Oi Vita Pizzeria

"There are a couple of pizzeria/trattoria type restaurants on the edges of the green, but this is the best of the lot. Neapolitan pizzas tick the wood-fired, blistered and puffed edged, sloppy floppy middle boxes, while toppings are traditional and service genial. A pizzaiolo can be judged by the quality of his “Neapolitana” — and Oi Vita’s is pretty good, with just the right number of quality capers and anchovies cutting through a sweet, if perhaps overly generous, tomato base. That said, the fresh Italian sausage and egg finished “Uovo” is also worth a look. Small, rustic, independent." - Ed Smith

"Everyone’s welcome at Oi Vita. Inside the small, casual pizzeria, children’s drawings are proudly displayed, tables are pushed together to accommodate groups despite the small-ish space, and solo walk-in diners are encouraged to spend as long as they like at the bar. The warm atmosphere isn’t just from the heat of the pizza oven, but from the friendly servers. They’ll let you know with a knowing wink that you made the best choice from the succinct menu of Neapolitan-style pizzas. It’s the Siciliana, by the way—with tender aubergine, salty, grated ricotta, and Oi Vita’s signature, pleasingly chewy crust. There are plenty of classic topping combinations, but a decent selection of vegan options as well. So you can bring your mate, date, or mum—they’ll all be welcome." - Jake Oliver, Daisy Meager, Heidi Lauth Beasley

"Everyone’s welcome at Newington Green’s Oi Vita. Inside the small, casual pizzeria, children’s drawings are proudly displayed, tables are pushed together to accommodate groups despite the small-ish space, and solo walk-in diners are encouraged to spend as long as they like at the bar. The warm atmosphere isn’t just from the heat of the pizza oven, but from the friendly servers. They’ll let you know with a knowing wink that you made the best choice from the succinct menu of Neapolitan-style pizzas. It’s the Siciliana, by the way—with tender aubergine, salty, grated ricotta, and Oi Vita’s signature, pleasingly chewy crust. There are plenty of classic topping combinations, but a decent selection of vegan options as well. So you can bring your mate, date, or mum—they’ll all be welcome. Pizzas are also available to takeaway. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Daisy Meager

"The shortage of qualified pizza makers in London is a boon to the appetites of Oi Vita devotees, if not to the home life of co-owner Nicola Apicella. He is a fixture at the forno, shaping beautifully airy pizzas layered with the finest traditional ingredients. His cheese-dusted calzone may be stuffed and covered with assorted cheeses and salumi, in the Neapolitan manner, but this exceptional folded pizza is as un-heavy as they come." - Daniel Young, James Hansen, Feroz Gajia

"The shortage of qualified pizza makers in London is a boon to the appetites of Oi Vita devotees, if not to the home life of co-owner Nicola Apicella. He is a fixture at the forno, shaping beautifully airy pizzas layered with the finest traditional ingredients. His cheese-dusted calzone may be stuffed and covered with assorted cheeses and salumi, in the Neapolitan manner, but this exceptional folded pizza is as un-heavy as they come." - Daniel Young, James Hansen, Feroz Gajia