Group dinners should feel effortless. The kind of night where everyone settles in, the table fills up naturally, and the conversation stays louder than the logistics.
But if you’ve ever tried to organise a birthday dinner, a team catch-up, or a long-overdue “we should do this more often” night, you’ll know the friction. Different appetites. Dietary needs nobody mentioned until you’re already seated. The person who arrives 25 minutes late. And that familiar moment of silence when someone finally asks—”Do we all order separately, or are we sharing?”
This is exactly where Roman pizza wins.
At 170 Grammi in Surry Hills, Roman-style pizza is thin, crisp, and built to be sliced and passed around the table. It keeps the meal moving, keeps everyone in the mix, and turns what could be a logistical headache into what a group dinner is actually supposed to be: a social, generous, genuinely enjoyable night.
Why Roman pizza works for group dining
The difference comes down to one word: structure.
Roman pizza holds its shape when sliced. That might sound like a small thing, but it changes the whole dynamic at a group table. Slices don’t droop mid-reach. Toppings stay where they’re supposed to. You can order a proper spread, pass it around, and actually try several things — without anyone hovering over their plate to protect it.
There’s also a natural pacing to it. Food arrives in rounds. The table grazes, compares, orders more of what they loved. Nobody’s sitting there waiting for their dish while everyone else has already finished. It’s a format that encourages eating together rather than eating alongside each other — which, when you think about it, is the whole reason you made a booking in the first place.
How to order for a group: variety over volume
The most common mistake at group tables is ordering as if everyone’s dining solo. You end up with a pile of individual choices and not much actual sharing — which defeats the whole point.
Roman pizza works best when you order for range. Think contrast, balance, a mix of moods. Not the same style of topping repeated five times. Something like a classic, something lighter, something rich, something bold — so there’s a slice for everyone, regardless of what they’re feeling that night.
Start with shared bites while the table settles
A couple of starters early on does more work than you’d expect. It gives early arrivals something to eat, buys you time while the latecomers find parking, and immediately puts everyone into sharing mode. Even if your group is “really just here for the pizza”, beginning with something communal sets the tone for the whole night.
Build your pizza order like a playlist, not a list
For most groups, the sweet spot is four flavour directions: one classic, one vegetable-forward, one richer Roman-style, one meat-heavy for the people who always order that way. It’s a simple framework, but it works because it naturally covers the table without turning the ordering process into a committee meeting.
Here’s a practical trick if you’re the one organising: ask everyone for a quick preference — classic, veg, rich, or meat — and order to hit each category. Sixty seconds of polling, and you’re done. No group chat needed.
Roman pizza and the way Sydney groups actually eat
Group dinners in Sydney rarely run to a tight schedule. Someone’s late because the train was delayed. Someone else wants to linger over a drink before looking at the menu. The table starts with quick catch-ups and ends — somehow — two hours later than anyone expected.
Roman pizza fits that rhythm naturally. You can order in rounds, pace it across the evening, and keep the energy up without the meal ever feeling rushed or heavy. Add a pasta or two mid-way, something sweet near the end, and you’ve got a proper Italian-style spread that keeps the table engaged from first bite to last.
👉 Explore the dine-in menu before you arrive
Want the easiest option? The Sharing Set Menu is ready to go
If you’d rather not coordinate opinions at the table — and honestly, who would? — the Sharing Set Menu is the simplest way to lock in a great night. It’s designed around the way groups actually eat: shared plates, crowd favourites, a smooth progression that keeps things moving without anyone needing to make too many decisions.
Why Surry Hills works as a meeting point
Surry Hills is one of those Sydney suburbs that works for almost any group because it’s genuinely central and easy to reach — whether people are coming from the CBD, the Inner West, or the Eastern Suburbs. There’s no over-planning required. It just works.
The venue matters too. You want somewhere that feels lively without being loud, polished without being stiff — somewhere that works equally well for a table of old friends and a table where half the group is meeting for the first time. 170 Grammi sits in that space. Neighbourhood feel, a menu that’s genuinely built for sharing, and Roman pizza that gives a mixed-preference group something everyone can actually enjoy.
A few things worth sorting before you arrive
Small decisions made early tend to make the whole evening smoother — particularly if you’re the one who sent the group calendar invite.
Book ahead, especially on weekends
For groups, a booking is always worth making. Friday and Saturday evenings fill quickly, and knowing your table is confirmed means one less thing to manage on the night.
Set menu or curated sharing?
Both work well. If your group wants maximum ease, the set menu handles the decisions for you. If you’d rather choose your own, pick two starters and then build your pizza order around variety. Either way, having a loose plan before you sit down keeps the ordering fast and the mood good.
Mention dietary needs early
Groups almost always include a mix of requirements. Mentioning them when you book — or when you arrive — gives the team the chance to guide your choices clearly, rather than working it out at the table when everyone’s already hungry.
Order in rounds, not all at once
One of Roman pizza’s strengths is pacing. Start with shared bites. Send out a first round of pizzas. See what lands best, then order again. It keeps the energy moving and gives the table something to talk about besides what to order next.
Make your next group dinner a Roman-style one
If you’re looking for group dining in Surry Hills that’s relaxed, generous, and actually fun to organise, Roman pizza makes a strong case for itself. Crisp, shareable, built for variety — it turns a group booking into a proper communal meal rather than a collection of individual orders at the same table.
Whether you go à la carte or let the Sharing Set Menu do the work, we’ll help you pull it together.
👉 Book your group table
👉 Browse all menus
👉 Contact us with group questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Roman pizza is thin, crisp, and structured, so it holds its shape when sliced and passed around the table — which makes it one of the most naturally shareable pizza styles for group dining.
170 Grammi is located at 428 Crown Street, Surry Hills.
Yes. The Sharing Set Menu is designed for groups and typically includes shared entrée items, a choice of pastas, and a selection of Roman pizzas.
Yes. Vegan cheese and gluten free pasta and pizza bases are available. We recommend mentioning dietary requirements when you book so the team can guide your choices on the night.
No. To keep things simple, we don’t offer split bills.
