One idea, one year of meticulous planning and two couples’ shared vision have culminated into the Coast’s newest bar and pizzeria offering.
Officially opening last week, Pizzeria Sisily is a joint venture delivered by the duo behind the popular Cafe Sisily and their close friends.
In March 2020, Paolo Valvoletti and Giuliana Steppa opened Cafe Sisily in Golden Beach with the aim of providing an authentic taste of Italy on the Sunshine Coast.
During a catch-up with friends Mai and Lawrence Monforte, the couples discovered a shared love for quality cuisine and Sicily, which led to the inception of the new restaurant.
Other partners joining the combined extended family business is Mr Monforte’s brother Liam and Martin Pham.
Co-owner Lawrence Monforte said bringing their shared dream to life was a long time coming.
“We are all very excited about opening and bringing an Italian restaurant with Sicilian-inspired dishes to Golden Beach,” he said.
“It is a really good feeling. The reactions have been really positive … people have said that they didn’t expect what was coming and their expectations were really exceeded.
“Our goal is to make everyone feel welcome, to enjoy our food and relax with a casual drink at our bar, well into the night.”
Already proving popular with the locals, he revealed they had been booked out since the grand opening last Thursday.
“It draws on decades of combined food experience and respect for Sicilian heritage and customs, and is a tribute to culture, cuisine and the Australian way of life,” he said.
“We all have a strong affiliation with Sicily and Italian food and culture.
“Paulo was born in Sicily and my father came from Sicily in the ’50s so we wanted to bring a piece of Sicily and the Mediterranean to Golden Beach.”
He said the new venture was filling a gap in the area with the pizzeria’s menu offering and its extended late night hours.
“We offer traditional Italian cuisines with a little bit of a modern twist and I don’t believe there is anything like that in Golden Beach regarding that space,” he said.
“The fact that people can come in up until 10pm to have a drink at the bar is also different.
“We want the locals to feel like once the clock strikes, it’s not shut down, it’s still going. So if people want a late-night pizza or a drink, they are more than welcome to come in.”
He described the design of the building as Sicilian-inspired and elegant.
“On the inside we’ve subtly placed Italian colouring, but it’s not in your face,” he said.
“There’s green, white and red but not the traditional bright colours … they’re slightly darker tones to create a more ambient atmosphere.
“This dream wouldn’t be possible without our builder and Giuliana’s father, Carmelo Steppa. We owe a lot to him and always will.”
He said the couples’ focus was on locally sourced fresh produce and handmade pasta, with dishes inspired by their nonnas.
The restaurant offers wood-fired pizzas made from scratch, a full a la carte menu as well as a fully loaded bar, with Sicilian-inspired drinks like limoncello as well as local brews and gins.
A curated wine list by wine master Peter Scudamore-Smith is also on offer.
“One of the unique pizzas on the menu is called the Miele e Tartufo pizza, so it’s a truffle-infused ricotta with honey drizzle,” he said.
“We’ve had really good feedback on our char-grilled octopus as well. We also we have beautiful arancini – they are very traditionally Sicilian.”
He reiterated the team’s goal of making their customers feel as though they were a family member.
“We want people to come in and really enjoy the atmosphere,” he said.
“It’s almost like when an Italian invites you over to eat – we really want you to enjoy yourself, enjoy the food enjoy the drink.
“We are hoping that the quality of food and the service and the particular beverages we have – so the value for money and the experience – is what will keep people coming back.”
While they aren’t currently offering takeaway, the team plans to incorporate it in the future as their customer base grows.
Find Pizzeria Sisily at 40 Landsborough Parade, Golden Beach, behind Cafe Sisily.
Scroll down to SUBSCRIBE for our FREE news feed, direct to your inbox daily.
