Surace Cucina Linz has once again been named Upper Austria's best pizzeria by the Falstaff community in 2025. This recognition, which has already been awarded several times, underscores the restaurant's commitment to traditional pizza craftsmanship and authentic Italian cuisine. Since opening in 2021, Surace Cucina Linz has established itself as a place that aims to offer guests a "moment of Italy" in the heart of Upper Austria's capital.
According to those in charge, the secret of the pizza lies in the dough, which is prepared by experienced pizzaioli according to a family recipe handed down for generations and continually refined. After a 50-hour resting period in a wood-fired oven, the dough acquires its unmistakable Italian flavor. Carmelo Surace, the restaurateur and ice cream expert behind Surace Cucina, was delighted with the repeated award and emphasized that they always strive to serve guests authentic Italian specialties and warm hospitality, just like at home. Restaurant manager Carmela Martino points out that classics such as San Daniele, Diavola, and Capricciosa are highly valued both in Italy and in Linz.
Marco Natali, the pizzaiolo at Surace Cucina, comes from Apulia and has perfected the art of pizza making over the years. He prepares the dough daily using high-quality flour from Veneto, which is still milled in traditional stone mills, as well as mother yeast, water, salt, and the house's own Surace olive oil. Natali emphasizes that the most important ingredient is time; only with sufficient aging time can the dough be optimally processed and is easily digestible. The pizza finally acquires its characteristic flavor at 380°C in a wood-fired oven. The success of Surace Cucina is part of a broader gastronomic commitment by Carmelo Surace, whose family business, with its roots in Calabria, has been shaping the gastronomic landscape in central Upper Austria for around 25 years with gelaterias, other restaurants, and cafés.