Slice, slice, baby
Everyone loves pizza. But where can you find the best slice in Cambridge? Elisha Young (aka @elisha.eats on Instagram) goes on a mission to hunt down the perfect pie
Q: Help, I’m trying to find the best pizza in Cambridge! Where do you recommend?
A: Some people will try and tell you that even bad pizza is still delicious. Those people are wrong.
Nothing disappoints quite like an underwhelming pizza – you can’t stop thinking about all that wasted potential and your crushed expectations. Although I should add a disclaimer that I am not a pizza expert: I just like eating and have strong opinions. So please don’t show up at my door with torches and pitchforks.
Writing this column was a journey of discovery. I was determined to try new restaurants on my quest beyond the usual recommendations (although I still stand by the fact that both Amélie and Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza are delicious). And to keep the comparison fair, I ordered a margherita at every place I visited.
First up is Al Pomodoro, which was recommended by a friend who often visits Italy (and therefore probably has decent pizza opinions). Located on Hills Road, it’s run by a Sicilian family and has won several awards for its food, with an extensive pizza menu that covers meat, vegetarian and vegan options. My margherita arrived with a beautifully charred, bubbly crust and crisp base layered with some fantastic fior di latte and bufala mozzarella. The service was friendly and attentive (down to heating up tomato sauce for us to dip our crusts into) and there’s a well-curated dessert selection, if that matters to you.
Also representing Sicily, we have Aromi, where you can enjoy pizza made from two-day fermented sourdough topped with fresh ingredients. This pizza spot had my favourite crust – slightly blackened on the edges, with a chewy yet light texture and plenty of flavour. The tomato sauce was fresh and bright, perfect with the rich, creamy mozzarella, plus a good sprinkling of oregano and basil to round everything out. The town-centre location is a big bonus – and there’s easy access to the window where they serve huge scoops of gelato for a post-meal sweet treat.
If you want something left field, there’s always the Detroit-style pizza from Scott’s All Day. This is cooked in a rectangular pan with a thick, chewy crust that’s more akin to focaccia than a classic pizza dough, and is easily recognisable from the lacy skirt of caramelised cheese around the edge. Although this style is deep dish, the dough is so fluffy and springy that it’s surprisingly light to eat. It’s topped with my favourite tomato sauce – rich, tangy, herby and full of umami. There’s a generous helping of fresh basil to perfume the toppings, adding a fragrant edge to something that’s already delicious. I also tried the more classical Neapolitan pizza, which has more subtle flavours and textures, but still comes with the sought-after black ‘leopard spots’ on an enjoyably chewy crust – showing why Scott Holden of Scott’s All Day was a finalist for Pizza Chef of the Year 2023.
And I wanted to save a little room for Pizza Mondo. Though I’ve never managed to hunt down this pizza van myself, many people have recommended it to me… and that enthusiasm has to mean something!
Cambridge is lucky to enjoy truly delicious pizzas created with love and passion – whether you’re after a timeless classic or something experimental enough to make an Italian cry. But you definitely won’t be left disappointed.
