Pizza West
Whitby, North Yorkshire
If you’ve had your fill of Whitby’s fish and chips, it’s well worth the trek out of town to this buzzy pizza hot spot high up on West Cliff. Formerly a kooky science museum called the Whitby Wizard, the long, low building has been transformed into a stylish modern eatery bursting with colour and energy. Baskets of fruit, veg and breads adorn the bar, there are potted plants everywhere and when the windows are flung open, bracing whiffs of ozoney sea air waft in. Everyone can watch the wood-fired sourdough pizzas being freshly prepped in the open-plan kitchen area, and the innovative line-up goes way beyond margherita and caprese. The ‘bacon cheeseburger’ riff with gherkins and mustard is a meaty prospect, but also check out the version with broccoli, dolcelatte and confit garlic, or ‘nduja with burrata and chilli honey. Appetisers are equally creative, from mackerel with tomato and pickled radish to wood-fired lamb chops accompanied by tzatziki, and there are a few pastas too (feta and spinach tortellini with brown butter and sage, say). Round off with Italian cannoli or English strawberries with clotted cream. Almost everything on the short all-European wine list is available by the glass or carafe.
