Say ciao to Italian street food eatery

A NEW Italian street food restaurant Piada Co. has opened at Habitat in Byron Bay’s industrial estate.

The eatery is the second venue to open after the brand launched in Burleigh Heads in 2024.

Its specialty is its fresh, handmade piadinas — a thin, hand-rolled Italian flatbread.

The menu also includes artisanal pizza, pasta, tiramisu, cannoli and gelato.

Piada Co. was founded by Andrea and Alexa Fabrizio and their friends Simon Bird and Bree Edwards, who also run Burleigh Gelato Co.

The two couples met when they both had shops in the suburb.

“Andrea is Italian and regularly returns there with Alexa and son Leone,” Edwards said.

“They already had another Italian restaurant at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast, The Deli by Pepe. Simon and I have been to Italy a few times but love to spend as much time as we can in the Mediterranean in general.

 

Andrea came to us with the idea of a piadinaria after we all got back from their wedding in Italy in 2023, and the idea just evolved from there.

“We decided to focus on piadinas as there are very few places in Australia that offer them — a couple of restaurants around the country — and then a few food trucks as well.”

Edwards said she loved that they were fresh and easy to eat.

“They don’t have as much bread as your classic focaccia sandwich, and they are damn delicious,” she said.

The mum of three, who has a background in fashion marketing, said the restaurant has a modern yet traditional retro feel.

“It’s somewhere you can co me for a quick bite, or a long meal with friends and family,” she said.