Base Wood Fired Pizza Ballsbridge

You'll smell the wood smoke before you even spot the place on Merrion Road, which is always a promising start. The oven takes centre stage here, cranking out pizzas with that perfect charred-but-not-burnt leopard spotting that separates the real deal from the pretenders. The menu doesn't mess about with gimmicks – just quality ingredients doing their thing on proper sourdough bases. The margherita is a thing of beauty, but you'd be mad not to try something with their house-made sausage or the burrata that arrives still warm from the oven's heat. Service is sound and they actually know their wines, which isn't always a given in pizza spots around town.