So, another city has sparked a quest for another culinary adventure; pizza.
As my wife Sara and I started getting settled here in Ottawa in the early summer, she mentioned that there are a lot of cool pizza joints in the city and that we should try them with her mum, Sue.
I’m a straight shooter when it comes to food ratings and I never feel badly about how a restaurant owner is going to feel about what I have to say.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. I’m not some big food critique who influences the volume of traffic that these pizza joint owners get.
I’m just an amateur reviewer of restaurants and wines (and films when it’s TIFF Season!).
So, with all of that understood between us, let’s take a look at the first several pizza spots I’ve hit since arriving in town.
All of the ratings are based on the pizza alone.
It was Canada Day and there wasn’t much open in Westboro/Hintonburg and it was storming like crazy.
Joe’s Italian Kitchen is a short walk from our home so we figured “What the heck?”
Well, I think we should have walked a bit further – or just waited.
I don’t remember what else we ordered aside from pizza, but this all about the pizza – so what’s the story?
They serve a Roman style of pizza called pinsa, which I’m not really into. The Joe’s website states that the dough is made from a blend of sourdough, rice, soy and wheat flour, which really makes it less of a pizza to me.
Another thing I don’t care for, is that all of the pizzas, I mean pinsas, are named after people, most of whom have the name Joe in there.
We probably had a salad – and the wine was okay.
But the pizza?
Rating: 4/10
What can I tell ya? The place was busy. People are lined up for take-out orders.
One thing I’m finding with the cool spots is that pineapple is making a comeback in what’s supposed to be a proper pizza joint.
I’m not having it. But I think my wife or mother in-law ordered the Pineapple Pie and they said it was good.
Another thing – dipping sauces.
I’m not six years old – I can eat the crust with some olive oil or some pepperoncini. Want to make it right? Bring me some sugo so I can “fare la scarpetta!”
Just seeing the word “ranch” on a pizza menu is enough to send me back out where I came in.
I had the Kale Salad and it was quite good.
But the star of the show is the pizza. I had the “Lovely Cheese.”
They did a decent job – but I’m not sure that all the hype is warranted.
Rating: 6/10
I texted my boss one day and asked him what is the best pizza in Ottawa (he has family here) and he’s a foodie, so I trust his judgement.
I had the opportunity to check out Giulia, as my old boss and a colleague were in town for a work event … so we decided to catch a bite to cap off the evening and we noticed that the Byward Market location was very close to us.
Service was poor.
The pies were great!
Rating: 8/10
It is Thanksgiving Weekend, and we’re anything about traditionalists when it comes to the holidays; any holidays.
So then, my wife and I went with my mother in-law to the movies to watch a very bizarre film called “The History Of Concrete.“
I don’t know what to tell you – but it wasn’t as bad as we thought it was going to be.
On to part two – we tried to get in at Pizza Nerds on Bank Street, but no dice. They had resos coming in.
So, then off to Anthony’s Wood Fired Pizza in our neighbourhood.
One of the guys in the neighbourhood, who I see at the espresso bar at Il Negozio, let me know that Anthony’s is the place for pizza.
He wasn’t wrong.
Good drink selection on the beer and wine.
My negroni was very nice.
I ordered the side Arugula Salad – but it was as if it were sized like a main dish – and I couldn’t stop eating it – it was top notch. Very simple, just the way I like it.
And then pizzas – I ordered Napoletana.
I believe my mother in-law had the Four Cheese and my wife the Ortolano.
They were all great, as I got to try a piece of everyone’s pizza.
My only critique was of the Ortolano – I was expecting roasted eggplant on it instead of pickled eggplant. But overall, I enjoyed it.
We all thought that we ordered the best pizza, which is a great thing. It means that the menu delivers to the individual guest.
Service was much better than Giulia.
Anthony’s is the only pizzeria of the four reviewed here that will be an instant return.
Rating: 8/10
All of the pizza joints have nice IG Accounts, check ’em out:
Joe’s Italian Kitchen IG Account
Heartbreakers Pizza & Wine IG Account
Anthony’s Wood Fired Pizza IG Account
Last – here are the pizzerias that we want to hit next!
Salute!
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