fit and I recently renovated my kitchen and installed a Euromaid oven (works great) after ensuring the stone would fit.
Set the oven to 250 degrees using top and bottom heat + fan and let the plate heat up fully before dropping the pizza on top. Takes about 12 minutes.
From there just use your imagination as to what toppings you want and if you don’t want to make your own dough (it’s very simple) get ready made ones at the supermarket together with Leggos tomato pizza paste, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, cheeze etc.
My favourite is smoked salmon (packet stuff roughly chopped for pasta dishes) with lashings of wasabi enriched mayo.
The pizza stones can also be used in the backyard barbie if it has a hood but don’t let it burn.
I am going to get one of those Costco B Double pizzas and try it on my oven stone, even if I have to cut it to size.

You don’t need a pizza stone at all. A tray works just as well – especially the trays with holes in the base that allow the heat to evenly cook the base. Stones can be a bit fiddly, and I’m yet to eat a pizza that turned out better on a stone than a pizza tray.

Also, “bell peppers”? I think we called them capsicum here :p

John Moulis said :

Piratepete said :

A pity you can’t fit it into the oven.

I don’t understand this comment – Our old house had a 600mm oven, nothing fancy Chef brand and they fit, our new house has a 900mm oven and they fit… Is your oven a tiny box?

Their Kirkland frozen pizzas can’t fit into our oven. We own a Euromaid SC-1531. I’ll stick to their hot pizzas in future even though they are cold by the time I get home from Majura Park.

The best pizza is the one you make yourself and to do this you need a good quality pizza stone that will fit into your kitchen oven.
I had an old Chef in which my Emile Henry 37cm stone (cost abuot $70) would just fit and I recently renovated my kitchen and installed a Euromaid oven (works great) after ensuring the stone would fit.
Set the oven to 250 degrees using top and bottom heat + fan and let the plate heat up fully before dropping the pizza on top. Takes about 12 minutes.
From there just use your imagination as to what toppings you want and if you don’t want to make your own dough (it’s very simple) get ready made ones at the supermarket together with Leggos tomato pizza paste, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, cheeze etc.
My favourite is smoked salmon (packet stuff roughly chopped for pasta dishes) with lashings of wasabi enriched mayo.
The pizza stones can also be used in the backyard barbie if it has a hood but don’t let it burn.
I am going to get one of those Costco B Double pizzas and try it on my oven stone, even if I have to cut it to size.

Pistachios said :

The new L’Artista in the old Zeffs building is forgettable so far. Hopefully they pick up their act.

Haven’t had a pizza there but I’ve dined there on pasta a few times and each time it has been quite palatable and service was good too.

Piratepete said :

A pity you can’t fit it into the oven.

I don’t understand this comment – Our old house had a 600mm oven, nothing fancy Chef brand and they fit, our new house has a 900mm oven and they fit… Is your oven a tiny box?

Their Kirkland frozen pizzas can’t fit into our oven. We own a Euromaid SC-1531. I’ll stick to their hot pizzas in future even though they are cold by the time I get home from Majura Park.

My adult kids like Arnolds – more generous toppings than Dominos (which are minimal), but not overly pricy like Crust. Let’s face it, pizza is mostly bread dough.

Kalliste said :

Genie said :

Has anyone tried the new pizza place in Gungahlin ??

Cant be any more helpful than it starts with a Z… I think. It’s on Gungahlin Place.

If not I think I have found what I’m having for dinner on Friday to provide a review.

Zaitoon?

Haven’t been there yet either but have considered it. A review would be great.

Yeah that’s the place…. Their menu didn’t tickle my fancy, so I don’t think I can be bothered trying it

John Moulis said :

arescarti42 said :

By far my favorite pizza joint for takeaway is Costco.

It’s certainly not authentic Italian, and it’s probably not the best in Canberra, but it’s simple, delicious, and excellent value at $15 for a pizza the size of a bicycle wheel.

A pity you can’t fit it into the oven.

…the idea with takeaway is that it’s hot and ready to eat, so you don’t need to put it in the oven.

A pity you can’t fit it into the oven.

I don’t understand this comment – Our old house had a 600mm oven, nothing fancy Chef brand and they fit, our new house has a 900mm oven and they fit… Is your oven a tiny box?

Crust is great but it is so expensive and the Belco store always gets the order wrong. After reading here about Crust and Pizza Capers being the same company I will give them a miss. Pizza Capers used to be great. They are like Dominos now.

I recently found Kaleen take away after the demise of Zeffs where you can get a great Quatro pizza with four different tastes. Costs $22 for a family size. Ring to order before you go as they are always busy. You know it’s a real pizza if you have to ask for no anchovies.

Leo’s at Evatt gets a mention for good old school take away style pizzas that are thick and juicy with lots of toppings.

The new L’Artista in the old Zeffs building is forgettable so far. Hopefully they pick up their act.

At the end of the day the “busiest pizza shop in the world” Dominos at Florey is still a great back up at $5 a basic pizza pick up. They never get my order wrong and it is always hot. Not the best pizza but…

aussieboy said :

Definitely Pizza Gusto, yet inexplicably they don’t accept card

It’s much easier to keep things off the books if you only take cash.

arescarti42 said :

By far my favorite pizza joint for takeaway is Costco.

It’s certainly not authentic Italian, and it’s probably not the best in Canberra, but it’s simple, delicious, and excellent value at $15 for a pizza the size of a bicycle wheel.

A pity you can’t fit it into the oven.

Definitely Pizza Gusto, yet inexplicably they don’t accept card

It’s probs 18 months since we last got a pizza “to go”. I couldn’t care less about toppings, the real art in pizza-making is in the crust, and even highly-rated places in Canberra like Debacle rarely have interesting, good-tasting crusts.

In fact, I gave up and started making my own pizzas. Once you really get in to making your own, you never go back – healthier, cheaper (about $1 for a 12″ cheese pizza) and better-quality ingredients. If it’s convenience you want, you can freeze dough and sauce and mozzarella and defrost these for a quick meal.

By far my favorite pizza joint for takeaway is Costco.

It’s certainly not authentic Italian, and it’s probably not the best in Canberra, but it’s simple, delicious, and excellent value at $15 for a pizza the size of a bicycle wheel.

dreamlikecheese said :

Pizza Arte in Kingston is great. Simple toppings, delicious crusts and takeaway only. It’s run out of someone’s house just across the road from the Kingston shops and they’re only open Wed-Sun nights. They also do a tasty tira misu.

yes! canberra’s other best pizza is [or at least was] in gundaroo… (is cork st cafe still brilliant for pizza?)

Mothy said :

The moment that ruined it for me: discovering that Pizza Capers and Crust are owned by the same company.

NOOO!!!!

Why did you have to tell me that? Just because it was ruined for you doesn’t mean you had to ruin it for everyone else!

+1 for Pizza Gusto, although I’ve not been for over a year.

I understand they’ll be opening up at the Kingston Foreshore soon, which may help increase my intake.

I don’t mind Crust. But then I’m quite happy to polish off a Domino’s Supreme, too, so perhaps take my recommendations with a grain of (too much) salt.

The moment that ruined it for me: discovering that Pizza Capers and Crust are owned by the same company.

Used to love Crust’s Pulled Pork Pizza, but last time I got it the meat supplier seemed to have changed and it was oily.

Was sad to see Zeff’s in Belconen close – they did a great takeaway pizza that was different to the pre-fab taste of the stuff from Dominos, Pizza Hut and that seem to be direction Pizza Capers and Crust are going.

Thin crusts for me.

Depends on your tastes I guess. I’m not a huge fan of “authentic Italian” pizza. I like thick crusts and juicy toppings and for me the best Pizzas are at Wilburs in Hackett. Kids love the Aloha and they use real quality cheese and ham. I’ll eat pretty much any pizza on the menu. Price seems pretty similar to other gourmet places, and if you put in a phone order and leave straight away to pick it up you have time to sit down for a 4 pines pale ale while the wife is home trying to organise the kids.

Genie said :

Has anyone tried the new pizza place in Gungahlin ??

Cant be any more helpful than it starts with a Z… I think. It’s on Gungahlin Place.

If not I think I have found what I’m having for dinner on Friday to provide a review.

Zaitoon?

Haven’t been there yet either but have considered it. A review would be great.

Has anyone tried the new pizza place in Gungahlin ??

Cant be any more helpful than it starts with a Z… I think. It’s on Gungahlin Place.

If not I think I have found what I’m having for dinner on Friday to provide a review.

Mess said :

Zucchini brothers in Chisholm is always good.

+1. Always great.

Pizza Arte in Kingston is great. Simple toppings, delicious crusts and takeaway only. It’s run out of someone’s house just across the road from the Kingston shops and they’re only open Wed-Sun nights. They also do a tasty tira misu.

Biginelli’s in Mannheim Street, Kambah do fab gourmet pizza on Wednesday nights or all day Saturday.

The best pizza is from the Royalla Pizza Oven, but they don’t do take out or serve anyone but their friends.

Zucchini brothers in Chisholm is always good.

tobefair said :

If it’s quick and easy anytime pizza, Crust serves the purpose well. If we had a pizza capers locally that would be my poison. I still dream of Theo’s in Kambah – back in the day, when the pizzas were awesome and you could play pac man while you waited (sigh)

“Crust” is the operative word. Dry, overcooked and underfilled.

I’ll throw in a lazy vote for Pizza Gusto – it is very good. Although, it’s now too popular for its own good (and this is hardly going to help) and it is quite expensive. And even with product flying out the door I can’t understand how a place like that can afford to be open so few hours of the day…

Speaking of pizza and takeaway in general, it’s funny how pizzas used to be $20 each back in the 80s, then places like Dominos came in and drove that price to well under $10 – but in recent years we’re all happy to pay $20 again because it’s gourmet!

If it’s quick and easy anytime pizza, Crust serves the purpose well. If we had a pizza capers locally that would be my poison. I still dream of Theo’s in Kambah – back in the day, when the pizzas were awesome and you could play pac man while you waited (sigh)

I very rarely go near dominos or pizzahut unless it’s free. That also stands for Crust, where the chains are concerned I think the best one is actually Pizza Capers. I’ve only had a few pizzas from there but they’ve always been really good.

Otherwise I quite like the pizzas from Trevs in Dickson with the Potato bread/pizza and the Duke (Chicken, chorizo, bacon, jalapenos and bbq dressing without the jalepenos – $19) being my favourites.

And there is always Debacle on 2 for 1 nights. The Carnivore (Pepperoni, Ground Beef, Chorizo, Leg Ham, Provolone & Topped with BBQ Sauce) from there is one of my favourite pizzas, although it depends on the type of crust you like, some people really dislike the Debacle crust. I love them 🙂 They’re thick, soft and doughy.

As with James, the few times I’ve had Pizza Gusto it’s been good, granted I haven’t been there in quite some time though.

Pizza Gusto Braddon is my favorite, had one last night recommend a large with half Capriciosa which has on it tomato, mozzarella, shaved leg ham, mushrooms and artichokes and a half Affetato – tomato, mozzarella, shaved leg ham, Calabrese salami and finished with fresh shaved prosciutto
Base is light and crispy and tomato base is delicious! $21

Since i discovered Crust I haven’t gone anywhere else, but would be interested in other recommendations for any good local sources.
There’s not much round by us, but i gave up on Domino’s and Pizza Hut pretty quickly, despite the convenience. My first meal in Australia was a pizza from “the busiest Domino’s in the southern hemisphere” and i spent the night throwing up after eating dodgy prawns.