Pizza Heaven in the Cobblestone Streets of Belfast

Rising Star

Belfast

It might not be the ancient cobblestone streets of Naples overlooking the serene waters of the bay, or possess the skyscrapers of Manhattan that fragment the suns light across a thousand streets. But Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is having a renaissance while quickly becoming the most vibrant part of the city. Joining the lively bar and food scene of the area is a pizza place in Belfast that could compete with some of the best.

In September 2022 two stars of the pizzeria world, one in New York and one in the Italian city of Caserta (a 30-minute drive from Naples), jointly topped the list of 100 best pizzerias in the world. When we think of pizza, we usually imagine the floppy, saucy Neapolitan style from pizzas birthplace, or a thin crust, cheesy New York slice.

Pizza in Belfast, although delicious, historically shares most of its likeness with the American pizza giants we grew up with. The Dominos and Pizza Huts of the world – with pineapple, sweetcorn, and pepperoni regular toppings of choice. Orto in Belfast has gently leaned toward a more traditional route.

Uniquely Belfast

By favouring a style of pizza which focuses on the importance of the dough, carefully curated toppings, and cooking in a wood fire oven Orto ends up somewhere in the middle of the two styles. A perfect happy medium of ultra-cheese heaven. Neither standard American fare or a devout imitation of traditionalist Neapolitan pizza they’ve taken tips from the masters and made something special – an excellent pizzeria that is uniquely Belfast.

From their salt & chilli za’atar flatbread to their unprecedented nine dips to select from they understand what makes pizza taste great: good quality ingredients, flavours that work best together, ratio of toppings. But they also know what’s important to the people of Belfast. A good dip for their crusts, unpretentious starters like stuffed jalapenos and dough sticks, and outright delicious food.

Pizza Greatness

We can’t imagine there is pizzeria in all of Naples where they would serve jalapeno aioli or their own hot sauce. But Orto know where tradition stops and giving the people what they want starts. And who doesn’t want hot honey in their goats’ cheese hummus? And who wouldn’t want salt and chili on their flatbread? Or garlic butter to sweep up with a still warm pizza crust if given the chance?

Start with the basics of making great pizza, get that right, then the rest is up to the pizzaiolo.

You won’t want to miss their dessert offerings either. A hot cinnamon bun with real life soft serve ice-cream which might seem too heavy after a full pizza but will somehow manage to disappear before your eyes.

Bubbling Brown Crusts

If you are in Belfast and you’re wondering what to eat. If the sheer thought of a wood-fired pizza slice bending at its centre from the density of its molten cheese and bubbling brown at the crusts from the pressure of the fiery oven just happens to flash before you and send stars shooting to your eyes. Forget Naples and New York, follow them to Orto.