If you want to truly make your quarantine partner swoon, just say those three sexy little words: wood-fired pizza. There’s something about that phrase that can make you instantly, wide-eyed with hunger, regardless of the time of day. It denotes a pizza pie made with quality dough, blazed in a rustic oven until it becomes a crispy, airy, char-spotted crust topped with artisan cheese and garden-fresh toppings. And even better—it’s easy to find around the Hudson Valley. Check out the drool-worthy menus of these eateries serving up the wood-fired goodness.
Pizzeria Posto | Rhinebeck
This acclaimed Rhinebeck pizzeria offers distinctive, artisanal pies from the courtyard just off E. Market St. Try tantalizing options like the Marino with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, soppressata, and Gaeta olives ($19) or the sauce-free Morandi with Grana Padano, red onions, pistachios, and rosemary ($18). Posto is open daily except Tuesday, offering outdoor seating, takeout, and curbside pick-up on request.
Oak Pizzeria Napoletana | Hudson
Though Oak is not offering full-service, through Hudson's Shared Streets initiative, the restaurant has created a "piazza," with outdoor tables on the sidewalk and in the street in front, where you can sit and eat your take-out. Order online from their full menu, which includes sourdough loaves made-in house, salads and vegetable starters, anchovies and house-cured trout, salumi, plus their rotating roster of pizzas. Be on the look out for specials like the clam pizza with fresh new New England clams, garlic, chili flakes, and parmesan; or the farmers' pie, which features a selection of seasonal veggies from a local farm.
Lolita's | Poughkeepsie
Located near the entrance to the Poughkeepsie side of the Walkway Over the Hudson—which is still open, by the by—sits this beloved Neapolitan pizzeria, offering takeout Tuesday through Sunday. Choose from gourmet wood-fired pies like the Soppressata with tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, garlic, basil, and chili honey ($15); or the New Yorker: tomato, oregano, mozzarella, parmesan, asiago, and caciocavallo cheese ($12). Order online or call (845) 452-8100. Outdoor seating is now available for full service between 4-9pm.
Enoteca Ama | Beacon
Enoteca Ama is ready to meet your wood-fired cravings with their full menu, now offering both outdoor and indoor seating, plus takeaway. Their pizza pies are split into red and white, with mouthwatering options for each (including a gluten-free cauliflower crust option). Try the Coppa Piccante red pie topped with coppa (cured pork collar), fior di latte mozzarella, oregano, and fresh chilis ($13), or the porcini and pancetta white pie with burrata, porcini mushrooms and pancetta ($14). Don't worry vegetarians, there's an option for you too with with fior di latte, grilled eggplant, caramelized onions, mushrooms, grilled zucchini, and basil ($13).
Cosimo’s – Various locations
With four Mid-Hudson locations to choose from, Cosimo’s is slingin’ pies from their regular menu seven days a week for lunch and dinner—with cocktails and bottles of wine, to boot. Try faves like Nick’s Pie: Calabrese soppressata, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, Hudson Valley baby kale, pecorino, and fresh mozzarella ($14). All four locations are offering limited indoor and outdoor dining, plus takeout and delivery. Download the Cosimo’s app or call the individual location for pickup or delivery: Newburgh: (845) 567-1556; Middletown: (845) 692-3242; Poughkeepsie: (845) 485-7172; Woodbury: (845) 928-5222.
La Florentina | Kingston
Known for its authentic, Old-World Italian cuisine, La Florentina’s wood-fired stone oven gives their pizza that airy, crispy crust with traditional and modern toppings. Try a classic margherita: tomato sauce with herbs, provolone, and house-made mozzarella ($11.95), or a Panzorotti topped with sauce, mozzarella, Genoa salami, house-made sausage, and oven-roasted peppers ($15.95). Dine in or order for pickup by calling (845) 339-2455.
Westwind Orchard | Accord
Farm cidery Westwind Orchard is beloved for its dog-friendly, family-friendly yard. Though they aren’t currently offering table service, they have set out some picnic tables so you can eat your pick-up order onsite. Under the direction of true blue Italian owner Fabio Chizzola, these delectable wood-fired fired are the closest thing you can get to authentic Italian pizza in the Hudson Valley. Try the Ortolana, made with house-made mozzarella, smoked gouda, parmesan with their asparagus, garlic scapes and basil pesto; or go ahead and try the Carne, made with mozzarella, guanciale, purple potatoes, and arugula. And don’t forget to pair your pizza with one of Westwind’s acclaimed hard ciders, made onsite. Call (845) 626-0659 to order ahead.
Lola | Kingston
Lola is dishing up wood-fired pizzas in pizzas in their dining room and outdoor patio, Tuesday through Saturday, 5-9pm. Looking for a night in? You can also order either their house-made frozen pizzas to pop-in the oven or the Lola DIY pizza kits, which come with everything you need to create a delicious at home pie: sourdough for two pizzas, fresh tomato sauce, local mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, and basil. Pizza options include mushroom kale with mozzarella, provolone, caciocavallo, cheddar, chili flake (or a vegan version) or the tiger paw with mozzarella, provolone, pepperoni, red onion, tomato sauce, and chilli honey. Order online for curbside pick-up.
Ollie's Pizza | High Falls
Bringing together a team of hospitality industry veterans with local ties, Ollie's offers up wood-fired neo-Neapolitan and al taglio pizzas under the direction of celebrity Brooklyn pizza chef Frank Pinello at the black barn in the heart of High Falls. Alongside tried-and-true specialty ingredients imported from Italy, Ollie’s uses Hudson Valley-grown and milled flour for their dough. The 14-inch wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas come in three classics: rossa (no cheese), margherita (classic), and white pie. To either pizza style you can add a range of toppings including pepperoncini, shallots, anchovies, pepperoni, Calabrian chilis, and vegan cheese. Enjoy an evening in the large garden space, while sipping on simple cocktails, craft beer, or natural wine.
Lucoli Pizza
This traditional Red Hook pizzeria offers authentic pies cooked to perfection in handmade, wood-fired brick ovens using organic ingredients from local farms. At Lucoli, gobble up pizzas made with mozzarella produced fresh daily in-house; sauce from fire-roasted, whole, and fresh tomatoes; and extra virgin olive oil. On your own? Get the Piccolo personal pizza for $9 or if you have company try the Napoletana large pizza for $17. There is an array of oven-roasted add-ons like fresh mushrooms, roasted garlic, spinach, and tofu to customize your pie. Lucoli is open on Thursday to Sunday from 3-8pm. Call (845) 758-5600 or place an order online.
