Take a peek at these participating businesses, try the pies for yourself, and vote for your chance to win $100 in River District Gift Certificates
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Papi’s Eatery & Lounge 215 8th Street East Pizza Variety: Classic Pepperoni and Cheese Stone-baked to perfection with fresh ingredients from start to finish, you can taste the care in every bite. Known for serving the best pepperoni in town, this thin crust pizza is sturdy enough to handle a generous layer of gooey cheese and toppings. Craving a cheese pull? You’ll find it here. The pepperoni delivers that bold, authentic kick of red pepper and paprika you expect from the real deal. Pair it with a classic Caesar salad or Papi’s Crispy Chicken Bites for the ultimate game-day feast — This reviewer thinks it's best enjoyed in your favorite track pants with a solid lineup of shows ready to stream. |
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Fuego Wood Fired Pizza 136 10th Street East Pizza Variety: Al Fuego – Fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, tomato sauce, Fennel sausage, pepperoni, caramelized onions, soppressata salami, fresh parmesan If you want to watch your pie cook in under two minutes in the most beautiful wood burning oven, then Fuego is the place for you. The smell when you walk in the door is similar to that of a campfire with a hint of melted cheese and frankly, we’d wear it as a perfume if we could. The sauce is subtly sweet and tastes like it was made that morning. Fresh mozzarella is lovingly pulled apart by hand and placed expertly around the pie. The addition of fresh basil is a knockout. The sausage, soppressata, and pepperoni added are as high quality as the fresh-tasting sauce. After watching them maneuver the pie in the oven to ensure each piece of crust was kissed by the fire, we couldn’t wait to dig in. Fuego now offers a dine-in option and is a great place to watch the world go by as you enjoy your expertly crafted pizza. Keep an eye on them, we’ve heard they have some projects in the works. |
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Parkwood By Heartwood 939 2nd Avenue East Pizza Variety: Prosciutto & Arugula The multi-day fermented dough is the foundation of the exquisite pizza. While the recipe is top secret, we have been told it is a neo-New York-style pizza that was designed to offer a crust that wouldn’t leave cheese on your shoe. As a person obsessed with crust, we can speculate that the flour may be less processed. This thin crust, hand tossed pizza offers a tangy, fresh sauce and a healthy amount of cheese to satisfy. The addition of prosciutto is always welcome regardless of the application; the salty delicate meat can do no wrong, and when paired with peppery fresh arugula, you get a dangerous combination sure to have you eating long after you’re full. It is this reviewer’s opinion that adding arugula to pizza makes it a salad. Thus, this pizza is health food. |
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Papa Johns 1023 2nd Avenue East Pizza Variety: The Works - Pepperoni, Canadian bacon, spicy Italian sausage, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, and mozzarella. When you want a pizza that packs a punch and will leave you feeling satisfied then look no further than Papa Johns. The Works Pizza offers protein, vegetables, dairy, and grains, and based on what this reviewer believes the food guide says, this is a complete meal. The pizza offers up a hearty crust, thick enough to stand up to all the toppings. The cheese is perfectly bubbled and brown and the ingredient layering technique ensures every topping stays in place. The sauce is almost sweet (in a good way) balancing the pizza’s natural saltiness from the meat and cheese. The vegetables are bright and fresh and add a crispness to each bite. This is a great pizza and we’re happy to have them as a new member of the River District. |
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Pizza Pizza 908 2nd Avenue East Pizza Variety: Canadian – Pepperoni, bacon, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese A Canadian Pizza made with Canadian ingredients supported by a Canadian company. The first thing you’ll notice on this pizza is that the mushrooms taste fresh, not canned. The sauce is generous but not overflowing and tastes like it was made that morning—that’s because it has only a few simple ingredients. The crust is thick enough to hold the toppings and offers a really satisfying chew—truly a crust made for dipping. They don’t mess around with the amount of cheese either, allowing for a great cheese pull. A classic pizza hitting all the notes you expect from a good slice. |
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Fresh Slice 916 2nd Avenue East Pizza Variety: Pepperoni & Cheese Founded in Vancouver, this Canadian pizza place is exactly as advertised: fresh. When speaking with the owner, he was very excited to discuss the proofing process for the multigrain crust. He said it’s the crust that sets them apart. While many of the toppings are sourced as locally as possible, the cheese is always made of Canadian dairy. This pizza is a must-try. The crust is different and offers a deep flavour profile while maintaining that chew you expect from your slice. The sauce is well-balanced, and they don’t skimp on that Canadian cheese. Fresh Slice is the picky eaters' dream, with unlimited toppings of your choice for one price, so making a custom pizza is easy. They are also home to the mix & match pizza boxes, so feeding a crowd is a breeze. |
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Europa Restaurant and Pizza 282 8th Street East Pizza Variety: Greek – Black olives, green pepper, tomato, onion, feta, Greek oregano This is the same pizza you’ve been eating for nearly 40 years, and that’s because you don’t mess with perfection. The fresh sauce and crust are made from scratch in house and are a secret family recipe passed down generations. The toppings are fresh and plentiful, the crust is perfectly crisp, and the sprinkle of Greek oregano at the end adds that extra flavour punch you're after. This pizza holds up from point A to point B in the box, ensuring you get the same quality whether you are eating it at the restaurant or at home. The stone oven is the same one the first generation of Stavrou’s used. I was privileged to hear the story about his family moving back to Greece and selling the pizza business, only to move back years later and locate the same original oven the family used. Once you are a customer of Europa, you’re a customer for life, and yes, that’s because of the food but also the family atmosphere that offers an endless supply of heart. |
