Saturday, March 05, 2011

Zia Pina Pizzeria, The Rocks

The MCA are very kindly staying open late on Thursday nights during March so that worker bees like the BFF and myself can scurry down to The Rocks after work and check out the Annie Leibovitz exhibition. Thanks MCA!


As the night is all about Annie Leibovitz and not about food (unbelievable I know) we decided beforehand to find somewhere cheap and cheerful to have a quick but tasty bite to eat before heading off the exhibition at the MCA.  This appears to be easier than it sounds as, whilst The Rocks has quite a few great places to eat, a lot of them are a bit pricey and not really the "eat and run" type of place we are after.


The BFF had suggested a quick noodle dish from Wok On Inn so I went to check it out before we were due to meet up.  Whilst it fit the criteria (quick, cheap, cheerful) the surrounding courtyard eating area was all but closed down for the night and it didn't have a nice feel about it.  This would be a much nicer place to eat during the day when the area is buzzing with activity.

I thought I would wander down to the harbour to check out Greenhouse by Joost, the new pop-up environmentally friendly and sustainable bar & restaurant that has set up camp on the waterfront until the end of March.


I'd read quite a bit about this place and knew the food was reasonably priced, yummy, wholesome and you couldn't ask for a better location.  As I approached the makeshift structure I got a tad excited...the place seemed empty, with none of the crowd I was expecting to encounter.  Squee - I'd just grab myself a recycled-billboard table and text the BFF and tell him where to meet me.  It wasn't until I got right on top of Greenhouse that I saw the big, spray painted sign "Sorry we are closed for a function tonight".  D'oh!


So, it is on to plan C.

I had been to Zia Pina Pizzeria more than a few times back in my youth and thought it could do the trick tonight.  Albiet I'd always had a few drinkies before eating at there, so I had fond memories of the place. It was always busy with tourists seeking a cheap dinner, or city workers grabbing a quick pizza on their way home after a few post-work drinkies with colleagues.


When we walk in the place is just as I remember it, so not much as changed in 15 years.  The downstairs is tiny, with about ten tables all with mandatory red and white checked table clothes.  Quaint. Zina Pina's is aiming for the rustic Italian feel with wooden floorboards and exposed brick walls.


The menu is quite large with at least twenty different types of pizza on offer, as well as pasta, salads and soup.  There is also a set menu available for groups at $28.00 per person.


The pizzas are quite reasonably priced and a medium Cabanossi Pizza sets us back $14, and it is enough for two people with modest appetites to share. We add anchovies to our pizza for an extra $2.00 as I just cannot seem to eat pizza anymore if it doesn't have anchovies on it. I think I have a serious salty food addiction happening.


The pizza has a super-thin base that is perhaps just a bit too thin (or perhaps not quite cooked enough) for the thick ooze of cheese and tomato sauce that smothers it as goes a bit soggy...but it's still pretty tasty, albeit sloppy.


We also decide to order a Prawn Salad ($18.00) to add a bit of healthy eating to our cheesy pizza fest.  The salad is a bit on the expensive side for what is essentially a salad of rocket with five garlic prawns and three cherry tomatoes.  That said the salad is tasty, with a scattering of pine nuts adding a nice nutty crunch to the mix.


This is by no means a fine dining restaruant, nor a gourmet foodie experience. It won't be the best pizza you've ever had but it's pretty tasty and hits the spot when you need a quick bite to eat on your way to somewhere else.

The service is friendly, quick and efficient and we are in and out in under 40 minutes (we're faster eaters too, which helps speed things along nicely).

Zia Pina Pizzeria on Urbanspoon

Zia Pina Pizzeria is at 93 George Street, The Rocks
www.ziapina.com.au

16 comments:

  1. You had to resort to Plan C? Bummer. At least it was quick and close to the MCA right?

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  2. I have been reading a lot about Greenhouse by Joost & was going to ask you if you were planning on trying it out! The pizza looks yummy & good value. How was the Annie Leibovitz exhibition?

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  3. Gosh I also remember going here in my youth, too! Hope the exhibition was fabulous, I'm going in a couple of weeks :)

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  4. ooh was the annie leibovitz exhibition good?

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  5. yum!! pizza looks cheesy and generous portion!

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  6. Hi Everyone - thanks for your comments!

    Annie Leibovitz was really great - a lot of pieces I recognised from magazines etc, but also quite a lot of personal pieces which were great. I'd suggest going on a Thursday night to avoid weekend crowds.

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  7. I need to get out and see the Annie Leibovitz exhibit before it moves on. That pizza certainly does look sloppy!

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  8. Hum, I'm on your side about thin crust pizzas.. though I really can't talk, trying to stay away from pizzas... I can never have just one peice!

    Glad at least plan C worked.

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  9. Too much cheese for my liking. But as you said, it was not about the food!

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  10. i hear you re: the anchovies. oh and you gotta love a pizzeria with gingham tablecloths!

    http://thealimentarytrack.blogspot.com/

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  11. I've walked past this place so many times and wondered what the food was like so thanks for the review! And I really want to see the Annie L exhibition :)

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  12. I hope the exhibition was fantastic, sounds like the pizza was perfect for your night :)

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  13. There are so many places I haven't been to in the Rocks, we hardly ever seem to wander out there! I'll keep this in mind and hopefully I'll get there in time for the exhibition as well ;-)

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  14. I'd never think to go in to one of these type places at The Rocks...

    Fingers crossed I have better luck when I head to the Greenhouse this week ;)

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  15. Hi again everyone - I agree that this night with the BFF was all about Annie, and not about the food. If I had more time I'd want to go somewhere a bit more special the next time I'm in The Rocks. Such a pity Greenhouse isn't sticking around for longer. Sad face.

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  16. The place we go to trivia has pizza like that where it's messy cause the base just flops due to not being cooked properly. It still tastes good though!

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