Nicky D’s Wood Fired Pizza

I was on a ethnic noodle hunt before xmas but I quickly got over that after a few horrid experiences with beef blood Thai Boat Noodles. So now I’m on a pizza hunt.

After trying Mozza last month, I’ve been in the mood for gourmet pizza. Now I’ve been going to California Pizza Kitchen for years and generally like most of their pizzas but it lacks that wholeness… that local feel. Nicky D’s Wood Fired Pizza in Silver Lake is my new favorite neighborhood pizza joint.

“Nicky D, was a long time resident of New York. He had a lucrative career as an actor. But he wisely supplemented his income by following his other passion for cooking and opened a pizzeria in Times Square. And then that “Go West Young Man” syndrome kicked in and he relocated to Los Angeles where he continued his acting career. Still, he longed for another restaurant and waited for the right place to present itself. Finally, a former house in the Silverlake Community of Hollywood, California called his name.”

The pizzas are grand, thin crust NYC goodness. I was craving pizza a few weeks ago so I stopped in and ordered a few ‘individual’ sized to try. I got the BBQ Chicken and a Pesto Bravo.

The BBQ chicken is a classic I’ve read. They roast all of their own chickens in a wood fired rotisserie and then pick the chicken off the bone for the pizza. Need I say more? It’s excellent.

The Pesto Bravo had my name written all over it. It’s a pesto pie with sausage, roasted red pepper, goat cheese, and roasted garlic. It had the right about of everything with all of the flavors blending to form this orgy of goodness in your mouth. Oh and the crust on these pizzas was also perfect with just a hint of char… thin and crispy.

The place itself is rather small with about 6 tables on the inside and then a large seating area outside. The night I went (a weeknight) the outside wasn’t being used as the lights and heaters were off but I’m sure it’s busy during the weekend. Inside is very cozy with local artwork and photography on the walls and a fireplace as the center piece with the kitchen exposed in the very back. You have a full view of the pizza oven and the rotisserie.

They also do delivery and takeout. From what I saw, a lot of delivery. I just walked in and ordered a few pies but I wouldn’t recommend this as in the place gets busy and then you’re left waiting around for 15-20 minutes for your pizza. Call ahead or order delivery if you’re not eating in.

And of course you have that real wood burning oven.

I didn’t have dessert but their gelato looked great and I’ve read their cannolis are to die for. This isn’t one of your healthy eats place but everyone needs to splurge every now and then.

They also have a wide arrangement of items including calzones, pasta, salads, whole chickens, and hot hero sandwiches. See their whole menu here.

Also check out his website for his videos of his “Pizza Travels with Nicky D”.

Nick D’s Wood Fired Pizza
2764 Rowena Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039 (Silver Lake)
(1/2 block west of Glendale Blvd)
Hours 5PM-10PM 7 days a week (11:30AM-10PM Fri, Sat, Sun)
323-664-3333

There’s only a few spots in the front so it’s mostly street parking and across the street. It’s set back a bit from the road and kind of hard to see as the road curves. Drive slowly while approaching. I must have driven by it 10 times before I ever saw it when I first moved to Silver lake