Chef Mario Bailote Brings ‘Pizza With a Portuguese Twist’ to Jamaica Plain | Eater Boston
"Opened December 21 as a takeout-focused reboot of a popular Roxbury pizzeria that closed in 2022, this small Hyde Square spot showcases hand-tossed, New York–style pies with a distinct Portuguese twist from chef-owner Mario Bailote, an Algarve native who previously worked nearly 20 years at Same Old Place. Dough ferments at least three days to produce a thinner, crunchy crust; toppings range from classic margherita with fresh mozzarella and basil to the Grego (mozzarella, feta, Kalamata olives, spinach, oregano) and meat-forward pies like the Portuguesa with imported spicy chouriço and the piri-piri chicken that combines red sauce with a complex Maçarico piri-piri. The streamlined menu focuses on pizzas, calzones (mozzarella, ricotta, parm) and three salads (mixed green, Greek, and one with imported Portuguese tuna), with unusual touches such as pickled vegetables, fig glaze over bacon, San Marzano tomato sauce, and piri-piri imported from Portugal. Bailote emphasizes careful ingredient selection—he even sampled many types of Kalamata olives to find the right balance—and finishes a single dessert offering, pastel de nata imported from the Lisbon suburbs and oven-finished in-house (often selling out). The smaller kitchen influenced the decision to focus on pizza, and customers can either build their own pie or choose from twelve curated pizzas; orders are available for pickup via the restaurant’s website or delivery through DoorDash." - Nathan Tavares
