London's Top Pizzerias
European cuisine would be in a far sorrier state without Naples’ massive contribution over the years. As well as some of Italy’s signature pasta dishes, this city on the west coast of Italy is also the home of the beloved Pizza. Cooked traditionally in a wood-fired oven, this popular Italian export has roots in the Roman period, but came of age around two hundred years ago.
With this week’s focus on Neapolitan food, we thought it only right to present you with a guide to getting the best pizza in the capital. There’s plenty of options out there, so let us tell you where to get the most for your (pizza) dough.
Rossopomodoro, Notting Hill
A favourite of ex-pat Italians (always a good sign), this restaurant gets a huge thumbs up for their delicious pizzas. The thin crust and almost endless list of delectable toppings gets the wood-burning treatment to create a wonderfully traditional experience. We recommend the ‘pizze fritte’ (fried pizza), but Marc from Rotherhithe is of the opinion you can’t go far wrong whatever you order: “The pizza is simply the best I have ever had outside Italy”.
Casareccia, Kilburn
This gem in the west is also a must if you’re hankering after traditional, Neapolitan-style pizzas. Fresh dough is kneaded every day and the ‘Bandiera’ (a flag-shaped pizza) is deliciously quirky and definitely worth a shot if you happen to plump for this cosy little eaterie on the High Road.
Stringray, Highbury
With two cracking pizzerias in the locale (Pizzadelique off Blackstock Road is also very special), Stringray gets the nod for its melt-in-the-mouth pizza base. It’s a well-kept secret in the area, with locals confident that few others in the capital do this traditional Neapolitan fare better than this restaurant on Highbury Park Road. The £5.99 lunchtime deal is a real steal and makes Stringray an unmissable experience.
Franco Manca, Brixton
Much has been written about Franco Manca recently and we’re pleased to say that the effusive words are justified. A real contender for the best pizza in the capital, the sourdough and first class ingredients create a dish like no other. It’s likely you’ll have to wait for a table, but we can guarantee it will be worth the wait. Gareth from Camberwell couldn’t agree more:
“Stuck in the middle of the market in Brixton, it's a bit incongruous with the surroundings, but who cares when the food is this good? You’ll never eat Dominos again!”
Il Bacio, Stoke Newington
This friendly Italian is a big hit with young families in the area. If you can get a space amongst the over-sized pushchairs, you’ll be flabbergasted by the wood-fired pizzas that are Il Bacio’s speciality. Expect to take some of it home with you (they’re enormous), and at a reasonable price, this makes Il Bacio a real find. Jess from Canonbury is a big supporter: “Pizzas are superb and very much the point here”