Review: We Check Out Durham's Newest Pizza Restaurant

Just a short 10-minute walk from Durham station, Rudy’s is in the heart of Durham city centre. With popular venues already in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool, it was only right that this pizzeria business makes its mark on the North East. On Durham’s busy Silver Street, the restaurant is easy recognisable with draping fairy lights which hang in the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Heading inside we’re immediately greeted with an open kitchen where chefs are preparing dough and wood-fired pizzas. The restaurant has a rustic, neighbourhood feel with wooden booths, hanging baskets of plants and exposed brick walls. We take a seat at our table and look over the menu.

As well as their regular menu, there are specials for food and drinks, but we stick with a glass of Rudy’s homemade lemonade each, made with freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar syrup, topped with soda.

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After glancing at our neighbouring choices we realise just how big the pizzas are, so decide not to order the garlic bread to start (it’s the same size as a pizza, so great for sharing or if you’re feeling extra hungry). Instead we order the Campana sharing board which comes with buffalo mozzarella, a range of salamis and meats (think prosciutto crudo, salami picante and finocchiona salame) alongside wild rocket, oven-dried tomatoes and toasted house bread. There’s plenty to share between two and we love how fresh the flavours are.

Not long after our waitress clears our plates, our pizzas arrive. My Cinghiale pizza with San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte, wild boar salame, ‘nduja, roquito peppers, grana padano cheese, fresh chillies, basil and olive oil is cooked perfectly. The crusts are fluffy yet crispy, whilst the toppings have a good level of spice. Also opting for a meat pizza, my friend tries the Salame topped with with grana padano cheese, salame Napoli and basil. We also order all three dips for our crusts, which include ‘nduja aioli, chilli honey, and garlic aioli (which is some of the best I’ve had).

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The specials change regularly so always check the blackboards above the open kitchen before ordering. During our visit, they included triple pepperoni pizza, a pumpkin cream-based pizza with goats’ cheese and a gorgonzola pizza topped with toasted walnuts and cured pork. You can add extra toppings including vegetables, meat, cheese or oils to any of the Rudy’s pizzas on the menu.

Managing to finish almost all our pizza, we decide to glance over the dessert options. I order the double chocolate brownie with vanilla gelato which is delicious (although I would have preferred it to be warmed so my gelato melted), whilst my friend goes for Rudy’s rum baba which she loves. It’s a light sponge soaked in a boozy rum, served with ice cream and cherry syrup. She clears the plate before we finish our drinks and head back onto Silver Street.

30–31 Silver Street, Durham DH1 3RD
rudyspizza.co.uk