The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

Burn City Smokers to open Slice Shop Pizza in Footscray

Anna Webster

Steve Kimonides and Raphael Guthrie of Burn City Smokers.
Steve Kimonides and Raphael Guthrie of Burn City Smokers.Supplied

Steve Kimonides and Raphael Guthrie have made a name for themselves as barons of barbecue with Burn City Smokers. And undeterred by the fact that they know nothing about pizza, they're opening a pizza-by-the-slice shop opposite Mr West bar in Footscray. "I've watched hours and hours of The Pizza Show on Munchies, so I've done my research," jokes Kimonides.

Reinventing themselves is nothing new for the duo. He and Guthrie were sommeliers at Il Bacaro before they gave themselves over to barbecue full-time in 2014.

Slice Shop Pizza is set to open in Nicholson Street Mall, in the old Cheaper Buy Miles discount supermarket, in early January. Although set up primarily for take-away, it will have around 16 bench seats and be decked out in white marble and tiles with red and blue trimming – "the Footscray Bulldogs' colours," says Kimonides.

The plan is to make 45-centimetre pizzas instead of the standard 30 centimetres, so "the slices will be quite big". They'll also be closer in style to New York (thin but sturdy) than Neapolitan (soft with puffy edges). Drinks will be simple – think Peroni cans and a couple of Italian wines.

Advertisement

Initially, Slice Shop's opening hours will match those of Mr West – Wednesday to Friday and Sunday from 4pm until late, and Saturday from 1pm – and pizza slices will be available in the bar or can be picked up on the way home.

It's not the only new venture Kimonides and Guthrie are working on. In February, the boys are set to beef up Burn City by launching an online barbecue delivery service. Smoked meats, including brisket and pork shoulder, as well as sides and sauces, will be hand delivered vac-sealed, ready to be reheated.

"The pizza project is because Raph and I are Westies and we love the area, and we thought it would be a bit of fun," says Kimonides, "but the online barbecue-to-your-door … that's the big one for us."

101a Nicholson Street, Footscray, burncitysmokers.com.au

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement