Your old stand-by meal doesn’t have to be the old stand-by choice! Check out some of the most unique options available in Edmonton.
1) BUCO PIZZERIA
Specializing in Neopolitan pizza, this pizza and wine bar by the Sorrentino’s group uses fresh Italian ingredients, including the essential San Marzano tomatoes, while the dough is formed by hand and baked in a wood-fired stone oven. Enjoy a taste of breakfast for dinner with the Sunny-Side-Up, complete with two free-range eggs, pancetta bacon, and potato, or be the life of the party with the Funghi and its three varieties of mushrooms.
2) DIE PIE
Alberta’s first plant-based pizzeria has a tasty menu selection that will please even the most dedicated carnivore. The “Pulled Pork” pizza features slow-cooked jackfruit, chipotle aioli, cashew mozzarella, and pea shoots, while the Macaroni and Cheese uses cashew mozzarella and King Oyster “bacon.” If you’re looking for something nut-free, you can try the alternative hemp havarti!
3) FAMOSO PIZZERIA
This well-known pizza chain started in Edmonton, creating hand-tossed Neopolitan pizzas in imported Italian ovens. In only 90 seconds, taste the bianca Cavoletti with oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, prosciutto crisps, dates, walnuts, and honey, or sample one of their “New World” options like the Spicy Thai, which includes spicy peanut sauce, roasted chicken, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts.
4) LOVE PIZZA
If you love pies, you’ll definitely want to stop into this casual downtown eatery. The husband-and-wife team creates pizzas about 6″ wide by 17″ long (rather than the traditional round pizza). Enjoy an Ode to Ukraine with roasted garlic spread, shaved potato, and bacon, or look on the sweeter side of life with the Peaches & Cream and its sweet peach compote, creamy gorgonzola, and roasted corn toppings.
5) RAGAZZI ITALIAN BISTRO
Stop in for some authentic hand-tossed, thin crust pizza! This family joint offers classic staples, as well as tantalizing options to test your tastebuds. Hold your own against Davide’s Inferno—with Italian sausage, salami, and extreme spice—or the Raging Bull, loaded with pepperoni, ham, bacon, and fresh banana peppers.
6) ROSSO PIZZERIA
All the pizzas here come on a tasty crust made from non-GMO, organic flour. Try the Uva Arrosta, which is topped with a fire-roasted grape trio, drunken goat cheese, beemster cheese, house-made ricotta, toasted pinenuts, and rosemary—and try adding prosciutto to up the wow factor. For an added bonus, this pizza is part of their Mealshare program, which provides a meal to someone in need with each purchase.
7) ROYAL PIZZA
A local icon, Royal Pizza opened in 1969 in the Old Strathcona area. Come try their rich, tangy sauce and premium special cheese blend on a favourite like the Royal Special—with ham, pepperoni, green pepper, and black olives—or check out how The Boss Has Gone Mad, which puts spaghetti and meat sauce atop their pie.
8) TONY’S PIZZA PALACE
The first Tony’s started in New York, until the passionate chef moved his family back north to Edmonton. The city’s first New York-style pizza joint includes tasty options like the award-winning and world-famous Sal’s Deluxe (with prosciutto, capicollo, and bocconcini cheese) and the special Alla Pescatore (with a seafood sauce combined with anchovies, clams, and shrimp, all baked under a thick layer of cheese).
9) URBANO PIZZA
This pizza place is part of the larger SABOR and Bodega families, turning out great pizzas quickly. Enjoy artisanal hearth-style pizza in only 90–120 seconds in their small eating bar that overlooks the assembly space. Try the Piri Piri, which is topped with chorizo, piri piri chicken, banana pepper, and shoestring potatoes, or travel east To The Greek, with basil pesto, feta cheese, lamb sausage, and black olives.
10) VATICANO CUCINA
Sit beneath a replica of the Sistine Chapel and enjoy a specialty wood-fired pizza. Cooked in an Italian oven and with quality ingredients, these pizzas will have you tempted to engage in a bit of sinful gluttony. The St. Francis includes figs, goat cheese, and onion jam, while the St. Patrick is covered in mini-meatballs and fior-di-latte mozzarella.
11) VERSATO’S PIZZA
Enjoy thick-crust pizza at this no-frills spot. If you’re looking for a challenge, try The Big One: a 15-inch pizza weighing in at seven pounds in the box. Get this monstrosity as either the Versato’s Special (including pepperoni, salami, mushrooms, pineapple, and shrimp) or the T-Rex (with salami, ham, beef, and bacon).
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CONTEST ALERT
WHERE Edmonton is giving away the Iceberg at Dawn coin from the Celebrating Canada’s 150th silver coin series from West Edmonton Coin & Stamp!
To enter to win this colourful coin, follow WHERE Edmonton on Twitter and watch for tweets about the contest! We will draw for the winner on March 27.
