🇮🇹 What Italian Food Is in Fashion in Brisbane in 2025?
Discover the modern Italian food trends redefining Brisbane’s dining scene
Italian food never really goes out of style—but in 2025, it’s having a renaissance in Brisbane. Local Italian restaurants are giving this timeless cuisine a fresh new spin, blending sustainability, innovation, and bold regional flavours while staying true to Italy’s rich culinary traditions.
Whether you’re a die-hard pizza lover, gluten-free pasta seeker, vegan foodie, or someone who just loves a good antipasti plate with a glass of wine, Brisbane’s Italian kitchens are evolving in exciting, delicious ways.
At Factory 51 in Coorparoo, we’re embracing this new era of Italian dining—combining traditional techniques with creative flair to deliver dishes that are both comforting and contemporary. Here’s a look at what’s hot in Italian food this year—and how we’re serving it with heart.
🌿 1. Sustainability Meets Italian Soul
In 2025, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a movement. Brisbane diners want to know where their food comes from, and Italian restaurants are stepping up by championing locally sourced ingredients and ethical farming practices.
At Factory 51, we prioritise seasonal produce and quality-first sourcing. From local heirloom vegetables and ethically raised meats to sustainable seafood, every ingredient we use has a story behind it—and a purpose on your plate.
You’ll see this in our vibrant antipasti boards, our slow-cooked sauces using farm-fresh tomatoes, and our evolving specials menu that follows Queensland’s seasons. It’s a return to Italian roots—simple, honest food made with care and intention.
🧡 2. Gluten-Free Italian Without Compromise
The gluten-free movement in Brisbane has exploded—and Italian restaurants are finally catching up. In 2025, gluten-free options are not just available—they’re exceptional.
Gone are the dry, dense alternatives. Today’s gluten-free pizza bases are cold-fermented for flavour and texture, while pastas are hand-rolled using flours like chickpea, almond, and rice.
At Factory 51, our coeliac-friendly menu includes sourdough-based gluten-free pastas, handmade gnocchi, and woodfired pizzas you’d never guess were gluten-free. Our chefs have spent years perfecting the recipes, so you can enjoy the full Italian experience without compromise.
🍕 3. Italian Food Trends: Creative Pizza Is Taking Over
Woodfired pizza remains a Brisbane staple—but in 2025, chefs are pushing the boundaries. From wild toppings to creative doughs, pizza is being reimagined.
We’re seeing:
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White base pizzas with taleggio, truffle oil, and mushrooms
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Vegan cheeses with roasted seasonal vegetables
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Sweet-savoury combos like pear and gorgonzola
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Aged doughs that add depth of flavour and digestibility
At Factory 51, our pizzas balance tradition with creativity—offering everything from classic Margheritas to indulgent creations with smoked meats and locally grown greens.
🧀 4. Burrata Is the Breakout Star
Let’s talk burrata. Creamy, rich, and impossible to resist—this cheese is popping up everywhere in 2025, from pizzas and pastas to brunch menus and tasting boards.
It’s become the must-have starter or pizza topping across Brisbane. And for good reason: it turns simple ingredients into something truly luxurious.
We serve burrata with roasted tomatoes, pickled onion, basil oil, and freshly baked focaccia—it’s simple, but unforgettable.
🧂 5. Fermented Foods Add Depth
Once reserved for health food cafés, fermented ingredients are now playing a starring role in high-end Italian cuisine. In 2025, the Italian food trends are all about sourdough pasta, aged pizza dough, and pickled vegetables in antipasti platters.
Fermentation brings a depth of flavour that elevates even the simplest dish. It also improves digestion and nutritional content.
At Factory 51, our 96-hour fermented dough is the secret to our beloved woodfired pizzas. We also experiment with sourdough pasta and fermented condiments that add a tangy kick to familiar favourites.
🇮🇹 6. Regional Flavours Go Mainstream
Italy is not one flavour—it’s dozens of regional cuisines rolled into one rich culinary map. In 2025, Brisbane diners are moving beyond the classics and falling in love with lesser-known Italian regions.
Think:
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Sicily’s seafood pasta and citrusy sauces
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Tuscany’s rustic, slow-braised meats and beans
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Puglia’s handmade orecchiette and earthy, sun-kissed flavours
Factory 51’s heart is in the south of Italy. Our handmade orecchiette and strozzapreti are paired with house-made sauces and regional accents like spicy nduja, sun-dried tomatoes, and olive tapenade.
🌱 7. Plant-Based Italian Is Now a Menu Mainstay
Plant-based Italian food isn’t a niche anymore—it’s mainstream. Chefs are using vegetables, legumes, and grains in ways that surprise and satisfy even die-hard meat lovers.
At Factory 51, we’ve embraced the challenge with:
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Vegan Margherita pizzas with cashew mozzarella
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Plant-based risottos with wild mushrooms and white wine
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Dairy-free panna cotta and rich tomato sugo slow-cooked without meat
We don’t just “substitute”—we create dishes where plant-based ingredients are the star.
🍷 8. Italian Wine Pairings Matter More Than Ever
There’s a growing appreciation in Brisbane for intentional wine pairing. Diners want to know what wine best suits their pasta, antipasto, or dessert—and Italian wines offer incredible variety.
In 2025, Italian varietals like Montepulciano, Vermentino, and Barbera are more popular than ever. Sommeliers are crafting lists that complement modern menus and elevate the entire dining experience.
At Factory 51, we’ve curated an Italian wine list designed to flow with our seasonal menu. Whether it’s a crisp white with seafood pasta or a bold red with pork ragu, our team can guide you to the perfect pairing.
🧾 9. Smaller Plates and Shared Experiences
Dining today is all about experience. And Italian food—built around shared plates, long conversations, and good wine—is perfect for it.
More Brisbane Italian restaurants in 2025 are embracing smaller, shareable plates over the traditional entree-main-dessert format. This allows guests to sample more, savour the pacing, and make the meal more social.
Our antipasti boards, share pizzas, and small plates menu at Factory 51 are built for connection. Whether you’re out with friends, on a date night, or celebrating something special—it’s food designed to be shared.
✨ Final Thoughts: Italian Dining in Brisbane, Reimagined
Italian cuisine in 2025 is a beautiful mix of tradition and transformation. Brisbane diners want flavour, authenticity, and inclusion—and they’re getting it.
At Factory 51, we’re proud to be part of this evolution. From sourdough pasta and fermented dough to regional dishes and curated wine pairings, our menu is a love letter to Italian food with a distinctly Brisbane twist.
So, whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, traditional, or totally experimental—you’ll find something to savour here.
🍽️ Join Us at Factory 51 for a Taste of Italy
Ready to see what Italian food trends look (and taste) like in 2025? Book your table at Factory 51 and experience it for yourself.
From casual date nights to group celebrations, we bring people together over exceptional food, warm service, and rustic-chic charm in the heart of Coorparoo.