In recent years, Ottawa’s gourmet pizza franchises have upped their game dramatically—think wood-fired ovens, out-of-the box topping combinations, and farm fresh ingredients… all delivered to your door, or made in front of you to enjoy with local wines and beers. Here are the top spots to grab a slice (or more) of authentic thin-crust pizza in Ottawa.
1. Roberto Pizza – 348 Preston St.
No list would be complete without a stop in Little Italy, and Roberto Pizza is that perfectly authentic Italian pizzeria in the heart of Preston Street. Voted Ottawa’s Favourite Pizza in 2019 by Faces Magazine readers, Roberto’s offers 10 different kinds of Pizze Rosse (pizza with tomato sauce) and 6 variations of Pizza Bianche (no tomato base), all of which are thin crust pizzas topped with authentic Italian meats and cheeses and fresh veggies. The Roberto pizza, named after the pizzeria’s late co-founder, has porcini & black truffle aioli, mixed mushrooms, parmesan, and olive oil.
$: $14 – $17 per pizza
2. Score Pizza – 50 Rideau St.
Score Pizza is a franchise from Kingston that has completely reinvented the build-your-own pizza experience. (Think Subway, but for pizza). Start by choosing between a 6″ or 12″ personal pizza (they offer a gluten-free crust), 4 different types of sauces and 6 different cheeses including a vegan option. Then, let them load on the fresh toppings right in front of you and wait as it’s baked in their stone-fired oven. Once it’s ready, choose between 9 mouth-watering finishes including balsamic reduction, pesto (nut-free), bar-b-q drizzle,and hot buffalo drizzle. You can eat in and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at their Rideau Centre location, the perfect break from a day of shopping.
$: $8.25 (6 ” pizza) or $12.50 (12″ pizza)
3. The Grand Pizzeria – 74 George St.
Located right in the heart of the market, the Grand offers authentic wood-fired pizzas that are a bit more pricey but worth every bite. When the weather is warm, their patio is the perfect place to enjoy one of their 12 freshly made thin-crust signature pizzas (or one of their five white pies, including their carbonera pizza). During the colder months, enjoy their upbeat and contemporary restaurant or order-in on one of Ottawa’s food delivery apps.
$: $18 – $22 per pizza
4. Fiazza Fresh Fired – 86 Murray St. & 205 Richmond Rd.
Fiazza Fresh Fired pizzas are a build-your-own experience with a focus on fresh and local. All of their doughs and sauces are preservative-free. Topping choices include in-house roasted chicken, organic local mushrooms, Ontario natural prosciutto, locally smoked bacon and ham and fresh local sausages. All of the pizzas are made in 180 seconds in their high temperature Woodstone Oven. You can dine in and enjoy local beer and wine at either of their two locations, or order for delivery.
$: $8.25 per pizza and $1 – $2 per topping.