I suppose people can disagree on which conventional cheese pizza is the best in New England (*cough* Frank Pepe’s *cough*), but despite passion for the classics, adventure is good for the soul. Here are six unconventional twists on the beloved pizza that are worth seeking out, including a couple of dessert options for the truly adventurous:
The Mashed Potato Pizza at Otto Pizza (pictured above)
This Portland-based chain worked its way down from Maine to Boston, bringing with it a divine pizza topped with mashed potatoes, bacon and scallions. Super creamy, not too starchy, just enough savory onion flavor with a hint of umami from the bacon — it’s not hard to understand why this one was named one of Food Network’s 50 best pizzas in the country.
1432 Mass Ave., Cambridge, 617-873-0888; 888 Comm Ave., Boston, 617-232-0447; 289 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-232-0014; and other locations, ottoportland.com
The Shrimp Scampi Pizza at Café Assisi
If you like seafood, cream, and just the right amount of salt, you’ll fall quickly for the combination in pizza form at Café Assisi. Located in a small, unassuming space just off Route 1A in Wrentham, the restaurant is a sort-of hidden gem: hidden enough that many people don’t know about it, but not so hidden that you should arrive during peak dining hours and not expect a wait.
667 South St., Wrentham, 508-384-9400, cafeassisiwrentham.com
The Prosciutto & Fig at Ella’s Wood Burning Oven Restaurant
Brie isn’t a cheese that appears on many New England pizzas, but that’s okay, because Ella’s Wood Burning Oven Restaurant has you covered. This sweet-savory-tangy indulgence has thin layers of salty prosciutto, house-made fig jam, arugula, and balsamic over a brie base, complete with a doughy crust that your dinner mates will try to swipe from under your very nose. (True story.)
3136 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham, 508-759-3600, ellaswoodoven.com
The Nutella Pizza at Charcoal Guido's
I think we can all agree that the magical cocoa-hazelnut creation, “Nutella,” is proof of human superiority over all other living creatures. In the next ingenious evolution, the team at Charcoal Guido's in Waltham put Nutella on a pizza, along with some ricotta — a truly out-of-this-world combination. It's available in two sizes: “duo” intended for two, or “family” intended for four to six (or one very hungry me).
482 Moody St., Waltham, 781-373-2733, charcoalguidos.com
The Chocolate Chunks Pizza at Max Brenner
There are a few restaurants dedicated to dessert in the Boston area, but whenever I dine at Max Brenner, I feel like we only need this one. This Israel-based chain offers a wide range of creative options to inhale chocolate at record speeds. The chocolate chunks pizza stars molten chunks of milk and white chocolate over a thick crust. Topping choices include crunchy hazelnut bits, bananas, peanut butter, and roasted marshmallows. You can’t go wrong.
745 Boylston St., Boston, 617-274-1741, maxbrenner.com
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