Leytonstone resident and culinary connoisseur Pallavi Singh tours the borough on a quest for the perfect slice

Our borough doesn’t get nearly enough city-wide credit for its burgeoning pizza scene; we are genuinely sitting on a goldmine of proofed dough, tomato sauce and bubbling cheese in these parts of East London.

So, with summer here, I simply had to come up with a guide to the best pizza across Waltham Forest. Buon appetito!

WALTHAMSTOW

Dodici

It shocked me that every time I’d meet someone who lived in the remote vicinity of Walthamstow or adjacent, I’d receive a blank stare when I mentioned Dodici. It’s a spot I stumbled across on a walk back from the Walthamstow Wetlands, tucked away in the corner of a large new build complex in Blackhorse Road.

The pizza blew me away and took me back to sitting along the Arno River in Florence. Do me a favour and head over here the next time you’re in the area – it won’t disappoint.

You can find Dodici at 1 Wickford Way, E17 6ZH. Visit: Dodicipizze.com

It’s Not Big Dough

The Blackhorse Beer Mile has hosted a carousel of formidable food residences (recent notables include Whole Beast, Black Cactus), and if you swing by Pretty Decent Tap Room, you’ll encounter the pizza pop van It’s Not Big Dough serving the perfect pairing to a pretty decent pint. 

The team at It’s Not Big Dough serves speedy pizzas and gets bonus points from me for getting a pie in your hands straight from the oven in record time. Maybe it was the flowing beer, or the pleasant sunshine that day but the last time I went there was a real sadness when I finished my last slice. I couldn’t help thinking it really wasn’t Big Enough Dough.

You can find It’s Not Big Dough at Unit 10, Uplands Business Park, E17 5Q. Visit itsnotbigdough.com

Sodo Pizza

Tucked away in an unassuming alley off Hoe Street, the candle-lit and intimate Sodo is a perfect date night destination. In terms of the pizza, it’s a satisfying bite for sure, and nails all the elements of a high calibre Neapolitan style pizza. Best accompanied with a standout bottle from their impressively curated wine list, you won’t go wrong heading to Sodo for an extra special night.

You can find Sodo at 21 Hatherley Mews, E17 4QP. Visit: sodopizza.co.uk

The Italian Bakery

I’d never heard of The Italian Bakery until a couple of Walthamstow locals brought it up at a mutual friend’s BBQ, and what a gem of a find it turned out to be. This small, unassuming spot, which as the name suggests, is first and foremost a bakery, serves up a truly rustic Italian slice. Think €2 pizza handed to you by a friendly nonna in a quiet seaside village.

There’s holiday nostalgia baked into every bite. The nine-inch pizzas make for the perfect lunch treat especially when a sandwich just won’t cut it.

You can find The Italian Bakery at 9, Market Parade, Forest Rd, E17 6DY. Visit their Instagram

LEYTONSTONE

Papi’s Munchies 

I’ll caveat this by admitting what follows is absolutely drenched in garlic-and-herb bias but Papi’s Munchies is, hands down, the best pizza in the borough. It’ll take a lot to convince me otherwise. Yes, it’s one of my locals so the convenience may be blinding but the conviction is very much real.

If you’re after the perfect blend of traditional Neapolitan style with just the right modern crisp, this is the slice that’s nailing it right now. It doesn’t hurt that it’s being served inside the North Star, a beloved pub in the area, which also boasts a Thai food menu. Feeling adventurous? Ask for a side of sweet Thai chilli sauce with your pizza.

You can find Papi’s Munchies at North Star Pub, 24 Browning Rd, Leytonstone, London E11 3AR. Visit: papismunchiespizza.co.uk

Bocca Bocca

The charming ambience of a sit down meal at Bocca Bocca earns it a spot on this guide but the sheer brilliance of its Wednesday buy-one-get-one-free deal truly seals it. In this economy, two top-tier margherita pizzas for £10.50 is practically  unheard of.

Great value aside, the pizza is delicious and a delight – think Franco Manca but a refined, superior version without pools of oil on top, and none of that floppy undercarriage.

You can find Bocca Bocca at 781 High Road Leytonstone, E11 4QS. Visit: boccabocca.co.uk

Yard Sale 

Perhaps the most famous of the lot, Yard Sale needs no introduction but if it had one, it’d be the epitome of a London pizza; trendy, innovative, and unafraid of pushing the boundaries of what belongs on a pizza. 

The last three specials it ran included a bold Christmas collaboration with Darjeeling Express’ Asmaa Khan (Beef Kheema Mattar pizza) an Irish spice bag pizza topped with chicken and chips and most Rendang Pork pizza created with East London Malaysian spot, Mambow. 

Yard Sale sets itself apart with its own slick delivery network and partnerships with pubs and taprooms across the borough. Whether you’re staying in on a Friday or out and about, odds are you’ll find yourself reaching for your phone ready to take a swing on something special.

You can find Yard Sale at 622 High Road Leytonstone, E11 3DA, Visit: yardsalepizza.com

LEYTON

Slice ‘N’ Dough

A new kid on the block to Leyton’s pizza scene, Slice ‘N’ Dough impressed me enough to earn a spot on this list among more seasoned names. Operating from a small shop at the top of Leyton High Road, it’s primarily a takeaway and delivery joint with a couple of dine-in tables.

I tried it as a takeaway and after a proper reheat, it truly delivered. The pizza’s structural integrity rivalled, and in some cases exceeded, that of more established local favourite=s. While my sample size is limited, Slice ‘N’ Dough shows real promise in an increasingly competitive pizza market.

You can find Slice ‘N’ Dough at 572 High Road Leyton, E10 6RL. Visit: slicendough.co.uk

Northcote Arms

This pub isn’t reinventing the pizza wheel, but it doesn’t need to. A cheap pint and a piping hot slice from the Northcote Arms is sometimes what the day calls for.

What’s more, Northcote offers a buy-one-get-one-free offer on pizzas every Friday from 12pm to 3pm. So if you want a no-frills, satisfying, and undeniably tasty pizza, Northcote is for you.

You can find Northcote Arms at 110 Grove Green Rd, London E11 4EL. Visit: northcotee11.com

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