The team behind some of Canberra's favourite eateries has converted a former auto shop into a lively new pizza destination, bringing a slice of casual Italian dining to the heart of Braddon.
From Garage to Pizza Workshop
Canberra restaurateurs Anthony Iannelli and Sungyeol "Sunga" Son have unveiled their latest venture, Pizzeria Officina, at 4/9 Lonsdale Street. The venue fills a space that was once a tyre and auto mechanic's workshop, nestled between their own Bar Outro and the Assembly pub.
The name is a direct homage to the building's history. "Officina translates to workshop or factory in Italian," Mr Iannelli explained. "It's a play on the fact that this used to be a mechanic's workshop, but now it's a pizza workshop."
Operating from a garage with a roller door, the atmosphere is deliberately unpretentious. The owners stress this is a far cry from a formal dining experience. "I don't want people to walk in expecting a formal dining experience," Iannelli said. "This is cruisy and casual."
A Menu Built on Experience and Nostalgia
The menu is the result of collaboration between Iannelli, former head pizza chef at Bada Bing, Picco, his wife Kristin, and group executive chef Sunga Son. It features a 48-hour fermented sourdough base supporting seven classic pizzas and seven custom creations.
Playful offerings include a Big Mac pizza and the Michelangelo's Pepperoni, inspired by the '80s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. A small selection of nostalgic snacks rounds out the food offering.
"What's the saying about needing to practice 10,000 hours of something to become an expert at it?" Iannelli mused. "I reckon we've eaten about 10,000 pizzas over the years, so hopefully that accounts for something!"
Service is equally relaxed: there's no table service, and guests grab their own cutlery and sharing plates.
An '80s and '90s Vibe with Cinema-Scale Sound
The interior design leans heavily into retro car culture, decorated with vintage posters that evoke childhood bedrooms and dad's garages. Tables reused from Terra add a touch of familiarity.
A standout feature is a pair of original, towering JBL cinema speakers, each over six feet tall. Visuals match the theme, with famous pizza scenes from films spliced with '80s automotive footage and clips from The Sopranos playing on rotation.
The drinks list follows the natural-leaning wine, beer, and solid cocktail trajectory established at the group's sibling venues, Terra, Bar Outro, and cafe Recess.
Pizzeria Officina is open Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm for dinner, and Saturday to Sunday from 12pm for lunch.
The opening caps a whirlwind year for the duo, who saw their flagship restaurant Terra abruptly close in May 2025 only to reopen days later across the road. They then launched the well-received Bar Outro on Lonsdale Street in August 2025.
