The what’s what of Ottawa pizzerias
Whether you’re grabbing a late-night slice or tucking in for a gourmet pie, these restaurants and pizzerias are experts in everything from the sauce to the crust to the toppings. Check out the unique stories behind these neighbourhood pizza spots.
Tennessy Willems
1082 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Y5The ingredients for the delicious wood-fired pizzas at Tennessy Willems are sourced from local farms and suppliers and the dough is made from scratch every day. Stop by for a relaxing lunch or dinner and ease into a vegetarian option like Helen’s (baby spinach, fresh parmesan, goat cheese, toasted pine nuts and fresh lemon) or discover a gourmet meat lover’s paradise via the Wild Boar (boar sausage, caramelized apple, sage oil and two-year-old cheddar).
Newport Restaurant
322 Churchill Ave N, Ottawa, ON K1Z 5B9Opened in 1988 by passionate owner and well-known local philanthropist Moe Atallah, a former Lebanese refugee, Newport Restaurant serves up some of the best pizza in town. The gourmet Thai chicken pizza (the chicken is marinated in a spicy peanut, ginger and sesame sauce and accented with mozzarella, green onions, bean sprouts, julienne carrots and cilantro) is an intriguing and popular choice, while the more low-key but just as yummy George’s vegetarian will have you hooked.
Napoli's Restaurant Pizza & Pasta
81 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K1Z 6V8This family-owned restaurant is a local favourite, serving reasonably priced pizzas in a casual setting. Napoli’s boasts many long-time customers who come for the laid-back atmosphere and pizza with just the right amount of crust, sauce, cheese, and flavourful toppings. Create your own pizza with a choice of ingredients that include zucchini, hot banana peppers and pineapple.
ZaZaZa Pizza With Pizazz
1079 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Y2Cousin of gourmet burger restaurant The Works, ZaZaZa is a concept pizzeria that serves thin crust pizza with character. The playbill includes creations like Cat Stevens No. 2, Shangri La Di Da, Simon Says and the Scary Roommate with a special appearance by the infamous mac n cheese. These theatrical masterpieces feature an eclectic cast of ingredients like tandoori chicken, hot dogs, snow peas, hummus drizzle and avocado.
House Of Georgie & Sorento's Pizzeria
211 Gilmour St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0N9The famous pizza and gravy at this take-out pizzeria was created by a loyal customer who missed Montreal poutine so much that he asked to have gravy added to his pizza. The trend has since then caught on and is now a late night snack that locals crave. Vegetarians will be delighted to know that the home-made gravy contains no meat products. The eggplant pizza or Georgie’s special are great options if you’re ordering a pizza to-go.
Colonnade Pizza
1500 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1H 7Z2Considered an Ottawa institution by many, Colonnade Pizza has been around since 1967 and has expanded to a few new locations since the opening of the original Metcalf Street restaurant. The soft dough recipe is based on a Lebanese bread tradition and a brine-salted brick cheese is used instead of mozzarella. Try the Colonnade special with sweet red peppers, diced sautéed onions, broccoli and Virginia ham.
Arturo's Market
49 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa, ON K1M 1L9This Beechwood restaurant was named in honour of the owner’s grandfather, Arthur, whose love of home cooking and impressive life experiences are a source of inspiration for the entire family. Arturo’s Market is a lively restaurant and pizzeria that aims to mirror the passionate yet relaxed Italian way of life. A must-try? The tasty Firehouse pizza, served with tomato sauce, Calabrese salami, hot banana peppers, pickled eggplant and mozzarella.
La Favorita
356 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1S 4M7After years in the Mediterranean, chef Nick Shallal opened this Little Italy restaurant, well known for delicious wood-burning oven pizzas and calzones. The high ceilings and brick walls decorated with bottles of fine wines and oils create a charming ambiance. The Bella – made with pesto sauce, chicken breast, brie cheese, almonds and mozzarella – as well as the fruity Ostia with papaya, pesto, kiwi and mozzarella are only two examples of the kinds of fusion pizzas that chef Nick creates, specialties that you won’t find anywhere else.
Anthonys
1218 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Z7This Hintonburg pizzeria is considered by many to make some of the most authentic Naples-style pizza in town. Anthony’s is all about creating a pleasant sensory experience – in taste, smell and presentation – in a laid back, no-nonsense atmosphere. Some menu favourites include the Quattro Stagioni (four seasons) with each topping on a separate quarter of the pie (black olives/artichokes/sundried tomatoes/prosciutto) and the colourful Rustica with cherry tomatoes, arugula, shaved Parmesan and prosciutto.
Louis' Restaurant & Pizzeria
181 McArthur Ave, Vanier, ON K1L 6P8Honouring the family pizzeria tradition, Louis’ Restaurant and Pizzeria is a cozy family-run neighbourhood restaurant in Vanier. Locals love Louis’ amazing pizza, affordable prices, and easy-going atmosphere that features boards of unframed family photos. Go for Louis’ special with pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, olives and bacon or the ultimate meat lovers’ pizza with pepperoni, ham, sausage and bacon.
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