Sipping cocktails and eating pizzas while looking out to the beach is not a daydream at Northbeach Pavilion Pizza Restaurant, Bar & Kiosk, it’s a reality! This local restaurant ticks all the boxes when it comes to authentic Italian cooking.
Sipping cocktails and eating pizzas all while looking out to the rolling waves at the beach…sounds like a daydream, right? Well this is just your average lunch at Northbeach Pavilion Pizza Restaurant, Bar & Kiosk. This Italian restaurant located in the iconic heritage listed North Beach Bathers Pavilion on North Wollongong Beach makes what I think are the best and most authentic Neapolitan pizzas in the Wollongong area. I have eaten at Northbeach Pavilion more times than I can count over a staggering 7-year period and it is the first place that comes to mind when I want to take someone out for a meal I know will be great while also showing off the beauty of Wollongong. If you love traditional pizzas, look no further because Northbeach Pavilion will make you feel as if you are in the heart of Naples. Buon appetito!
Full disclosure, I worked as a waitress at Northbeach for four years during high school and university. It was an intensely high paced gig, especially over the summer periods, but my belief in the high-quality food and the stunning location made working there pretty special. For that reason, I won’t be giving this review a star rating, just so it is totally unbiased. Since leaving almost 2 years ago, I still regularly come in for lunch and dinner and love catching up with old work friends.
Whilst I love the food at Northbeach, the standout for me is their pizza. Made in a Neopolitan style, their pizza dough is hand rolled, cooked in a 100% woodfired pizza oven (imported from Naples) and cooked for 90 seconds between 350-400 degrees Celsius, impressive I know. This means you’re never waiting long for a pizza and when you do receive it, it’s the closest you can get to the real Italian thing (and trust me, I’ve had pizzas in Naples!). Neapolitan pizzas have a very thin base that puffs up to the fluffiest and airiest crust and are best eaten straight away as they can get cold quickly!
Northbeach have a great selection of pizzas that are always changing and updating with the seasons. You can get them either with a red base (this is with San Marzano tomato sauce) or a white base (these pizza bases range from various cheeses, pesto or truffle oil) and there is sure to be something for everyone! They also offer three kinds of dough, normal white, charcoal and wholegrain cereal – I haven’t tried their wholegrain dough but I can vouch for the charcoal, it’s so light and fluffy! If you thought it couldn’t get any better, it can because they also do half metre and metre pizzas. Eat your heart out!
I’ve hyped up these pizzas enough so if you’re convinced and want some recommendations, here are my personal favourites (honestly there are more but this is the shortened edit).
Pizza Margherita. A classic, a staple, you can absolutely go no wrong. With all the toppings in the world I will always go back to a classic margherita and at Northbeach there’s no exception. There are two on their menu and this one has Fior di Latte mozzarella but if you want the true experience, get the Pizza Regina Margherita as it has Buffalo mozzarella. It’s a bit more expensive, but I think it’s worth it.
Pizza Pavilion. Think of this one as a sweet potato and spinach salad with pine nuts…but on a pizza. I used to sell heaps of these, and it was always a favourite. It has also never changed on the menu, that’s how popular it is. This one is less traditional to Italian flavours but is something unexpected and super tasty.
Pizza Aglio. This is Northbeach’s authentic take on garlic bread. Made with garlic, oil and chilli, this pizza is my go-to for entrees because it’s the perfect starter. I also (highly) recommend adding Fior di latte mozzarella because melted cheese and garlic on pizza…a match made in heaven! The chilli is also very mild (at least to my palette), so give it a try!
Now if you’re after something other than pizza, I got you. I believe you can never go wrong with a good Antipasto Board and Northbeach always has one on their menu. Currently on offer is an assortment of cured meats, cheeses and olives. Another go-to is the Paranza Seafood Platter which is a fried mix of calamari, king prawns and John Dory. They coat the seafood in a light semolina crumb which make them delicate and not too heavy. If you don’t want to get the whole platter, they also make an entrée size of Calamari which are made the same way and equally delicious. To finish, you must (and I mean must) try the Ugly Duckling Italian Donuts. Northbeach have been selling these since they opened and they are a cult favourite! They’re a mix between a donut and a sweet dumpling and are made with ricotta and coated in cinnamon sugar, all while being served with a side of Nutella (*drools*). Their infamous name comes from their irregular shape, but while they may be bumpy on the outside, they are oh so moreish on this inside.
Apart from food, Northbeach Pavilion’s other standout is their unrivalled view of North Beach, I’m talking right-on-the-sand-kind-of-views. Window seats fill up quickly so it’s always best to make a reservation in advance and understand that sometimes a table with a direct view may not be possible. However, there are plenty of tables inside plus a lovely al-fresco area to dine as well as a row of tables outside along the promenade if you want to eat from their takeaway Kiosk or order a pizza to eat outside. Another big shout out goes to Maria, the front of house manager and all-round Italian gun. Maria has been the everyday face of this restaurant since it opened and is such a great and funny person to catch up with. There’s never a dull moment with Maria and she made my time working there more than memorable!
So if you’re stuck for a dinner venue, craving pizza or want to show family or friends a beautiful taste of Wollongong, Northbeach Pavilion Pizza Restaurant, Bar & Kiosk, is not to be missed. They have an extensive food and drinks menu that is sure to have something for everyone and I would describe the prices as $$-$ (mid-range to higher for large platters and specialties). I highly recommend this restaurant as they are truly passionate about food and authentic Italian flavours. Speciale!
North Beach Pavilion’s website: northbeachpavilion.com.au | North Beach Pavilion’s Instagram: @northbeachpavilion