Little Wing has been a staple of the pizza scene in Belfast for almost a decade – since the opening of their first pizzeria on Ann Street in Belfast, there’s now eight Little Wings throughout Northern Ireland with multiple locations in Belfast and surrounding areas, Bangor, Enniskillen and Lisburn.
We’ve been to a few of the Little Wing pizzerias and it’s a consistent experience for the most part. From the decor, to the service, to the quality of the pizza itself. It has the look and feel of a larger pizza chain. You go to Pizza Express, you know what you’re getting. Little Wing has that same feel, whichever restaurant you go to.
And that’s a good thing, because Little Wing is consistently excellent. The flagship pizzeria on Ann Street is the one we frequently visit, so we’re mostly talking about that one from here on in.
The interior is all exposed wood, timber-chic, if you will. It reminds us of some pizzerias we’ve visited in Manhattan, but there’s also a bit of Scandinavian-minimalist style here too. It’s a bit like a cross between a New-York hipster eatery and a euro-sauna, but it really works. It’s stylist, comfortable and non-pretentious.
Little Wing’s website describes their pizza as Naple-styles and Napoletana. We wouldn’t call it that; if you’re looking for an authentic Neapolitan pizza, you’ll be a little disappointed here. Not because the pizza isn’t great, but it doesn’t have that airy, soft, doughy crust that defines that particular style of pizza.
The pizza is from a wood-fired stone oven and it is definitely Italian-style, but it’s more reminiscent of pizza you’d find served in Rome. It’s thin crust, crispy and having dined with an Italian friend, Little Wing got his nod of approval as authentically Italian, although more Romana than Napoletana.
The menu has a wide range of options to choose from – we went for the Piccante (Pepperoni, Red Jalapenos, Red Onion, Fresh Basil and Chilli Oil) with added Pesto – and a Margherita with Tuscan Sausage and Buffalo Mozzarella. On this occasion, we went for the Skinny Pizza option, which meant they were bigger, thinner and crispier. There’s a pizza on the menu to suit everyone, and you can always create your own too. There are lunch offers and evening specials as well.
The pizza strikes the perfect balance – not too much cheese, and a really tasty, tangy, tomato base. Added herbs on top accentuate the flavours. Everyone has their own pizza preferences but you can tell the ingredients here are high quality, fresh and have been expertly put together, so we’re confident no matter what combination of toppings you opt for, you’ll be equally as impressed by the result.
Little Wing also do a massive 24″ pizza and there’s a window where you can grab a slice and a drink on-the-go. As far as we know, this is the only place in Belfast where you can grab a slice of pizza in this manner. It feels very NYC-influenced, and alongside the Italian-style pizza, there are no better places to be inspired by when it comes to pizza.
Beer options are non-existent, sadly. You can have a large Birra Moretti or a small Bira Morretti. But that’s okay, this is a pizzeria, and as an accompaniment to the awesome pizza on offer? Eh, it does the job.
The service in Little Wing is always spot on – friendly, efficient and attentive without being too in-your-face. The atmosphere is relaxed, chilled and family-oriented. There’s always young children there who seem as happily catered for as the adults.
Small niggles – there’s no delivery available, even via Deliveroo or Uber Eats – and you can’t book a table. You can’t even go in, leave your name and go for a pint nearby and come back. So you have to loiter around the entrance area, overlooking the kitchen until a table becomes available. Yes, there’s stools to sit on and read the menu while you wait, but it’s a small space and you feel like you’re in the way of the servers. Especially if you’ve been shopping nearby and have bags with you. It’s just a little thing, though – and the fact they’re often full speaks volumes.
Is it our favourite pizzeria in Belfast? We love the atmosphere and drinks options in Pizza Punks so we’re going to sit on the fence and say they’re our joint favourites, serving different needs – Pizza Punks is a rambunctious, pre-night out, party vibes place with great cocktails and craft beers – while Little Wing is the choice for a family dinner, date night or a relaxed, low-key, high-quality evening meal with, quite simply, the best pizza in Belfast.
To find out more about Little Wing, visit their website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
