Lebanon boasts a number of good Italian restaurant… while writing an article for Taste and Flavors Magazine which highlights more than 20 places that serves some of the best pizza’s around, I realized the amazing restaurants and bistros in town… Join me on my journey around Lebanon’s little Italy.
Pizza, who doesn’t love pizza? This Italian classic is the second most popular food in the world, after burgers. From Italy to France, the United States to the Middle East, pizzas come in many shapes and sizes, but the end result is the same: an oven-baked, flat bread typically finished off with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings. The modern pizza has its roots
in Naples, Italy, and the dish has since become popular all over the world.
So, back to our beloved country to enjoy some of the best pizzas Lebanon has to offer. Italian pizzerias and American pizza delivery franchises have mushroomed nationwide. And, in a typically Lebanese fashion, creative minds have come up with the idea of offering them in small cups to be devoured in two or three bites.
Aliacci, Gemmayzeh 01 566199
A cozy, intimate affair, Aliacci whisks you away to Italy the second you walk through the door. Pots of basil, chalkboards on the wall and antique-themed furniture all create a welcoming, rustic vibe. Be sure to start off with their Bruschetta Bufala and maybe try the parmigiana di melanzane, it’s a soft, delightful must have! Specialty: The pizza ‘bianco’ with potato, rosemary and mozzarella is punchy and bold, served as a generous portion
Appetito Trattoria, Hamra 01 347346
Its clean, fresh Italian atmosphere really sets the scene for Appetito’s traditional Italian dishes and the pizza is no different. Go for the Gorgonzola pizza with a powerfully-flavored topping sitting on a perfectly crisp, rounded base. With great staff, a welcoming owner and an inviting setting, it almost feels like home.
DT, Kaslik 09 211272, Downtown 01 999932
The owners of DT were the first to introduce Italian pizza to Lebanon straight from wood ovens. They started with a simple credo: create Neapolitan pizza using old-world techniques and the highest- quality ingredients available. Today DT offers a thin crust pizza filled with love and passion.
DUO is famous for serving a varied Italian and French-inspired menu. It serves a wide variety of pizzas with a traditional, thinner crust style with generous toppings and an authentic, almost woody flavor. With its fantastic salad bar and Cheesecake Factory offerings on the dessert menu, DUO is a definite threat to the waistline.
Fiona’s, Saifi Village 01 985825
The taste of Tuscany shines through in this classy Saifi restaurant. Famed for their meat and pasta dishes, Fiona’s pizzas aren’t to be missed either! A good selection of choices, a great authentic taste and the traditional thin, Italian crust make Fiona’s a pizza-lover’s dream. The service is wonderful, the staff friendly and the management attentive.
Frulatte, Jeita 09 231573
Situated in the suburb of Jeita, Frulatte is something of a hidden gem. A nice range of toppings
and expertly baked bases result in tasty, generously sized pizzas, which just beg to be eaten. With such good, honest food and engaging staff, Frulatte’s definitely worth a visit.
Gigi, Gemmayzeh 01 444024
At Gigi you can sit and watch your soon to be baked pizza dough being tossed in the air and spun by a professional pizza cook. With a vibrant, lively atmosphere, Gigi’s a great place for a family with younger children. With a varied menu to choose from, you’ll have a wealth of options, but try the calzone, a folded Italian classic.
Julia’s, Achrafieh 01 219539
A slightly more upmarket restaurant than many on this list, Julia’s offers a diverse, exciting fusion Italian-French menu. The classic setting exudes class, as do their pizzas. With a thin crust, to the point that you’re sure that they’ll snap when you lift them from the plate, the pizzas are almost rustic in nature. Scattered with the freshest ingredients, they’re a treat to look at and a treat to eat.
La Bottega Pizzeria, Bikfaya 04 984555
I was happily surprised with the outstanding service and food enjoyed in this simple Italian restaurant near Bikfaya. For only $25 a person, we enjoyed premium quality and great taste. La Bottega is the address of unpretentious, rustic delicious Italian food. It’s not to be missed.
La Piazza, Achrafieh 01 339449
The food is based upon genuine Italian cuisine, with dishes prepared according to established Italian recipes, and yet considerate of local tastes. A large 30 cm pizza that’s thin in the middle and perfectly round on the edge with a crust that combines crunchiness and softness at the same time really hits the spot. The clean taste of the fresh ingredients transports you straight to Italy.
La Posta, Achrafieh 01 209909
Since 1999 La Posta’s genuine wood oven pizzas have been delighting taste buds. With deliciously thin, crunchy bases and only the best ingredients used, the bases at La Posta almost serve as a plate, delivering food to your mouth. Definitely one for the pizza connoisseurs.
Margherita pizzeria del quarter dal 1959, www.pizzeriamargherita.com
The portrait of a superb Margherita’s pizza: a baked Italian pie consisting of a shallow bread-like crust, covered with toppings such as uniquely seasoned tomato sauce, cheese, sausage and olives prepared in a wood oven, which makes a big difference in taste. Small balls of mozzarella melt homogeneously over the surface and are a delight to the palate.
Napoletana, www.boubess.com
One of the thinner crusts in town, simple and not chewy, topped generously with fresh ingredients such as mushrooms, premium ham, tasty tomato sauce, oregano and non-oily cheese. Order the Quattro Stagioni, and jump into a 30 cm circle of delicious ingredients. Every bite has a unique taste… delicious!
Nonna Pizza, Monot Street 01 333082
A charming and well-designed place, Nonna oozes a sense
of Italy – an authentic Mediterranean feel in a humble and unpretentious ambiance. The wood baked pizza dough is very close to our lame baajine, thin and very crunchy yet tender in the middle. Specialty: ‘pesto al genovese’ pizza served with tomatoes, cheese, olives and pesto
Olio, www.olio-me.com
The best part about Olio is that the pizza reflects the passion the owners have for their business. This three-level Italian restaurant boasts many attractive details from the light-wood flooring to the small green chandeliers hung on the walls… Olio means a dish of different ingredients and the name best describes this place.
Peninsula, Dbayeh, 04 540240
Nestled in the heart of Dbayeh, surrounded by green trees and large landscapes, The Peninsula offers a large selection of homemade Italian delicacies from start to finish. A favorite is the Pizza Corleone: tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, goat cheese, truffle oil and oregano. A perfect mix of fresh ingredients on a unique dough.
Pizza Napoli, www.pizzanapoli-lb.com
Offering both deep dish and thin crust pizzas, Pizza Napoli has all the bases covered. Catering for lovers of traditional pizzas with combinations like the Roman, or the Four Cheese, there are also Lebanese-centric creations like Hot Dog or Soujouk. We stuck with our guilty pleasure, the Hawaiian and loved it, a good crispy base, a softer center and generous toppings.
Pomodoro Pizzeria, Zaitunay Bay 01 379 799
When the chef has won international awards for baking the largest pizza, and has been recognized by national Italian institutes for his skill, you know you’re in for a treat. With a soft center, but a crispy, risen ring around the outside, Pomodoro’s pizzas are perfect, in appearance and flavor. With rich, creamy cheeses and a vibrant tomato sauce, not to mention traditional Italian toppings, pizzas here have to be tasted to be believed.
Tavolina, Mar Mikhael 01 442244
Two thumbs up for their pizza. Tavolina serves one of the best,
if not the best, Italian pizza in Lebanon. A 30 cm perfectly round pizza with thin non-chewy dough and generous filling. Amazingly well decorated, the ingredients are fresh and tasty. If you like marguerita pizza, you will fall in love with Tavolina’s version.
Toto, Mar Mikhael 01 566991
Toto’s pizza was created by one of Europe’s best Pizzaolos. A perfectly round pizza, soft and tender with an interesting after crunch and topped with the richest of ingredients. I loved the parma ham pizza, the truffle pizza and the newly launched beef carpaccio pizza – not to be missed.
Villagio, Kantari 01 371116
It is indeed one of Lebanon’s biggest Italian restaurants. Inside this complex you will find thin dough pizzas generously covered with mozzarella cheese and decorated with pepperoni slices, with an interesting spicy aftertaste.
Read more in this issue of Taste & Flavors Magazine
