Real Pizza

Everyone's favourite

We’re lucky in Auckland that we have three very special pizzerias that recreate traditional Italian and New York pizzas without the bizarre ingredients, dazzling array of sugary sauces and reconstituted meat found on many of the popular chain eatery pizzas.

In the central city is Sal’s, offering ‘Authentic New York Pizza’ and they make good on their word with generous slices or massive 18” pizzas that will feed the whole family. The menu is simple but classic with traditional Neapolitan sauces topped with pepperoni or meatballs or just mozzarella. They even deliver on eco-friendly Segways, though this does limit the range of their deliveries.

If you head out of town and up Sandringham Road you’ll find Papa’s Pizzas – specialists in wholemeal pizzas. You can eat in or takeaway and Papa’s is very handy if you’re a Blues fan with Eden Park just over the road. In my experience though it’s best to phone your order through as Papa’s is very popular and you can be in for a fair wait at times. The pizzas – especially the unusual wholemeal bases – are delicious though and worth the wait if you forget to pre-order!

Last and by no means least is my favourite, Il Buco on Ponsonby Road. Owner Johnny Rudduck, has captured the flavour and atmosphere of an Italian pizzeria perfectly and when you enter the narrow hole-in-the-wall restaurant the delicious aroma of rosemary, basil and freshly baked dough is intoxicating. The slices are surprisingly filling too, couple that with some of the best coffee around and you’ve got the perfect lunch on the fly or takeaway dinner.