The hunt for the perfect, tell-your-mates-about-it wood fired pizza continues….only this time I had 7 friends in tow, so I could sample various offerings on the menu over a few glasses of red, yum!

Vespa Pizza is one of those pokey little places I’ve always wanted to go to, but never have for some stupid reason. I spend so much time around the New Farm area and must have driven past the place a cozillion times…thank goodness for Miss A deciding to hold our most recent monthly reunion at Vespa Pizza, as it was without a doubt the best pizza experience I’ve had in Brisbane.

I’ve mentioned pokey already and that really is the best word to describe Vespa Pizza. There are some tables on the sidewalk which boast plenty of room, but if you’re seated inside or out in the courtyard, be prepared for an intimate evening if there are more than two of you at the table! Don’t get me wrong though – it’s a lovely, romantically lit setting, it’s just very small. Our party of eight was originally seated in the courtyard to the side, but with every kiss and hug as we greeted each other, came another spillage or breakage, so they promptly relocated us to the spacious wooden table setting out the back of the kitchen – which was probably a good thing because before too long we became quite rowdy.

We started proceedings with 2 serves of the garlic and three cheese pizza breads ($8) to share. This didn’t get far as the boys got a little greedy, but we got at least one pizza-slice sized piece each, which was enough for most of us at the table.

After much debate, we finally agreed on ordering 7 pizzas to share (some weren’t so happy with this and seemed unfamiliar with the term share!) and the menu made it impossible to choose because they all sounded so mouthwateringly good. 20-30 minutes (and several glasses of red wine) later, our order of pizzas arrived simultaneously (BIG tick in the box!) and it didn’t take long before the conversation stopped and the devouring began.

The absolute stand outs were the streaky bacon and red current pizza with camembert ($19); the sesame chicken with mango chutney and organic yoghurt ($19.50); salami, bacon, pepperoni with mushrooms, tomato and mozzarella (also known as 3 little piggies, $19.50); and finally the cinnamon roast butternut pumpkin with dried chilli, sage and fetta ($18.50). Three of us actually fought over the last piece of streaky bacon pizza – lucky me, I won!

The staff must be commended on their efforts as this place turns over a lot of patronage in a very small space and manages to keep it together at the same time (another tick in the box). They are bright and bubbly and happy to converse with their clientele and take the time to make recommendations and talk you through the menu.

The final tick of approval came when the bill arrived – for 8 people to consume a total of 9 pizzas, one bottle of purchased wine and three bottles of BYO wine we paid only $25 per head. Outstanding! I can’t wait to go back to Vespa Pizza and I have a strange feeling that my hunt for Brisbane’s best wood fired pizza is over!

If you live on the other side of the river, Vespa Pizza has just opened another store at 617 Stanley St Woolloongabba, 3391 4300. Both stores do home delivery for an additional charge.

• Vespa Pizza, 148 Merthyr Rd, New Farm +61 7 3358 4100

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