Ria’s - Notting Hill
At a glance: Organic wine bar & Detriot-styled pizza pie sanctuary.
Visit for: Pillowy Detroit pie. A savoury vodka shot of dreams. Ideal first date location for elder millennials.
Ordered: 2 x House Pie Slices, 1 x Pepperoni & Soppressata Pie Slice, 1 x Grandma’s vegan Pizza Pie Slice (£25.20)
Location: 29 All Saints Rd, London W11 1HE. Escape the literal hell that is Portobello Market for the quieter All Saint’s road.
Any spot that touts an ice-cold vodka shot with dill pickled cucumber, feta and crispy onions as a “cheeky start” has already won. Team Savoury gets it. The rest of you can do one.
A casual cafe pizza bar set up, this is arguably one of the most sensory-pleasing pizza spots in the city. There’s a duality in the use of the space that guarantees everyone will experience their ideal moment here. If you happen to be hankering after your first coffee of the day at noon, nab yourself a spot on the relaxed couches up front and witness the going’s on of this intimate 24-seater. If you’re looking for something a little more slow jazz and low lighting ft. bright natural wines then pull up later in the day and set up shop with your mates. This is food and drink designed to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. This pacing is that of your host’s own dining room.
Ria’s caters to those of you who haven’t googled the menu beforehand and made a firm decision. They are merciful in letting you order by the slice for selective pies. The next best thing is ordering a couple of different whole pies across the table and sampling widely. Both the House Pie and Pepperoni slices exceed expectations. Exceptionally light and fluffy and heart-stoppingly crisp with burnt cheese edges. These could easily be sold by the bag as a stand-alone product. The house marinara is perfectly balanced, tart and salty. The dough is fermented for up to 72 hours to ensure it can handle the weight of its toppings. The end result is a crisp, chewy masterpiece.
It’s a concise and refreshing menu. Bright acidic salads and sides alongside morish deep-pan pizza. Parmesan is religion here and rightfully so. There are some accompanying drizzles available for anyone indifferent to pizza purism. Hot Honey, Franks hot butter or Parmesan Cream. Each is ideal for remaining crust maintenance. There is a resounding calm here, with a baby blue interior and gentle chatter of happy patrons. A quiet assurance, Ria’s knows it’s killing it. And why shouldn’t they? They’ve perfected the all-day local. Incredible food, a female-led team, a comforable interior and exceptional natural wine curation. Yes to all.
