Over the course of the pandemic, I’ve discovered my new favourite pizza spot in Ottawa. Typically, I enjoy a thin-crust pizza with a cream-based sauce, pockets of cheese and mushrooms. For the longest time, the “Roberto” from Roberto Pizza on in Little Italy was my favourite.
The majority of pizza spots I’ve tried over the past few months have been in Ottawa, however there was one spot in Montreal. Some pizzas have been thin and spicy, while others were thick and mild. Some I enjoyed in the park with my gal pals and others I have ordered and ate on the couch with a glass of wine. I even began eating my pizza folded, like how they do it in New York. I tend to dislike pizzas that are too thick, oily, stale and soggy.
I’ve compiled a list of the recent pizza that I’ve tried:
Heartbreakers Pizza
I’ll set the mood first. I was sitting at home on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 and then CTV news came on at about 5pm. It was right then when I started to hear about Heartbreakers Pizza on Parkdale Avenue. The owner of the restaurant was being interviewed live. She was sharing that this restaurant opened right at the beginning of the pandemic. Only a few months open for orders via the phone and many people are raving about how this pizza is some of the best pizza they’ve EVER tried. The next day, I called and placed an order for pick-up. I had to try it!!
Ordering was seamless. I ordered “The Sweetheart” pizza (a large), with their garlic dipping sauce on the side. I asked to pick this up at 4:30pm. It was ready on time. The service was fast and friendly. I enjoyed this on the couch in sweats. The pizza was MAGICAL. This is my new favourite pizza spot in Ottawa. I agree with all of the 5 star ratings on Google (seriously, go read them and you’ll be tempted). Their pizza is thin crust, with a LOT of flavour. It honestly melted in my mouth. The crust was perfectly chewy. I particularly enjoyed the balance between the spice from the jalapeños and the sweetness from the honey. Their garlic sauce was also delicious. You can truly tell that it is homemade.
Pro-tips:
- Call to place an order on either a Tuesday or Wednesday, as these days are less busy for them
- Call right at 2:25pm, as they get ready to pick up the calls for 2:30pm
I’m planning on trying their “Fennel and Sausage” pizza next. You can also order half of one type and half of another.
Slice and Soda
If you’re ever in Montreal, you must go here for pizza. I visited Montreal 3 weekends ago. This place is fairly new and very aesthetically pleasing. You can order the pizza inside through plexiglass. There are also lines marked along the floor in order for people to keep their distance. I appreciated this.
Their pizza is a thin-crust New York style and known to be folded. I ordered the “Bocconcini Basilic”. The tomato sauce tasted fresh and wonderful. It came out piping hot and fast. It was so good that I could have had 3-4 slices. They also sell soda alongside the pizza, which is very refreshing and honestly smart. I highly recommend the “Passionfruit” flavour. I wanted more of that too.
Farinella
It is trendy to order a long box of pizza from Farinella in Ottawa and take it down to Dow’s Lake to enjoy it under a shaded tree. This pizza is fairly thick in comparison to the other pizzas mentioned above and it is cut into squares instead. It reminds me of the pizza that my Nonna likes to eat. They offer a variety of different combinations. I particularly like the “Tony B”. This one has roasted red peppers, sausage, mozzarella and whipped ricotta – say no more! Farinella’s also has wonderful gelato. The location of the shop in Little Italy allows you to create a fun summer experience!
Fiazza Fresh Fired
I’m writing more-so about the experience of this pizza as a whole that I would recommend. My friends and I ordered pizza from Fiazza Fresh Fired in Westboro, on Richmond Road. It was a great idea to do this because we ordered the pizzas and then walked down the street to Westboro beach. We enjoyed the pizzas while sitting on the grass by the sand and water. It was a pleasant evening of eating and social-distancing. I ordered the “Snake Oil” pizza. It includes their signature tomato sauce, ham, green onion and more. There was quite a bit of sriracha drizzled on it, so it was a little too spicy for my liking, but I had a soft drink to wash it down. My besties both ordered the margherita pizza. They kept eating it with smiles on their faces and they said that they enjoyed it.
All in all, tasting these various pizzas has been a fun experience. I hope that by now, you’re hungry and ready for some ‘za. Perhaps this will encourage you to discover your new favourite pizza spot in Ottawa, too. If you are looking for something lighter, or a side dish that could pair really with your next pizza, check this out.
