East-side Napoletan: Pizzeria Farina

Photo courtesy Scout Magazine

What a pizza snob I’ve become. Seriously. Aside from the sodium-laden crust at Pizza Hut, I can’t have pizza from any of the major chains or $1 joints anymore. That’s because after dining at the third (different) Napoletan pizzeria, I just can’t go back to anything else. I just can’t.

Pizzeria Farina, nestled in between the Cobalt Hotel and Georgia St. viaduct on the North side of Main Street, is a small, quaint little place with a mere 15-20 seats at most. They don’t do reservations but they do take-out (which I’d recommend on weekends) and it’s made to order, so if you’re lucky to get a seat on the weekend, it’s not too bad of a wait. However, the place closes when the dough runs out, which can be as soon as 8-8:30pm on a Friday night, from what I read on their Twitter feed.

Pizzeria Farina has a decent selection and they offer a good helping of extra toppings with oregano and chili-infused olive oils on the tables as sides.

Pizzas: Marinara with olives & soppresseatta ($14) and Funghi ($15)

Continue reading…

Classy pizza dining at Verace Pizzeria

Verace Pizzeria Napoletana and Enoteca is the second authentic Napoletan pizzeria Leo and I have been to. The location is great, though it’s a tricky place for parking on game nights. The decor is great – a bit of European flavour – and when we went in the place was PACKED with two big parties going on.

Photo courtesy Roberta L. on Yelp.ca

With a reservation, we were able to be seated within 10 minutes, even though there was only one server working the whole restaurant, the other tending to the big parties.

Diavola and Campania pizzas with garlic oil and chili oils

Continue reading…

Experiencing Naples at Nicli Antica Pizzeria

As with many restaurants, you’re going to get good and bad reviews. But after a really strong cocktail with nothing left in your stomach in Gastown, you crave CARBS. And not far from that thought is pizza. Yes, I could go to the $1 a slice joint on Powell & Carrall, but my boyfriend and I are on a date night. So I take a leap and try out the place I’ve read about in Business in Vancouver, The Westender, and many other recent restaurant reviews. And I find myself at the bar waiting for a table on a Sunday night at Nicli Antica Pizzeria.

Like Yelper Sunny Shum, I first learned about Neapolitan pizza (hailing from Naples) in the book Eat, Pray, Love. And I’ve wanted to try it ever since. So those of you who dissed Nicli because it didn’t have a substantial crust, Wiki what Neapolitan pizza is supposed to look and taste like. And with no other competitor in our fine city, Nicli is the closest place you’re gonna get it.

Misto Antipasti – $15

Continue reading…