Rarely a week goes by where we don’t find our ourselves pining for a slice of pie… and, FYI, we’re talking the pizza kind. Now, we’re not after that cheap and greasy takeout type, but the mouthwatering, handcrafted Neapolitan-style pizza that all but transports us to Italy. With so many pizzerias popping up all over the city, we felt it was our duty to search Vancouver for the best and tastiest pizza on the market. It was a hard job, but we were happy to do it! Here are some of Vancouver’s best pizzerias…
NOVO Pizzeria and Wine Bar
Situated next to the popular Fifth Avenue Cinema on Burrard Street, NOVO Pizzeria and Wine Bar has been serving a Neapolitan-inspired menu of rustic Italian comfort food for the past three years. It was owner Carmine Paradiso’s passion for Italian fare (and his Italian roots) that drove him to build his own Neapolitan pizzeria complete with wood-burning oven. To ensure NOVO was offering authentic pizzas he trained at the Accademia della Pizza Napoletana in California, learning the techniques, tradition and art of Neapolitan pizza-making. Our absolute favourite ‘za on the menu is the prosciutto and arugula. Topped with hand-crushed tomatoes, prosciutto, arugula, parmigiano reggiano and fior di latte, this pie is absolutely divine with a wonderfully chewy crust… a must-have.
The BiBo Pizzeria con Cucina
A stone’s throw away from NOVO is another fine pizza dining establishment in Kitsilano, The BiBo. Chef Mattia Repetto creates thin-crusted pizzas with a variety of scrumptious toppings that are sure to please any pizza connoisseur. The BiBo brings cuisine simplicity to life by educating diners to appreciate the natural ingredients and explosive flavours carefully selected from the far corners of Italy. When we asked owner Andrea Bini what the most popular pizzas were on the menu, he immediately stated the Margherita “Formula One” (with a tomato sauce using San Marzano DOP tomatoes and basil). We devoured this pizza in addition to the Prosciutto e Funghi loaded with mozzarella, prosciutto and mushrooms. Delicious!
Nook Restaurant
Consistently packed, and with a healthy lineup out the door, Nook always draws a crowd to its two locations. We chose to stop into their original 1,090-square-foot Denman joint and were happily seated at the chef’s table. The two chefs worked non-stop stretching and tossing dough, and creating perfect blistery, charred-crust pizzas. At our cozy table, we chowed-down on a delightful pie topped with ricotta, baby spinach, olives and roast garlic, then on the purists’ choice: the Margherita. Both were heavenly and had us promising to return for another tasty food encounter in the near future.
Nicli Antica Pizzeria
Located just off the beaten path of Gastown’s popular historic hub is Vancouver’s first VPN certified Neapolitan pizzeria. (VPN stands for Verace Pizza Napoletana, or true Neapolitan pizza.) The interior of this pizzeria is the perfect blend of 100-year-old architecture and sleek, bright and modern design and was originally the site of the RCMP’s old jail and horse stable. Pizzas are hand-formed and cooked for a mere 90 seconds in the imported, wood-burning Acunto oven. What you end up with is a light and fluffy cornicione (crust), which has a patina of crunch. Definitely give the authentic Margherita a try.
Note: Always a super-busy location, reservations are only accepted at lunchtime. We highly recommend that you head there early in the evening to avoid the lineups.
Do you have a favourite pizzeria in Vancouver? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.
