Located in Dubai Hills, the new restaurant feels like an American pitstop.
Whenever someone new moves to Dubai, I recommend where to live, shop and eat – and Pitfire Pizza always comes out on top. Now, it has opened its first licensed venue in Dubai Hills Business Park, there are even more reasons to grab a slice or three.
In 2014, Pitfire Pizza opened its first restaurant in Dubai. With branches in Arjan, JLT and Mirdif Hills, the homegrown brand gained a firm following from customers to critics – it has even won two FACT Dubai Dining Awards. While it is popular on the delivery apps, it was missing a venue where you could dine, dawdle and drink.
When you enter Pitfire Pizza in Dubai Hills, it feels like you’ve been transported to a pitstop in America merged with Dubai. Nostalgia fills the air, from the dishes to the décor. Bruce Springsteen is playing, posters on the wall range from Bill Murray to a FACT Magazine cover, and there is the soft smell of pizzas. The service is fast, friendly and filled with recommendations.
Diners can choose from indoor and outdoor seats. The indoor area features tables in the centre, stools by the bar, and elevated booths around the edges, which are big enough for four. Our only gripe: the sport on the TV, which nobody is watching. It’s rare for a restaurant to hit every demographic, but on our visit to Pitfire Pizza, it has done just that – we spot intergenerational families, friends and solo diners.
Pitfire Pizza’s husband-and-wife owners, Michele and Bill Johnson, explain: “Launching in Business Park is about giving Dubai Hills a neighbourhood pizza joint that they can become regulars at, always knowing the food, service and ambience will be top notch.”
Pitfire Pizza’s menu spans starters, salads, sides, pastas, pizzas and desserts. No visit to the restaurant is complete without trying the Garlic Knots. If you love eating your crusts, then this warm wonder is for you. Freshly baked from the oven, it is tied, brushed with herbs, garlic butter, and parmesan cheese. Plus, the Spinach and Artichoke Dip and Whipped Feta with Caramelised Onions are superb for sharing.
The signature pizzas come in 10 and 15 inches and can be created as a half and half. The pizzas include Bresaola and Rocket, Buffalo Chicken Pizza and Veggie Primo. And, if you’re still debating about whether to have pineapple on pizza, there is no judgment here, thanks to the Royal Hawaiian.
Having ordered the Pepperoni Primo more times than a Careem driver, eating it fresh from the oven highlights why you need to visit the restaurant. It confirms what I already knew: Pitfire Pizza make the best pizzas in Dubai. The secret to the success is the 72-hour artisan dough making process, and its slow-rise fermentation techniques. There is so much to love – the bubbly base, thin crust and plenty of pepperoni. It’s not even a guilty pleasure; it’s pure pleasure.
The desserts hit the classic comfort food spot. The Blonde Bombshell is a tasty triumph with chocolate chunks, pretzels and salted caramel. Michele’s Apple Pie tastes like Christmas and mixes apples, cinnamon and nutmeg into a crumbly concoction. “That’s the best apple pie I’ve ever tasted,” says my guest.
The drinks are a surprising success, ranging from beers on tap to creative cocktails. The cocktails span gin to whiskey-based drinks and wouldn’t be out of place at a high-end bar. The Boulevardier and Whiskey Sour were our favourites, and the Clover Club, with its foam and raspberry toppings, comes in a pretty presentation.
Pitfire Pizza: believe the hype.
GO: Visit https://pitfirepizzabakers.com for more information.
