Heaven by the slice, Roman-style pizza by world-ranked Chef Hem starts today

Posted on 7 July, 2025

Since we brought you the exclusive back in February that Chef Hem was opening a new grab-and-go pizza place in the city, we have been looking longingly in the window, wishing it to arrive.

Today, friends, is the day.

Thapa Magar Hemnath (or Chef Hem for short) is Canberra’s only chef (and one of two Australians) to hold a place in the Top 100 pizza-makers through The Best Chef Awards 

And today he will open the doors to his brand new venue, Sliceria, on Marcus Clarke Street.

Each rectangular slice is a meal. Trust us.

Since his 2023 catapult to celebrity status in Canberra (the award is a big thing, judged by 200 people including pizzaiolos and other gastronomy professionals from six continents, 24 countries, and 74 cities around the globe), Chef Hem has been working at Pizza Artigiana as well as operating his two small Hem and Co Vans.

Sliceria promises to offer a quick, incredibly fresh and expertly prepared slice (or two) of Roman-style pizza by the large rectangle, as well as schiacciata (thin focaccia sandwiches that are bursting with filling) and a small selection of Roman-style deserts, including maritozzo, cannoli, and tiramisu.

There are two benches inside and a few on the pavement, but the idea is to grab-and-go. The main counter contains a fresh deli section from which to choose ingredients as well as a bank of fresh-baked pizza.

Three out of three HerCanberra team members heartily endorse…

Chef Hem uses high-protein Italian flour and proves his dough for up to 72 hours. He also keeps a close eye on the weather, which affects his pizza quality and requires him to tweak things constantly.

His opening pizza menu includes the Margherita, the Truffle Shuffle with mushrooms, Provolone and fior di latte, Meat Me in Rome with ham, salami, Italian sausage, Potato with garlic roast potato, the Patate Salsiccia with garlic roast potato, fior di latte, parmesan and thyme, the Pesto Roni of home-made pesto, pepperoni, fior di latte, hot honey and parmesan, and the Warm Balls of lamb meatballs, fior di latte, parmesan and parsley.

The incredible schiacciatas

Schiacciata cominations include the Porchetta with provolone, pear and rocket, the Turkey with stracciatella, roasted capsicum, pesto, onion and rocket, the Vegana with tomato, vegan or diary cheese, roasted pepper, onion, basil and rocket, the Prosciutto with stracciatella, sun-dried tomato, truffle cream and rocket, the Mortadella with stracciatella, pistachio cream and crushed pistachio, the Mix of tomato, prosciutto, pesto, basil, and fresh mozzarella.

Sweet tooths will love the Nutella on that crispy fresh bread.

Chef Hem is giving away 450 free slices of pizza from Monday. Hope he has his skates on!

Chef Hem is so excited to be opening his doors he will be providing 150 free (you read what you read) slices of pizza from 11.30 am today, tomorrow, and Wednesday.

We expect quite the line-up for this world-class offering.