Santa Maria Pizzeria has got to be one of the best pizzerias I’ve been to, and that’s saying a lot considering I’ve lived in Italy. It reminds me of Italy, it’s the small slice of the south on a normal, usually rained-on, road in Ealing Broadway.
Open from Monday to Sunday, noon until 10.30pm, make sure you get there early on a busy day as this small and discreet pizzeria can get quite packed. If you get there in time to join the queue, then trust me, the wait is worth it and you’ll enjoy that pizza even more. There is no booking service, so please keep that in mind. Located on St Mary’s road, (hence the name, Santa Maria), this authentic and quaint restaurant was opened by Angelo and Pasquale, two Neapolitans who know how to deliver Italian tradition and taste.
The wood-fired oven at Santa Maria has been imported from Italy and gives all of their pizza the final (and most important) wood-fired touch. They’ve utilised the same cooking methods as those on the streets of Naples, and so far their talent has amazed me even more – if you enter Santa Maria you’ll be transported into a mini Italy, at least that’s the feeling I get. The extensive pizza menu is executed by chefs Lucio Miano Petta and Emanuele Tagliarina, and you won’t find anything to fault them on.
This pizzeria is my favourite, not only because it reminds me of the small parts of Italy that became home for me, but also because it has some of the best pizzas I’ve ever eaten. Without a doubt, I have always ordered the Santa Carmela (tomato sauce, mozzarella, cotto ham, mushrooms and parmesan), followed by scoops of their hazelnut ice cream. My favourite in Italy was always nocciola (hazelnut) and that hasn’t changed in Ealing.
There’s a wide selection to choose from and this restaurant is one of Ealing’s hidden gems. I guess lately it’s less hidden but the distance from the high street, the small interior and delicious pizzas will always make it something you want to keep secret and share with the world at the same time.
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