There are few things more satisfying than a pizza that comes out of a wood-fired oven and lands on the table still crackling with heat, and at Tredici on Tay Avenue, that is exactly what you are getting. A classic Italian in the heart of Caloundra that has built its reputation on fresh dough, quality ingredients and the kind of smoky, charred crust that only a proper woodfired oven can produce. The name means thirteen in Italian, and this is a venue that takes its heritage seriously without ever taking itself too seriously.
The pizza menu covers the traditional bases with confidence: Margherita, Capricciosa, Pepperoni and Meat Lovers sit alongside more creative options including a Tandoori Chicken that has developed a following of its own, and a Pumpkin and Fetta that earns its place on the menu every week. The pasta dishes match the pizzas in quality, with the carbonara and the chilli prawn spaghetti drawing consistent praise from regulars who have worked their way through the menu more than once. The calamari and bruschetta garlic pizza are the entrees most people wish they had ordered two of.
The setting is warm and relaxed in the way that good Italian restaurants tend to be: brick walls, wooden furniture, the smell of the oven in the air and an outdoor area that catches the Sunshine Coast sea breeze on a warm evening. It is a genuinely comfortable place to sit for a couple of hours, whether you are with family, a group of friends or a date who you want to impress without making the whole thing feel like too much of an occasion.
Located at 11 Tay Avenue in Caloundra, Tredici is fully licensed with BYO wine also available, gluten-free options on hand, and takeaway for those who want the woodfired experience from their own couch. Open for dinner and available for bookings via the website.