A fresh sourdough pizza is pulled from the woodfired oven at Von's 1000 Spirits. Photo source.
No one’s knocking classic pepperoni pizza, but every once in awhile, it’s healthy to venture out of bounds and order an innovative specialty pie. Whether you like your slices piled high with veggies or layered with stacks of meat, here’s where to indulge in the Seattle area.
Elemental Pizza | Multiple locations
Visit either of Elemental Pizza’s Seattle locations in Columbia Center or University Village (or venture south to Tacoma) and take a crack at pretty much any entry on a long list of specialty pizzas for meat and veggie lovers alike. Options at the U-Village restaurant are especially extensive and span from elevated classics to pulled pork and chicken curry -- but the SMH Baked Potato Pie is doubly worth your hard-earned pizza cash. Inspired by and named for the memory of young Seattle resident Sarah M. Hughes, the pie features fresh mozzarella, cheddar, bacon, yukon gold potatoes, caramelized leeks, and sour cream. The best part? 10% of the proceeds go to Seattle Children’s and cancer-fighting organizations.
Varlamos Pizzeria | 3617 NE 45th St | 206-522-8515
Family-owned and operated in the Laurelhurst neighborhood since the mid-90s, Varlamos Pizzeria is a classic neighborhood pizza joint, offering a family-friendly atmosphere to drop in and share a classic or specialty pie. If you’re in search of the latter and enjoy your slices with a spicy kick, start with The Gangster -- pepperoni, sausage, jalapenos, and cheddar topped with mozzarella and fried onions for extra crunch. Gluten-free crust is available for substitution if dietary restrictions are a concern.
Cuadra No. 32 | 2132 1st Ave | 206-602-6432
Cuadra No. 32 is serving up gorgeously plated, fresh, and innovative dishes in the heart of Belltown. The kitchen colors outside the lines with its specialty pizza offering, the Pizza Mexicana, on which jalapenos, black beans, chorizo, and fresh avocado and cilantro are piled atop melty mozzarella.
La Vita E Bella | 2411 2nd Ave | 206-441-5322
Another Belltown staple, La Vita E Bella is a neighborhood go-to for authentic Italian cuisine, including fully loaded pizzas. Standout specialty offerings include the Prosciutto e Funghi (Champignon mushrooms, prosciutto di parma, fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce) and the Parmigiana (essentially eggplant parmesan in pie form).
Von's 1000 Spirits | 1225 1st Ave | 206-621-8667
Von’s kitchen is known for its scratch-made sourdough wizardry, and the housemade sourdough pizza is a huge part of the magic. Chances are, most of the everyday slices you enjoy are made with standard crust -- but the less-common sourdough pie features a texture and depth of flavor like no other. Order yours with apple butter and Beecher’s aged white cheddar for some sweet and savory action, or go for Rosellini’s Old Fashioned Meatball (meatballs made with fresh, house-ground pork cuts, fennel, garlic, and red pepper; almond pesto; pickled onion; slow-roasted Lusty Lady tomato sauce; and aged mozzarella). Other noteworthy options include the Prosciutto, Fig, and Baby Arugula pie with fresh goat cheese; the Craft Bacon, Tart Apple, and Ewe Bleu; or the Northwest Shiitake White Pizza.
