Oxford is home to many amazing restaurants and pubs for pizzas. And to celebrate this wonderful cuisine on its national day, Daily Info have brought together a list of the best in Oxford (and two great ones worth travelling for) to help guide you to make the right choice for this most fabulous of Italian cuisine.
Mamma Mia
Branca
Who said comfort food couldn't be stylish? As well as upmarket bistro fare, Jericho brasserie Branca also has a small range of stone-baked pizzas on offer. It's a case of quality rather than quantity: vegetarians and vegans, for whom pizza menus are so often underwhelming, are well-catered for - think roasted vegetables, tenderstem broccoli, artichoke, and lovage and pine nut pesto. Carnivores won't do too badly either (the n'duja number is a winner), and a half-and-half option is helpfully put forward to alleviate selection headaches. And if parquet floors, warm lighting, and minimalist modern décor really rile you, all pizzas are 25% off when taken away, so you can just fold them into your face within the dank confines of your gloomy abode.
Mario's
Buongiorno e Buonasera
Offering something a bit different, BBuona, as it is known by regulars, prides itself on its sourdough 'pinsas': crispy bases which are more elongated than the traditional shape, piled high with silky tomato sauce and a pleasing variety of creative toppings. Even better, they offer the option for 'half and half' for the indecisive (and even if you're not indecisive, the breadth of the menu makes it tempting to try as many as you can!). They do simple very well, with a bold buffalo mozzarella adorning a plain Margherita. But a more complex vegan option, replacing cheese with artichoke cream, also tasted fabulous.
The Old Post Office (Wallingford)
Il Principe
This family-run Italian delicatessen on Cowley Road offers a range of great pizzas for takeaway and delivery. Their fresh hand-made bases are fantastic, and the toppings range from traditional Margheritas and Firenzes to the more unexpected Giovane ('tomato, mozzarella, deep fried chips & frankfurter'). Ordering online can be a little dangerous; Il Principe has a comprehensive menu of pasta, starters and mains, so it's all too easy to throw in a teeny extra order of calamari, tiramisu, or chicken stuffed with smoked scamorza cheese & spinach in a wine sauce. Ordering in person is almost as risky, as their deli counter is also irresistible.
Pizza Calzone (Banbury)
La Cucina
Offering authentic Italian food on St Clements, La Cucina has become a gem in the culinary landscape of East Oxford. And their pizza is particularly exceptional, with their menu split between pizze della cucina (with tomato sauce) and pizze bianche (without it) to cater to all tastes. With a scrumptiously thin base and packed with flavour, a La Cucina pizza is a filling treat. The restaurant also has dedicated gluten free and vegan menus (including gluten free pizzas), so they can cater to the needs of most diners. Oh and they too are on Deliveroo.
The Rusty Bicycle
The White Rabbit
When I first heard about a certain notorious 'cheap and cheerful' pizza chain opening up just around the corner, I somewhat self-righteously vowed never to go there, and instead support the independent offerings of the White Rabbit whenever I could. I needn't have worried: clearly, the quality and authenticity of the goods on offer here, plus the fact that they offer a gluten free option that has been highly praised by coeliacs across the land, has allowed them to withstand the might of the Goliath franchise. Dive down the rabbit hole with the magnificent Mad Hatter Calzone, where you can tell the chefs your preferences and then leave it to them, for a culinary surprise. Other options I have enjoyed (having visited a number of times that'd probably be deemed medically inadvisable) include the Italiana (a veritable feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds), the Vegana (available with or without vegan cheese) and the Spagnola (chorizo, peppers, onions and paprika).