East London Food & Culture

Eat My Pizza

Everything you need to know about Eat My Pizza – and 5 must-try dishes

We get the lowdown on Leytonstone's hip new arrival - and roadtest its signature creations

Stepping into Leytonstone’s latest restaurant Eat My Pizza, it’s hard to envision its former incarnation, a Barclay’s Bank. And yet, if you squint, you might just be able to recall queuing in its high-ceilinged interior.

But you may not remember how vast its windows were, now scrubbed clean, allowing the midday sun to stream through its airy dining room. And you’ll not have seen its chic ceramic tiled floor, or stylish tomato-red banquette, let alone the cosy booths now taking centre-stage, affording glimpses of the open kitchen beyond.

Eat My Pizza Leytonstone
Wow-factor: Eat My Pizza Leytonstone. Photo: PR

Eat My Pizza is the brainchild of the team behind several popular East London restaurants including Leyton’s Figo, its concept being to create a neighbourhood restaurant which “combines Italian traditions with the identity of Leytonstone, creating a space which fits right in yet enriches the local area,” says the team’s Stefan.

“We chose the Barclays Bank building as we loved the location and the look of the building. Being able to take a beautiful old building from 1900 and bring new life to it seemed fitting with the concept of Eat My Pizza – fusing the old and the new to create something unique.”

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Eat My Pizza Leytonstone
The counter at Eat My Pizza Leytonstone. Photo: Stephen Emms

From the interior design, all the way down to offerings of the menu, the desire to bring in the innovation and uniqueness of East London, while allowing it to coexist with Italian tradition, is evident.

“We wanted to create a place where locals can get together and enjoy a glass of good wine over some of our smaller dishes after work, allowing the space to fit within the customer’s needs – whether this is a three-course meal or a relaxed evening with friends or loved ones. It’s a child-friendly space, too,” he says.

Despite the restaurant’s name, pizzas only make up about half the menu. There are the much-loved classic options, from margheritas to capricciosas, however “our specialty pizzas are definitely what we are most proud of,” he says. “We wanted to experiment with flavours and ingredients to introduce something different.”

Small plates include traditional Italian antipasto or a fresh Caprese salad, along with other unique offerings like roasted pistachio vegetables and baked artichokes.

Eat My Pizza Leytonstone
Eat My Pizza Leytonstone. Photo: PR

The drinks includes a comprehensive list of cocktails (an Aperol Spritz is just £8.90), while wine starts at a reasonable £6 a glass (£27 a bottle). There’s also draft Roma Italian craft beer at £6 a pint, and a more informal bar seating area to enjoy it, or simply a coffee and cannoli.

If you wfh it’s worth bearing in mind that opening hours are long – from 9am every morning until 11pm every evening. During the day the tiled counter is piled with homemade focaccia sandwiches, fresh cakes and pastries and coffee, while, in addition to the a la carte, there are regularly changing specials, as well as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

And don’t forget: locals can also benefit from the pizza collection deal as any pizza is just £10.

5 things you must try at Eat My Pizza

Starter: Baked Prawns

Baked Prawns
Baked Prawns. Photo: SE

This is a generous bowl of juicy half-shelled prawns bathing in a rich, spicy tomato sauce. And there’s a bit of theatre involved too in its presentation, as the server will cut its pizza dough crust allowing the steam to soar out at the table.

Mains: Roasted chicken thighs

Eat My Pizza
Roasted chicken thighs. Photo: SE

These arrive boneless, skin-on and butter soft on a generous whorl of spearmint green artichoke puree. Baked vine tomatoes add acidity and sweetness, while a pile of perfect roasties adds carbs. The perfect sharer.

Salad: Tomato & avocado

Eat My Pizza
Tomato salad: Eat My Pizza. Photo: SE

This healthy sounding salad wouldn’t have been our first choice if the server hadn’t raved about how good it was. And she was right: it was indeed a meal highlight, an earthenware bowl generously filled with all manner of colourful heritage tomatoes crowned alongside blobs of smooth avocado puree, basil oil, crumbled olives and red onion.

Pizza: signature Eat My Pizza 

Eat My Pizza
Eat My Pizza signature and the ‘Nduja. Photo: SE

All diners, vegetarian or otherwise, should try the signature Eat My Pizza (top left): a joyful vivid green, it’s like an allotment on a plate, its base smothered with rich courgette cream and topped with buffalo mozzarella, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, rocket and goat’s cheese. Order the zingy salsa verde dip (pictured above) with it and dunk freely.

We also tried the ‘Nduja (above, right), a more traditional tomato base topped with the moreish spicy Calabrian sausage, red onion, mozzarella and a touch of spiced honey. A pot of roasted garlic mayo works well with this, although we reckon it’s best to alternate between that and the salsa verde.

Dessert: Pistachio affogato
Sweet-toothed diners will rejoice as there are around a dozen options for dessert. Tiramisu, profiteroles and cannoli aside, our tip is a pistachio affogato: the gelato sits in the double espresso, making it a fun and classy digestif to put a spring in your step.

Lunch sandwiches from £6, small plates from £8.50, pizzas from £10.50, mains from £11. Find Eat My Pizza at 839 High Rd Leytonstone, Bushwood, London E11 1HL

This is a paid partnership in association with Eat My Pizza. If you’re an East London business wanting to reach thousands of locals, get in touch: stephen@londonbelongstome.com

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