The Best Margherita Pizza in Joburg (or maybe the world)

by | Mar 28, 2019 | Food and Drink, Johannesburg, Sandton and Surrounds | 15 comments

UPDATE (May 2019): The Coalition Pineslopes location has closed. You can still eat Coalition’s delicious Margherita pizza at their location on Bolton Road in Rosebank, and they will soon be offering their “Kitchen Table” experience again at a new location in Sandton. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

A million years ago, I remember reading Eat, Pray, Love and getting to the part when Elizabeth Gilbert has a religious experience while eating a Margherita pizza in Naples. And I thought: Someday I too will go to Naples and eat a pizza like that.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d still love to go to Naples. But now that I’ve eaten a Margherita from Coalition Pizza in Joburg, the pressure is off.

I’m sure I’ll get lots of comments from people who have eaten pizza in Naples, disputing the title of this post. And I realize I don’t know what I’m talking about. But seriously, people: Have you been to Coalition and ordered the Margherita? If not, go do it now and then we’ll have a conversation.

Tables at Coalition Pizza in Pineslopes
Coalition Pizza in the Pineslopes Boulevard shopping centre in Fourways.

I’ve been eating at Coalition since it opened in Rosebank a couple of years ago (although inexplicably I never blogged about it other than a brief mention in a post I wrote about cocktails). I loved Coalition’s pizza from day one but it never occurred to me to order the Margherita. Why get a pizza with only tomatoes, basil, and cheese when there are so many other toppings to choose from?

Then a couple of months ago I received an invite to try out Coalition’s new “Kitchen Table” experience at their second location in Fourways. The experience is a three-course meal and wine-pairing, during which you watch Coalition chefs make mozzarella cheese and Margherita pizza from scratch.

I’ll never see Margherita pizza the same way again.

A Margherita Pizza Experience

After sipping a Negroni and watching the sun set over “Tuscany” (i.e. Montecasino) on the Coalition terrace, my friend Fiver and I and a few other foodies sat at the long bar facing the restaurant’s open kitchen. We spent the evening chatting with Shayne, one of Coalition’s owners, and Levis, Coalition’s rock star pizza chef, drinking delicious wine and eating the food Levis and Shayne prepared.

Shane Holt opening a bottle of wine at Coalition Pizza.
Shayne opens our first bottle of wine. The pizza oven is behind him.
Stellenrust Brut spumante, or "South African prosecco", served at Coalition Pizza.
A bubbly Chenin Blanc from Stellenrust. It’s called “Brut Spumante”, which is the South African version of Prosecco.
Mozzarella appetizer from Coalition Pizza.
The handmade mozzarella starter, accompanied by fresh peas and prosciutto. Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of Levis making the mozzarella because I was too busy taking video clips for my Instagram story.
Margherita pizza going into the oven at Coalition.
Ready to go in the oven.
Margherita pizza from Coalition Pizza in Pineslopes
My finished pizza, accompanied by an orange-hued Chenin Blanc from Testalonga called “Stay Brave”.

It’s hard to explain what made this pizza taste so good. Maybe it was the crust, perfectly crispy and chewy at the same time. Maybe it was the fresh mozzarella, created in front of me moments earlier. Maybe it was the Italian tomatoes, crushed by hand right before they were spread onto the crust.

Or maybe it was just the whole vibe of the evening, which was perfect in every way. Worth the trek to Fourways for sure.

Coalition Pizza has locations at 2 Bolton Road, Parkwood (in the Park Corner complex near Rosebank) and Shop GF22 in the Pineslopes Boulevard shopping centre near Fourways. Book the Kitchen Table experience at Pineslopes for R380 ($26) per person (minimum four people, maximum six people).

My Kitchen Table experience was complimentary. Opinions expressed are my own.

15 Comments

  1. foxtrotindigo

    I’ve eaten pizza in Naples… Coalition is right up there (and may even be better) 😉

    Reply
  2. Ruth

    I’m sure that the pizza you had was good but: the very best pizza I’ve ever had was last week at Trabella in Illovo! Not cheap but completely wonderful.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      I think this pizza kills Trabello! Give it a try 🙂

      Reply
  3. eremophila

    Best pizzas are in port fairy, at Coffin Sally. They do great cocktails too! Come on over Heather and we’ll have a great time????

    Reply
    • 2summers

      Hahaha ok challenge accepted!

      Reply
      • eremophila

        ????????

        Reply
  4. Peter

    The ” Jolly Roger ” does a mean vegetarian …..

    Reply
    • 2summers

      I do like Jolly Roger pizza. But Coalition is in another dimension entirely!

      Reply
  5. Peter

    with avo as an extra

    Reply
  6. Eva Melusine Thieme

    My mouth was watering at the first picture. Looks and sounds awesome.

    Reply
    • 2summers

      The best ????????????

      Reply
  7. Songh

    There is love intelligence knowledge and so much of Jimmy Hendrix in this Margerita❤️❤️❤️

    Reply

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