Sodo Pizza Offers A Sustainable And Delicious Dining Experience With Its Signature Sourdough Base
Sodo Pizza impresses with its sustainable sourdough pizzas, locally sourced ingredients, and cozy East London vibe. The Winter 2024 menu showcases innovative flavors, making it a must-visit for pizza lovers.
Like every Londoner, I have a list of favourite dining spots—multiple lists, in fact, for every occasion. It’s an essential survival guide in any big city. Over the years, I’ve built up a local knowledge of every area I’ve lived or worked in. Central, on the other hand, is still a bit of a mystery to me, since I don’t go there that often. Case in point: a couple months ago, I found myself near the Strand and embarrassingly let my date from California look up restaurants because I was so short on options. Luckily, he did a good job, and we ate very well that night. Not in central, though—I still can’t help you with that. For moments like this, lists are your friend! I’m talking: best dim sums, orange wine bars, cosy pubs and…best sourdough pizza. Oh yes. Like every Londoner, I already have a favourite pizzeria: Dinner for One Hundred, up on Telegraph Hill in the southeast corner of the city. The only problem? I live way too far away from it now. I still trek there from time to time, and its owners, Jacob and Jake, know that I’d be the first in line if they ever open a fourth spot north of the river. Until then, I’m open to trying other pizza joints—and I might have just found a new favourite.
With six locations across London—Bethnal Green, Clapton, Deptford, Walthamstow, Hoxton, and Hammersmith—Sodo Pizza is never too far away, making it a perfect add-on to my list. At the heart of Sodo Pizza’s offering is its signature sourdough base, developed by founder Dan Birch in 2011, at a pop-up he did at E5 Bakehouse (a bakery that’s still going strong 14 years later). Dan’s sourdough recipe calls for a 48-hour fermentation window to achieve the perfect light and airy texture. As we learned at the restaurant, this ancient bread-making technique not only enhances flavour but also breaks down gluten and starch, making the dough easier to digest. I can actually vouch for that, as after two pizzas plus starter and dessert, I didn’t trudge on the overground as I usually do after injecting myself with that amount of gluten. What’s more, the flour used for the bases was milled on-site in front of us in the large kitchen that was the centrepoint of the Bethnal Green spot. As we learned, this ensures minimal food miles and maximum freshness, in line with the rest of their sustainable ethos. Sodo Pizza is known for its commitment to local sourcing, with seasonal produce hailing from Islington, Dagenham, Leyton, and Walthamstow, proving that great taste and sustainability can go hand in hand. As Dan explains: “We’re always looking to solve the problem of provenance by working directly with farmers and producers to ensure we’re serving up the best possible pizza we can.”
“Sodo Pizza excels with its sustainable practices, locally sourced ingredients, and delicious sourdough pizzas, creating a memorable dining experience.” – Monika Milewska, Taste London
The new Winter 2024 menu is a love letter to London and its surrounding areas, showcasing locally grown and produced ingredients. Highlights include the ever-popular Wicker Man pizza, topped with pepperoni and nduja cured in Islington, fresh mozzarella and burrata made in Acton from milk sourced from a single herd just outside the city, and a drizzle of chilli-infused honey from Walthamstow. To complement the food, Sodo’s updated drinks menu now offers natural wines, a pale ale from Bethnal Green, and a table beer from Bermondsey’s The Kernel brewery. Any farm-to-borough-to-table fans out there?
I met a friend there on a cold Tuesday evening, and the first thing I noticed was just how warm the space was. With its dimmed, warm orange-hued light, plants, wooden tables, and bottle candle holders, Sodo felt nothing short but homey. The restaurant had that local neighbourhood feel to it and quickly filled up with couples, friend groups, and families. The staff were friendly and attentive, yet laid-back. The whole vibe couldn’t be more East London and I mean that in a good way, actually.
“Whether you’re a sourdough aficionado or just looking for a delicious, sustainable meal, Sodo Pizza is a spot you won’t want to miss.” – Monika Milewska, Taste London
We decided to share two pizzas, starters, and a dessert. For our starter, we had a burrata with hazelnut and sundried tomato pesto, which was a lovely pairing I’d never thought of before. The sharp acidity and sweetness of the tomatoes complemented the light, soft cheese, while the toasted hazelnuts added bitterness and crunch. Yum. We also ordered a seasonal leafy salad from Growing Communities in Dagenham, finished with a dusting of Lincolnshire Poacher, often hailed as the “UK Parmesan.” I’m not usually a salad-and-pizza kind of gal, but my friend convinced me, and I’m glad she did, as once more the acidity complemented pizzas that were more on the sweet side.
Speaking of which, we went for a white-and-red pizza combo, which is the only way to share a pizza, if you ask me. Like with everything in life, you need balance. For every white-base, quirky seasonal pizza, order a traditional, familiar red-base one and then mix and match with a friend. You’ll thank me later. Our quirky choice was the White Goat, topped with mozzarella, goat’s cheese, kalamata olives, caramelised onions, walnuts, hints of truffle oil, and chilli honey. It was sweet and aromatic, basically a combination of all my favourite ingredients—truffle oil especially. For something more traditional, though slightly unusual, we went for the Wicker Man, with mozzarella, pepperoni, nduja, mascarpone, and chilli honey. We asked for half without meat for my friend, while I indulged in my favourite combination of spicy cured meat and honey. We finished off the meal with tiramisu and limoncello, then called it a night.
My verdict is simple: whether you’re a sourdough aficionado or just looking for a delicious, sustainable meal, Sodo Pizza is a spot you won’t want to miss. By partnering with local farmers and producers, the restaurant not only lowers its carbon footprint but also boosts the local economy. The outcome? A pizza that’s just as kind to the planet as it is to your taste buds. Just how I like it.
