Pizza

Slice Stone Pizza & Brew

2011-08-13T15:50:59Z

725 29th St. South (Lakeview area)
715-9300
www.slicebirmingham.com
Hip pizzeria where the focus is on fresh and local -- including local craft beers. Pizzas cooked ina stone oven, available by the pie or by the slice. Classic pizzas like the Margherita and Old School (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms and onion), and less traditional such as The Lakeview (beef tenderloin, caramelized onion, roasted cherry tomatoes, Asiago, with arugula/red onion/horseradish sauce), and the Very Veggie (artichoke hearts, spinach, mushrooms, Kalamata olives, onions, peppers, garlic, feta.) City Scene reviewer said each pizza they sampled was "excellent and really could not have been improved upon." Local blogger Jason Horn was not as complimentary, saying the hummus on the appetizer menu "tasted exactly like the plastic-tub hummus you get at the grocery store," admitting the pizza was better but the prices were disappointing.

Trattoria Centrale (formerly Za Za Trattoria)

2009-08-27T18:03:59Z

207 A 20th St. N (downtown)
205) 202-5612
www.zazabirmingham.com
Weekdays 6:30am - 6:30 pm, Friday night and Sunday brunch. Take the attention to excellent quality ingredients and great service learned from Frank Stitt and apply it to a casual yet sophisticated downtown pizza place and what do you get? Trattoria Centrale, a relaxed, progressive Italian cafe featuring a rotating selection of pizzas along with a variety of seasonal salads and soups and a daily pasta special. Roman-style pizza by the slice, gourmet salads and soups. Pasta of the day includes dishes such as orecchiette with rapini, proscuitto, onion and pecorino; and bucatini all'arrabiatta. We hear breakfast/brunch is just as awesome, with omelettes, frittata, pastries and more. The pizza dough takes more than four hours to make, so for half or full-size pizzas, order a day in advance. Here's a descriptive post from the BhamSandwich blog: www.bhamsandwich.com/2009/07/27/first-bite-za-za-trattoria/, and you can read about our first impressions here.

Mafiaoza's Pizzeria & Neighborhood Pub

2008-08-20T19:57:38Z

2 Dexter Ave. (Crestline Village in Mountain Brook)
414-7878
www.mafiaozas.com/birmingham
The second location for the Nashville-based eatery with a Mafia theme, this is popular with families, offering play pizza dough for the kids. A July 2008 City Scene review said "the food here is solidly good," with "delicious pastas [that] are cooked al dente," "inventive" pizzas, fresh salads, appetizers that are "unusual and tasty," and a wine list with wines not only new to Birmingham, but to the U.S., and a full bar.

Cafe Lazio

2008-01-30T03:25:02Z

181 Main St., Patton Creek Shopping Center (near Galleria in Hoover)
403-7480
www.cafelazio.net
Owned by the same folks that own the popular Petrucelli's Italian eatery in Inverness. A December 2007 review in City Scene called it "casual and family friendly; however, dim lighting and a small bar area add atmosphere." The reviewer gave high marks for an appetizer of stuffed eggplant, antipasto, "loaded" pizza, calzones and tiramisu. Indoor and outdoor seating, full bar, hand-tossed pizza whole or by the slice, flatbread sandwiches, heroes, salads, calzones, pasta dishes.

Formaggio's Italian Bistro

2007-09-10T14:54:52Z

1779-2 Montgomery Highway, Hoover, 989-7999 (Riverchase Galleria area, at Lorna/Hwy. 150 intersection)
1713 10th Avenue South (Southside, near Five Points South), 933-7555
4685 Hwy. 17, Helena, 664-3350
www.formaggios.net
Extensive menu with pizza, pasta, calzones, sandwiches, salads. We've had pizza delivered from the Hoover location and it was pretty good -- not the best in town, but much better than the chains.

Alfredo's Pizza Cafe

2007-05-29T19:56:00Z

1012 Eastwood Festival Center (7001 Crestwood Blvd, near Century Plaza), 591-1410
2152 Pelham Pkwy., Unit B (Hwy. 31), 444-1481
Inexpensive, casual, order-at-the-counter atmosphere. Pizza by the pie or by the slice, calzones, sandwiches, pasta, salads, more. No alcohol served. Great place for a quick lunch or family meal. One big plus -- you can order your slices with custom toppings.
Click here for Bhamdining.com review

Baker's Famous Pizza

2007-05-29T19:55:55Z

757 Shades Mountain Plaza, Hoover (Bluff Park; across from Piggly WIggly)
822-4848
www.bakersfamouspizza.com
Frank Baker's family moved from Chicago in 1962, but apparently great pizza was in his blood already. He moved back to Chicago to learn the business from a Sicilian and his mother (who didn't even speak English). One of 10 semi-finalists in the Birmingham News' "Primo Pizza" contest in 2004. Delivery to surrounding areas.

Bettola

2007-05-29T19:55:05Z

2901 Second Ave. South, Downtown (Pepper Place)
731-6499
www.bettolarestaurant.com
Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Beer and wine; no reservations. Italian trattoria specializing in pizza made in the authentic Neopolitan style, with fresh-tasting tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella imported from Italy. In addition to pizza, you'll find build-your-own antipasti; salads; small plates such as grilled country bread with eggplant, peppers, basil and capers; and oven-roasted entrees and pastas. Like no other pizza in town.
Bhamdining.com Review (July 2007)

Buck's Pizza

2007-05-29T19:53:31Z

215 Helena Marketplace, Helena
621-5422
Buck's is a franchise with about 80 stores in 20 states. This is the only location in the Birmingham area, with about a half-dozen scattered around the state.

California Pizza Kitchen

2007-05-29T19:51:27Z

238 Summit Blvd. (Off Hwy. 280 between Cahaba Heights/Vestavia and Inverness areas), 298-7931
3470 Galleria Circle, Hoover, 444-0777
www.cpk.com
OK, it's a chain, but not one you'll see on every corner, and the food is good, if a bit pricy. Designer pizzas offer everything from the traditional to the exotic, plus sandwiches and salads.