The Pizza renaissance of London
By: Dario Rossi
Tags: Italian Restaurants, Italian Food, Pizza, London

Being an Italian abroad has many sides, some good, some bad. Probably the worst is related to food. You miss a lot Italian food, all the time and end up stuffing your suitcases with salamis, sausages and other ingredients on the return flight of every trip home. But there’s an exception and the exception is to live in London. This city, and more broadly most of the Uk, likes our food and also finds it very fashionable. You can see it in supermarkets and with the many restaurants popping up in the high streets of any neighbourhood. And in particular, in the last 2-3 years, I witnessed top pizza restaurants opening in the capital. Surely for years we had great options, like Franco Manca, Metro Pizza, Santoré, which are very good. But now we have the excellence even by Italian standard. What I mean by that is that if I go home and go out for a pizza I will find it hard to have the same quality as a handful of restaurants that have recently opened. What does sets them apart from the competition? Often they are the overseas (from Italy) branch of an original and famouse neapolitan restaurant. Or maybe they just exist in London and they have stellar chefs. In any case, from 2016 and 2017 I have witnessed a steep increase in the quality of pizza in London. I think I said enough as an introduction, let’s see what are these new kings of pizza:

50 Kaló

7 Northumberland Ave, Westminster, London WC2N 5BY

This is probably the king of them all. Reasons are the superb ingredients (sourced from the best) and the quality of the dough. It’s considered the best in Naples too. It’s in a convenient position close to Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross. The only downside to it is that it’s pricier than the others (with good reason) and you cannot book. Go earlier than usual to find a table. Be sure to try their amazing desserts too.

Pellone

42 Lavender Hill, Battersea, London SW11 5RL

This is my favourite because it’s so close to where I live. Nevertheless it is a top one too. It’s in a smaller venue, with a family run feeling, super friendly, very cosy (I love going there midweek) and it’s absurdly cheap (for now!). The starters are absolutely amazing. It is again a remote branch of a famous neapolitan pizza restaurant. Great for takeaway or with a delivery service like Deliveroo.

L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele

199 Baker St, Marylebone, London NW1 6UY

This is the only one I have not tried, but it’s supposed to be top too. Like the others it has the mothership in Naples and they opened in London. There’s some confusion because for a bit it opened in Stoke Newington too, then renamed (not sure what happened there). I tried the one in Stoke Newington and did not find it too good, but this one is reported to be a top one. Give it a try and let me know.

Pizza Brixton

105 Brixton Hill, Brixton, London SW2 1AA

This is the only one that does not have a connection to Naples, at least in terms of branding, surely the pizza chef must be ten generations neapolitan to be this good… just kidding! They are very good. The atmosphere here is more local and also a bit hipster too! It’s a great pizza at very good prices. They opened a branch in St. Johns Hill too, that I still have to try.