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Pizzateca

Friday: 12:00 – 8:00 PM
319 Chalk Hill Road, McLaren Vale, SA, 5171
Phone
(08) 8323 9762
Website
pizza-teca.com
Instagram
@pizza_teca

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 24 Apr 2023

By
Nick Ryan

This pizza place among the vineyards serves the kind of bright, juicy, energetic wines that work so well with the crisped-up, wood-fired pies, including some of McLaren Vale’s finest.

Charred and chewy pizza at Pizzateca
Why you go

Everything you need to know about this place can be found in the red smear adorning the charred and chewy pizza bases emerging in huge numbers from the Neapolitan oven at its heart. The handmade tomato sugo sauce from locally grown Roma tomatoes is the kind of subtle sign this place does things right.

The Mitolo family sum up the philosophy driving this ever-popular carb-hound destination with a pithy portmanteau. “Oztalia” is the way they describe their determination to celebrate the culinary traditions of their old home of Italy with the natural bounty of their new one. Spend some time in the warm embrace of Mitolo-style hospitality and you’ll quickly understand what they mean.

Why you staySome places just feel right the minute you walk in. Welcoming smells hit you, the buzzy hum of your fellow diners lifts you, senses sharpen and the appetite strains like a wild dog on a leash. At that very moment, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be. This is one of those places. Everything about Pizzateca feels right. Banging tunes, a casually professional crew covering tables with perfect pizzas and filling glasses with bright and juicy goodness from some of McLaren Vale’s best new-wave producers. Multiple generations of the Mitolo family making it all work as it should. This is what’s possible when casual dining is delivered with forensic attention paid to every little detail.
Casual Dining at Pizzateca
Drink's at Pizzateca
What drink to orderA pizza place among the vineyards should offer a selection of the kind of bright, juicy, energetic wines that work so well with the crisped-up carbs, molten cheese and smoke-licked smallgoods that emerge from the fiery heart of a great wood-fired oven. Pizzateca nails that brief. Not only do they list some of the finest contemporary wines made in McLaren Vale, but they also tap into a long Mitolo-family tradition of winemaking through their own Oztalia label. Nothing better illustrates the family’s approach, neatly encapsulated in the phrase “Southern Italian traditions, South Australian conditions” than the McLaren Vale wines they make from pizza-perfect varieties like nero d’Avola, montepulciano and barbera hailing from Italy. Available by the glass, better drunk by the bottle.
Why we love itBefore Tony Mitolo decided making pizzas alongside his dad Vito was his life’s calling, he was a gigging musician, playing drums in bands like Empire of the Sun and Pnau. Once a drummer, always a drummer, and that energy is evident in everything Tony brings to Pizzateca. Whether that’s working the dough for his pizza bases, tweaking the tunes to match the customer vibe or simply working the floor with one of the biggest smiles in South Australian hospitality, Tony lays down the perfect beat.
Food, Music and Drinks at Pizzateca
Food and Drinks at Pizzateca
Regular’s tipIt's fair to assume that most people who make the decision to dine at a place called Pizzateca are drawn there by the titular treat, but there’s a singular menu item that the regulars never miss. The Mitolo family migrated from Abruzzo in Italy’s south and have made one of that region’s classic dishes a fixture on their menu. Looked at one way, arrosticini are skewers of lamb – sourced from the nearby Adelaide Hills – cooked simply over charcoal with a generous sprinkle of salt. Looked at another way, they are an incredibly powerful and persuasive argument for the principles of simplicity, smart sourcing of produce, and cooking with care.
Don’t leave withoutThe Oztalia label is the home for a range of products from the Mitolo family that encapsulates their “Southern Italian traditions, South Australian conditions” philosophy. It’s worn by a range of wines that work beautifully with the food, and can be taken away for enjoyment at home. The label also adorns a range of pantry staples that include the homemade tomato sugo sauce, shiraz vinegar, extra virgin olive oil as well as a collection of preserved seasonal vegetables.
Drink's at Pizzateca
Fine dine at Pizzateca
Who to takePizzateca is run by a family for families. Whether you’re a family of three or three dozen, this is the perfect place to bring everyone together to celebrate the most special of connections. The space lends itself beautifully to large groups, or smaller ones that want to keep their distance. No matter the family dynamic, this will work for yours.
Authour image
Nick RyanNick Ryan turned a natural thirst into something resembling a career, writing about drinks for publications such as The Australian, The World of Fine Wine and The Robb Report.
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Drinks DirectoryRegional SATakeawaysGreat tunesParty vibesMeal and a bevCasual catch-upOutdoor areaFamily affairNon-alc OptionsGood for groupsVego Food Options
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