Whitechapel, Pizza Restaurant Guide

“Still our pizza favourite no matter how successful and busy they get… the black dough even makes you feel you’re eating healthy!” – this eight-strong chain has grown from its Islington base over the last ten years (est. 2016) and its successful formula revolves around four 48-hour slow-fermented doughs – charcoal, wholemeal, gluten-free and traditional. Of these the first is the most eye-catching: “interesting charcoal-based pizza with delicious toppings”. The original N7 branch near Arsenal and the W14 one (they call it ‘Hammersmith’ but it’s closer to Olympia) attract most feedback, but it’s the food that wins fans: for example, “the original one feels buzzy when Arsenal play at home when it’s packed out, but otherwise can feel a bit grim and loveless”.

“Fantastic deep-pan pizzas in buzzy simple surroundings” make this duo in Islington (where you can book a table) and Spitalfields (walk-in only) “worth queuing for”. The pizzas are cooked in square blue steel pans originating in Detroit car factories. Top Tip – “Pepperoni with honey and a cold beer… a go-to hangover cure!”