Alt Pizza: 650,000 topping combinations (and counting…)

With both classic and inventive toppings, great service, and an awesome beer and wine list, a visit to Alt Pizza is like a trip to the American West Coast

Not all pizzas are created equal, mama. Sure, there’s plenty of variation out there in terms of crust, toppings, and level of greasiness, but in our experience creativity and quality of ingredients go a long way toward making pizza that’s truly memorable and not just “meh”.

Never was this more apparent than a couple weeks ago when we had a Sassy team lunch at Alt Pizza at Suntec City (they’ve also got locations on East Coast Road and at Robertson Quay). Chef Matthew White hails from Seattle and takes his cues from the city’s alternative grunge rock scene: there’s cool 90s rock and old school hip-hop on the stereo, and a local graffiti artist has painted all the walls so that you almost feel transported to a West Coast skatepark or something. This is decidedly not your average greasy slice pizzeria; rather it’s a new school, fast casual, American-style restaurant that serves up a dizzying array of super fresh and inventive flavours (seriously, more than 650,000 topping combinations on offer!). In short, Alt is the alternative to your typical pizza in Singapore.

With roots in fine dining, Chef White started making pizzas on a lark about eight years ago and discovered a true passion for the craft. He’s been in Singapore for five years (he helped launch Extra Virgin and other restaurants in the Lo & Behold Group), and has now made it his mission to deliver Singapore’s “first truly artisanal pizza that really delivers” (that’s right, Alt can also come to you, and it’s meant to taste just as good upon arrival as it does when it comes out of the oven!).

The Alt team employs the finest organic French and Belgian flours, and uses amazing topping ingredients like kale, artichoke hearts, jalapeños and white truffle oil. Of course they’ve also got your classic tomato sauce, mozzarella, and all manner of meats – fennel sausage or wagyu short rib meatballs, anyone? – but isn’t it nice to feel just a little bit less guilty by incorporating superfoods into our pizzas?

At our team lunch we tried the “Lean & Green” (Roasted garlic pesto, mozzarella, feta, broccoli, baby spinach, and roasted squash); “The Hangover” (organic tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, fennel sausage, roasted onions, parmesan), the “Truffle Shuffle” (white sauce, parmesan, mozzarella, pepperoni, fennel sausage, roasted onions, parmesan); and “Krazy for Kale” (white sauce, kale, mozzarella, toasted pumpkin seeds, roasted squash, red onion, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese). We also experimented with our own DIY Pizzas, combining buffalo sauce (OMG so yum!) with chipotle chicken, artichoke hearts, blue cheese and various other veggies.

Each pizza is seriously so distinct that you will want to return again and again to try them all; the 13 signature pizzas are super reasonably priced, too, at between $15-$19, and they’re generously sized for sharing. Thumbs up as well for a crust that is light, crispy and flavourful, with just the slightest bit of chewiness to make it totally satisfying.

Alt’s menu also includes lots of yummy appetisers, salads, burgers and share plates. You have got to try the artichoke and spinach dip (an American appetiser staple), mama, or if you’re being good you won’t be led astray by the surprisingly substantial baby spinach salad with pecan almond crumble, goat cheese, dried cranberries, roasted squash, and maple sherry vinaigrette. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the doughy to-die-for pizza doughnuts with Nutella dipping sauce.

Another point of differentiation: Alt’s kickass beverage menu, which features a nice selection of American craft beers on draft along with reasonably-priced ($10/glass) wines from around the world. Be sure to visit the Robertson Quay location (open for dinner only) to get the biggest selection of beers and wines on tap (that’s right, they’ve got California whites and reds a-flowing!). They’ve also got coconut water, organic juices, and sodas if you’re after something lighter.

Honestly, mama, your best bet might be to go for the “All you can handle party” for groups of 8 or more, which gets you unlimited food at $35 per person ($18 for kids 12 and under), or unlimited food and drinks (including alcohol!) at $65 per person. Then you can nosh to your heart’s content on pizzas, starters and all that yummy craft beer. Because some pizzas are a lot more equal than others!

Alt. Pizza, Suntec City Tower 4, #01-602, Singapore 038983, Tel: (+65) 6836 9207, see website for other locations

www.altpizza.com.sg