North Beach Pizzeria Crowned Best in Western Australia and Top 50 Across Asia-Pacific
Maestro Sourdough Pizza, located in North Beach, Perth, has achieved a remarkable culinary milestone by being crowned the best pizza in Western Australia for the second consecutive year. Additionally, it has secured a prestigious spot among the top 50 pizzerias across the Asia-Pacific region, as announced at the recent 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific awards held in Tokyo.
A Prestigious Recognition on the Global Stage
Invited to attend the awards ceremony earlier this month, Maestro Sourdough Pizza was the only restaurant from Western Australia to make the list, earning the 38th position. Tokyo's The Pizza Bar on 38th claimed the top spot, while Melbourne's SHOP225 was the highest-rated Australian pizzeria at number four. The awards are highly regarded, with entrants selected through visits from mystery shoppers, ensuring venues are unaware of when judges will attend or what they will order, adding to the credibility of the recognition.
Founder's Journey and Passion for Pizza
Andrea Brunelli, the founder of Maestro Sourdough Pizza, expressed immense pride in representing Western Australia on the world stage. It's a huge honour honestly, and it's something that we are very proud of, he told The West Australian. Western Australia has a growing food scene with many great operators focusing on high quality. To be recognised again by 50 Top Pizza helps put the city on a culinary map, and this means a lot to us.
Mr Brunelli's journey began when he moved to Australia in 2011 as an experienced baker, initially working as a pizza maker at Spaghi in Applecross. During the COVID-19 pandemic, like many in hospitality, he found himself without work and started making pizza for family and friends on his balcony, experimenting with sourdough techniques. The popularity of his creations quickly grew, with friends and neighbours requesting more, leading to a WhatsApp group with around 100 members. Too much for a balcony, and the necessity for a real shop was clear, he revealed. It's nice to believe in luck, but I prefer to believe that there are only opportunities colliding with talent.
From Balcony to Award-Winning Restaurant
A neighbour informed Mr Brunelli of a vacant shop near his home, which became the foundation for Maestro Sourdough Pizza. He credits his parents for supporting his vision and his partner Chiara, who manages the front of house, for the restaurant's success. Being listed in 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific means people around the world suddenly discover a small pizzeria in North Beach, Perth. That's pretty special. But at the end of the day, Maestro is still very much a family-driven project, he said.
The Secret to Award-Winning Pizza
Mr Brunelli attributes the success of his pizza to three key elements: dough, ingredients, and consistency. He uses a fermented sourdough dough and premium Italian ingredients, such as San Marzano tomatoes and Latteria Sorrentina cheese, which his family would eat at home. For those new to his offerings, he recommends starting with the classics like the Margherita or Marinara, as they reflect the quality of ingredients and lightness of the dough. If those are good, everything else will be good, he noted.
His signature pizza, the Maestro, is a particular favourite, praised for its balance of sweetness from San Marzano sauce, savoury notes from San Daniele prosciutto, and freshness from buffalo mozzarella and basil. Very simple ingredients but a WOW result, he described. For a more indulgent experience, he suggests the Truffle Wagyu pizza, and for seasonal variety, off-menu creations inspired by both Italian and Australian flavours, but with our own twist.
This recognition not only celebrates Maestro Sourdough Pizza's excellence but also highlights Perth's emerging status as a destination for high-quality culinary experiences, drawing attention from food enthusiasts across the globe.
