The story
Pizza West brings a distinctly Italian approach to dining on the West Cliff in Whitby, having opened in June 2021 inside a long low building that once served as the Whitby Wizard science museum. Woven baskets holding fresh breads and seasonal vegetables line the service counter alongside dense potted greenery. Open windows pull in sharp coastal breezes while guests observe the open plan kitchen where chefs stretch dough for the wood-fired oven. The establishment recently secured a Good Food Guide rating for transforming such an unconventional space into a consistently energetic venue.
The Italian kitchen moves well beyond standard pizza fare, focusing instead on creative flavour combinations baked directly over flame. A bacon cheeseburger variation features tangy gherkins and wholegrain mustard alongside traditional tomato sauce. Other notable options include a topping of broccolini, dolcelatte cheese, and slow-cooked garlic cloves, while another combines spicy nduja with creamy burrata and a drizzle of chilli honey. The kitchen also prepares pasta dishes like feta and spinach tortellini tossed in brown butter with fried sage leaves.
A compact wine selection focuses entirely on European producers, with most bottles offered by the glass or carafe to suit casual pacing. Desserts lean toward straightforward classics, featuring either traditional Italian cannoli or local strawberries paired with thick clotted cream. The team actively adapts recipes for vegan diets, gluten-free requirements, and coeliac needs without compromising the core Italian cooking style. Complementing savoury plates are shared starters like grilled mackerel with pickled radish or wood-fired lamb chops served beside cool tzatziki.
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