Real Pizza in Paris
I had pretty much despaired of finding edible, let alone good, pizza in Paris. I’d accepted that there would just be a pizza-shaped hole in my life while I’m here, which could possibly be filled with other things, like croissants. But then my friend suggested meeting for dinner at Maria Luisa just behind the Canal St Martin in the 10th. I could tell from the smell as I walked into the wedge shaped room that my search was over.
We waited about twenty minutes at the miniscule ’bar’, watching the friendly staff prepare pizzas in the electric oven and assessing the crowd - pretty cool, but not above relishing the thin-crusted Neapolitan style pies. We were finally seated under the heat lamps in the cozy terrace. There are other things on the menu besides the pizza, but honestly, why bother? You know why you’re here.
I ordered a ’scamorza’ with mozzarella, smoked mozzarella and zucchini, and my friend’s pie had black olives, ham, and artichoke hearts. For dessert, a basil and lime sorbet with fresh strawberries for me, and espresso over coffee ice cream for my friend. This feast, together with a carafe of wine, set us back about 50 euros total.
Maria Luisa,
2 rue Marie et Louise,
75010 Paris,
01 44 84 04 01.