Tag Archives: Beer and Pizza

The Great Vancouver Pizza Explosion

Pizza has exploded in Vancouver.  I’m not talking about standard, run of the mill, delivered to your door in less than 20 minutes or it’s free pizza, many of which still claim to be made with 100%  real cheese –  since when was fake cheese an option?  I am talking about the wave of 90 second Neapolitan pies that are quickly becoming the new pizza norm.

I’ve posted many times about pizza and beer inVancouver. I started with Marcello’s on Commercial Drive, where they have been making thin crust pizza long before it was in fashion.  The pizza here is good and was arguably one of the best pizzerias in Vancouver for a number of years.

I then moved on to Incendios West (now closed) and The Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood, hoping to find the best pizza Vancouver had to offer.  I was excited about both locations, the beer menus looked good  and so did the pizza. The crust at Incendios West fell flat - under-baked, gummy and a bit soggy. RockyMountain, it turns out, doesn’t use salt – enough said.  I’ve heard from a number of trustworthy sources that Incendios Gastown location has stepped things up since a fire, which gutted the restaurant a few years back, forced them to restart.

Then along came Nicli Antica Pizzera in Gastown. Things changed after Antica Pizzeria opened.  People started to crave Neapolitan pizza.  Foodies began to talk, all of them claiming to have found the best 90 second pie in town. Restaurateurs took notice.  And now Vancouver is a pizza town.

I am more obsessed with pizza than ever before.  I overheard a friend of friend, whom I met just hours earlier, visually describe the chewy naan-like crust at a new pizzeria on Commercial Drive last night. I may have told this near stranger that I loved him – perhaps I came on a little strong?

I am going out for pizza tonight.   I am probably going to visit two places – Pizza Farina and Viva Tevera Pizzaria.  Yes, two pizza place in one evening may be a bit excessive, but what is life without a little excess now and again?

Want great pizza in Vancouver? Check out some of these places:

Nicli Antica Pizzaria – Makers of what many consider to the best pizza in town (I am one of the many).  The beer is good and the pizza is out of this world.  The ambiance is a bit stuffy for Gastown, but when the pizza is as good it is, ambiance doesn’t really matter.

Red Card – If you like sports, good beer and pizza you will like Red Card.  Rick Green, local food and beer aficionado, turned me on to Red Card.  The pizza is heavily charred, in a good way, and the craft beer selection is a big plus.  Possibly the best foodie and beer geek friendly sports bar inVancouver.

Verace Pizzeria Napoletana and Enoteca – The pizza here is good, delicately chewy crust with a healthy char and traditional Italian toppings.  Located right next to Rogers Arena, Verace Pizzeria is a great pace to go before a game.  Be warned; arrive early on game days if you want a seat.

The Golden Boot – Located in Coquitlam, The Golden Boot makes what may be the best pizza outside of the Vancouver core.  Probably not worth the drive if you live more than 30 minutes away, but if you happen to be in the area and have an urge to eat good food it is worth a stop.

Viva Tevera Pizzeria – I have heard great things about Viva Tevera, but never been.  Having recently opened their doors just weeks ago the wait to get a table can exceed 90 minutes.  Viva Tevera is one of the two pizza stops for tonight!

UPDATE:

Viva Tevera Pizzeria was good. The crust was chewy but also a bit dense. The flavours were a bit heavy and didn’t allow the the distinct taste of each ingredient (cheese, tomato, basil etc) to come through. Overall an enjoyable experience and in a very interesting part of Vancouver. But not the best. I’d still give that to Nicli Antica Pizzeria.

Pizzeria Farina - One of my most trusted food sources tells me that Pizza Farina makes the best crust inVancouver.  After this evenings pizza adventure I hope to confirm or deny this lofty claim.

UPDATE:  

Pizzeria Farina impressed me. Not as traditionally Italian as the others (which doesn’t really matter), but very well made pizza  -  fantastic dough/crust.   The restaurant, although very small, was inviting. I’ll be back.

Cheers,

Erik

Pizza and Beer in Vancouver

A new authentic Neapolitan pizzeria recently opened in Vancouver.   Located in Gastown, this new eatery is home to a traditional wood-fired pizza oven capable of producing the coveted 90 second pie.  It takes a hot oven to bake a pizza in 90 seconds; 900F is the magic number, and Nicli Antica Pizzaria’s oven is more than capable of this temperature.  The modern pizza originates from Napoli and the Specialità Tradizionale Garantita stipulates that authentic Neoplitan pizza must be formed by hand and baked in a hot oven at 900F for approximately 90 seconds.

Gastown is home to some of Vancouver’s best foodie destinations and many of these establishments offer a great selection of craft beer.  I am completely obsessed with good pizza, and nothing pairs better with good pizza than good beer.  I was over the top excited to a see a new pizzeria open in Gastown knowing that good beer should be available.

We visited Nicli Antica Pizzeria that past weekend and I can say this is the best pizza in Vancouver, bar none.  The pizza arrives at your table, in a perfectly imperfect circular shape, with a lightly charred and blistered crust.  The pie has a crispy exterior while remaining chewy and tender on the inside.  The chef follows the less is more approach and tops his pizza with the perfect amount of flavourful, cheeses, tomatoes, Italian cured meats and other traditional Italian pizza toppings.  Delicious.

The drink list boasts a small but good selection of craft beer.  Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, which compliments a thin crust pizza excellently, and R&B Bohemian Lager are both available on draught.  A number of other beers are also available in bottle form.

Nicli Antica Pizzeria makes the best pizza in Vancouver.  With craft beer on the drink menu this new Pizzeria is hard to beat.  I would encourage anyone who appreciates good food to make their way to Nicli Antica Pizzeria as soon as possible.

Cheers,

Erik