Pizzeria Violetta Reopens in Kenmore with a New Chef

Following a six-month pause, Pizzeria Violetta has reopened in Kenmore with a new chef, Mario Miljkovic. Check out their redeveloped menu, featuring new flavours and a new dough for their wood-fired oven-baked pizza.



Owner Renata Roberts shared that Mario was eager to move his family from Newport in Sydney to Brisbane’s Western Suburbs. He’s bringing years of experience as a pizzaiolo who was originally raised in Vicenza, Italy.

Before joining Pizzeria Violetta, Mario was the head chef at Pizzeria Rosso Pomodoro and Terrazza Pizzeria in Sydney. He also led a team in the kitchen at Merivale’s Newport for nearly five years. 

Photo Credit: PizzeriaVioletta/Facebook

“Being passionate about everything is something us Italians are known for, but when it comes to food that’s a whole different story,” said Mario. 

“Bringing authenticity to my food, and having the freedom to create and explore, while honouring the rich tradition around Italian food brings me a particular joy. I can’t wait to share with Brisbane what I have in store!”

Assisting the new chef is Ajay Ghimire, who has worked with Mario in Merivale. Together, the pair has come up with new flavours and new dough for Pizzeria Violetta’s redeveloped menu. Mario and Ajay have created a 36-hour proved dough, delivering a crispier crust once it is cooked in the woodfired oven. 

Photo Credit: PizzeriaVioletta/Facebook
Photo Credit: PizzeriaVioletta/Facebook

Some of the old favourites remain, however, such as the classic pizza Margherita, primavera, or diavola. The restaurant also introduced Mario’s, a delicious and refreshing vegetariana pizza. 

In October 2021, Renata sadly announced the shop’s temporary closure due to the pandemic. The owner said that they wanted to preserve the integrity of the pizzeria. Thus, they had to ride it out until the restaurant could re-open and provide the authentic dining experience that their loyal patrons love. 

Now that Pizzeria Violetta is back, Renata said that they are still getting “into the swing of things” but the team is slowly rebuilding and Mario will soon introduce more new flavours in the kitchen. 

Find out what’s the latest at Pizzeria Violetta through their Facebook page.



Pizzeria Violetta in Kenmore Serves Authentic DOC Napoli Pizza

If you’re looking for authentic, D.O.C. Napoli-style pizza in Kenmore, one restaurant name always seems to come up. Pizzeria Violetta on Wongabel Street is proud of its reputation as a D.O.C. Napoli pizza establishment, and it has made efforts to maintain this reputation over the years.

The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside Pizzeria Violetta is this big, white tiled oven marked with the words “D.O.C. Napoli” on the front. The restaurant has an open kitchen so diners may actually watch how their orders are prepared.

Now, this custom-built wood-fired oven is what makes every pizza order taste just like the ones served in Naples, Italy.  

D.O.C. means “Denominazione di Origine Controllata” and it’s the highest standard for defining the authenticity of Italian food or wine. A D.O.C. Napoli seal of approval means that the pizza prepared in this restaurant passed the strictest Neopolitan standard.

Photo Credit: Pizzeria Violetta/Facebook

With this wood-fired oven, Pizzeria Violetta can ensure that the temperature stays at 204°C (400°F) to allow for the pizza to cook in 90 seconds. However, it’s not just the specially-designed oven that brings authenticity to the dishes as Pizzeria Violetta also makes use of the best ingredients imported from Italy.

Photo Credit: Pizzeria Violetta/Facebook
Photo Credit: Pizzeria Violetta/Facebook

Pizzeria Violetta’s menu consists of mostly pizza, but the restaurant also offers sides and salads, coffee, cocktails, and wine. Guests may also request to make their pizza gluten-free.

“The food here is excellent.  Pizzeria Violetta is on a quiet street tuck out of the way so there no rush. Excellent!”

~ Stephen C Grimmett, via Google Reviews

“Best pizza in Brisbane, hands down and our regular go-to place! My american partner says it’s the best pizza he’s had anywhere in Australia in 9 years.”

~  Trish Braithwaite, via Facebook 

“This pizza place is one of our favourites. Great pizza…..all Italian staff and wonderful ingredients. Definitely compares to most of the pizzas we’ve had in Italy. Great little place with indoor and outdoor seating. Pizza done the original Italian way. Absolutely recommend this place.”

~ Ausoman, via Trip Advisor



Pizzeria Violetta is open Monday to Sunday at 5:00 p.m. until late night. Advanced reservations are encouraged except for Friday and Saturday.