Schoolhouse Pizza Ottawa Review – Flavourful Buffalo NY Pizza but Disappointing Crust – Average EV Score: 6.5/10

Reviewed by Tastes of Ottawa

Each dish is rated using our EV Score (Enjoyment-to-Value Score), based on enjoyment, price paid, and benchmark pricing.

Schoolhouse Pizza Restaurant Overview

348 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1S 4M6

Schoolhouse Pizza is one of the newer names in Ottawa’s growing pizza scene, aiming to bring a New York–style experience to the city. Their branding and menu lean into the idea of providing a “Taste of Brooklyn”, with pizzas that are large, thin-crusted, and generously topped. The sauce is made from scratch daily, and they emphasize using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, which speaks to their attempt to balance authenticity with a community focus.

The restaurant has only been around for a couple of years but has already generated buzz among pizza lovers looking for something that mimics the big slices and bold flavours of New York. Their menu lineup highlights this approach, with creative yet familiar pies that combine quality toppings with hearty presentation.

The location I visited was the one in Little Italy, at 348 Preston Street. The space itself is modest and casual, clearly designed for quick service and takeaway as much as dine-in. Seating is limited, and there’s a neighbourhood vibe that fits with the Little Italy setting. However, there’s no dedicated parking lot, so visitors will need to find street parking, which can sometimes be a hassle given the popularity of the area.

Schoolhouse also has a second location in New Edinburgh, which helps bring their style to another Ottawa neighbourhood. Both locations carry the same philosophy: simple but bold pizza that aims to stand out through flavour rather than frills.

Would return?: No.

Pizza – Brooklyn NY

😋 Enjoyment: 6.5/10

💰 Price Paid: $29

🎯 Benchmark Price: $29

📊 EV Score: 6.5/10

🔁 Order Again?: No.

The Brooklyn NY pizza is meant to embody what Schoolhouse Pizza is all about: big slices, generous toppings, and a balance of heat and creaminess. This particular pizza featured tomato sauce, mozzarella, chicken, jalapeños, shallots, Frank’s buffalo hot sauce, crème fraîche, and cilantro. On paper, it sounded fantastic — a mix of spicy, savoury, and creamy flavours layered onto a New York–style crust.

The flavours themselves delivered. The Frank’s buffalo sauce brought the expected kick of tangy spice, which paired nicely with the cooling crème fraîche. The chicken was plentiful, and the jalapeños added bursts of heat without overwhelming the other toppings. The shallots gave a touch of sweetness, and the cilantro offered freshness, tying everything together. There was no lack of flavour — each bite had something going on, and for a while, I thought the pizza was going to live up to expectations.

Unfortunately, the crust was the weak point. With New York–style pizza, you expect a crust that’s thin yet sturdy enough to fold and hold its shape. Here, the crust didn’t stand up to the toppings. By the time I got to my second slice, it was already soggy and floppy, unable to support the weight of the ingredients. It made eating the pizza messy and detracted from the overall enjoyment. A stronger, crispier base would have elevated this into something memorable, but instead, it fell short.

The portion size was generous, and at $29, the value was fair considering the number of toppings and overall size of the pie. Still, when the base of a pizza fails to deliver, no amount of toppings can fully make up for it.

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Final Thoughts

Schoolhouse Pizza has an appealing concept: New York–style pies made with scratch-made sauce and locally sourced ingredients, positioned as a “Taste of Brooklyn” in Ottawa. Their branding and menu lineup set clear expectations, and the Little Italy location makes sense given the neighbourhood’s long association with food and dining.

The Brooklyn NY pizza had plenty of flavour, thanks to its combination of buffalo sauce, chicken, jalapeños, and crème fraîche. The toppings worked well together and felt abundant, providing good value for the price. But the crust — which should be the foundation of a great pizza — simply didn’t hold up. Without the sturdy foldable quality that New York–style pizza is known for, the experience was diminished.

The restaurant itself is casual, small, and straightforward, with a vibe that’s perfect for grabbing a slice or a whole pie to go. The lack of dedicated parking is a minor inconvenience, but it’s typical of Preston Street and not unique to Schoolhouse Pizza.

Overall, while I appreciate what Schoolhouse Pizza is trying to do, the execution wasn’t strong enough to make me want to return. With other solid pizza options in Ottawa, including both traditional Italian and creative modern spots, Schoolhouse will need to tighten up its crust to truly compete. Until then, it remains a place with potential that didn’t quite meet expectations on this visit.