Il Forno Pizzeria

Tucked away in a side street off Sandgate's quaint main shopping strip, local hotspot Il Forno is an absolute find and, for those seeking good pizza, worth a trip to the bay for.

Locals pack into the cosy indoor space of the shop and by sundown have spilled out onto the footpath where bay breezes, a Perona or glass of Italian wine and pizza are a hard-to-beat combination.

With bases authentic thin crust Italian style, toppings come in traditional – Margherita, Capricciosa, Arrabiatta and Gamberi to name a few – as well as ring-ins such as Moroccan, Hawaiian and the must-try Crispy Duck.

While Il Forno is all about pizza, there's also lasagne, cannelloni and salads as alternatives, and children are catered for with a $9 Bambini menu of Hawaiian, Margherita or ham and cheese pizza or mini lasagne and salad.

Leave room for the dessert, too, with fabulous house-made panna cotta, tiramisu or the Bacio chocolate dessert pizza.