Getting into Eddington is usually a bit of a nightmare if you are a driver, which means I normally avoid the area altogether. Today, however, I decided to make a rare exception as La Pizzica has been enticing me for some time with their offering of authentic Italian pizza.

Run by husband-and-wife team Marco and Autumn Valente, this casual spot brings a genuine slice of Southern Italy right here to Cambridge.

The restaurant operates on a casual walk-in basis with a warm and welcoming atmosphere from the moment you arrive. As you sit down, a friendly hello is waved from across the restaurant and you are seen to immediately. What I like is that Marco takes the time to get to know you. He will come over for a chat, ask about your story, and share a little of his own, proving he is made for hospitality as he clearly loves meeting people. This is the sort of thing that turns you from a one time visitor into a regular.

The team has done a fine job making the best of the space, scattering around a few small trees, plenty of potted plants, and even a little ice cream stop. There is a lovely south-facing outdoor seating area that is perfect for soaking up a bit of sun.

That said, the square itself is hardly going to transport you to the streets of Italy. Instead, it offers a rather bleak, post-modern concrete view looking straight towards Sainsbury’s and Argos. Still, I can imagine it feeling quite charming once the sun goes down and the lights hanging from the top are brought to life.

The Pizzas

For the mains, I went for the Capricciosa and their signature pizza, La Pizzica. They keep things traditional in the kitchen, using an authentic dough recipe that dates back over 150 years – so I was expecting something special.

Capricciosa

The Capricciosa comes loaded with San Marzano tomatoes, fiordilatte mozzarella, mushrooms, cooked ham, artichokes, and black olives. The thin base had a great texture with a crisp outer edge, and the balance of salty artichokes, ham, and earthy mushrooms all combined into an amazing bite. The black olives were beautiful and the presentation was excellent – it was a pizza I simply couldn’t fault.

La Pizzica

The star of the show, however, was La Pizzica. This bad boy is made with Spianata Piccante, a type of spicy cured sausage, and N’duja di Spilinga, a spreadable fiery pork sausage – I knew this would satisfy the spice-loving hothead in me and I was completely right. Topped with San Marzano tomatoes, fiordilatte (cow’s milk Italian cheese), and crushed dried peppers, this one packed a serious punch. Regular readers of the blog will know that I love n’duja and am often critical of places that serve anaemic ones. I like to be slapped around the face with flavour, and this one didn’t disappoint. It is an absolute must-order for anyone who likes a sweet and fiery kick.

Just like with the Capricciosa above, the base was peeeerfect. I do not use the word loosely here: it was thin yet succulent, soft yet crispy, and had a lively flavour, no doubt credited to their 150-year-old dough recipe. For an extra £4, you can get a burrata added to the middle for dipping (similar to what Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza used to do before it closed).

I will admit, I thought £4 was a bit much as it brought the pizza total up to £20, but I suppose that is just how it is these days. Even though the burrata didn’t quite match the size and softness of the one from Oscar’s, it was still a very welcome and interesting upgrade on an otherwise superbly executed pizza. I highly recommend giving it a go as it is ideal for dipping your crusts in.

“The authentic taste in every bite”

The menu quotes “The authentic taste in every bite”. Now, this may sound cheesy, but I completely understand it. By every standard measure, the pizza doesn’t rely on gimmicks – there is no oversized base, deep-pan American style, or fusion pizza-burger setup. Instead, it is an authentic Italian pizza simply made with a passion, love, and warmth you can taste in every bite.

All the ingredients were exceptionally well sourced. I could not tell you where they all came from, but the flavour spoke for itself. I could taste each individual topping on the pizza, and sampling them on their own was rewarded with a deep, distinct flavour. In a world where some pizzas are scattered with so many ingredients that they blend into one, there was a great balance here that worked so well.

My guest, who is an Italian food purist, couldn’t fault a single thing. Coming from a man who has always managed to find fault with almost every big Italian restaurant in some capacity, this is a bold statement.

Local Coffee

The coffee is another example of great sourcing that results in great flavour. Better still, the sourcing is local, with the award-winning team at Change Coffee Roasters in Fen Drayton supplying the beans. They deliver an intense dark roast cup that Southern Italians are known for. In fact, my guest had a second flat white because he enjoyed it so much. I myself loved my frothy cappuccino.

Desserts

We wrapped up the food with a local pistachio tiramisu. These are not made on site, but brought in fresh every day and were still very good. The pistachio flavour was dominant while the spongy yet creamy tiramisu provided a delicate, cool base – resulting in a light sign-off to a heavy meal.

Verdict

La Pizzica delivers authentic, high-quality Calabrian pizza served with a warm and friendly smile. It is beautiful, full of life and flavour, and as authentic as it gets. This may very well be my new favourite pizza in Cambridge, especially when you have some nice outdoor seating and locally sourced coffee to go with it. This is going straight onto my Cambridge Pizza League Table.

Thanks for reading!