On a busy Saturday in Covent Garden, it can be overwhelming to try and find somewhere to eat. But it was new kid on the block Doughnation that caught my eye - having only opened in spring 2024. And after seeing some of their seriously stunning slices when scrolling through Instagram, I had to try them out.
You might miss this place at first glance, as it's tucked away inside 3 Henrietta Street, which boasts all kinds of other tasty restaurants like Pivot by Mark Greenway and El Ta'koy. But it's well worth venturing to the back of this popular spot, where you'll find a casual space slinging out pizzas galore.
It may be early days, but the Doughnation Covent Garden reviews are already full of praise.
DesignMyNight Review Of Doughnation
Their outdoor terrace is perched right in the heart of Covent Garden Piazza, and though it looked tempting, the unpredictable London weather made us opt for a seat inside instead. This was a relaxed dining space with a simple white and orange colour scheme, perfect for a laid-back meal and to escape the hustle and bustle outside.
We of course had to kick things off with a cocktail, and the menu was full of enticing, summery concoctions. We both started with the Covent Market Fizz (£10 each), which was a glass of prosecco topped with a fruit syrup of your choice. Mine was a peach flavour, complementing the bubbles nicely and adding a welcome hint of sweetness. My dinner date chose the berry - a much fruitier version with a pretty pink colour.
We all know what we were really here for though, and of course it was the Doughnation pizza menu. Though they all looked delicious, we decided to skip the starters so we'd have more room to indulge in the main event - and it was well worth the sacrifice. After much deliberation, we split two options between us, the first of which was the margherita (£13.95). I'm a firm believer that you can always judge a restaurant by how well they do the classics, and in that case I'd give these guys a 10 out of 10. The 12-inch dough was thin and crispy, layered up with a rich tomato sauce that was covered with stringy mozzarella, chunks of fresh tomato and basil leaves.
The Doughnation Covent Garden menu does not disappoint.
Our second choice was a bit more out there, but we couldn't resist sampling the potato pizza (£14.95). This was exactly what it said on the tin - a gooey fontina cheese base coated with a pattern of thin slices that reminded me of potato dauphinoise, finished off with a sprinkling of rosemary. The style of their pizzas is a happy medium between traditional Italian and New York slices, and both were an absolute hit with us.
What is pizza without something to dip it in though? That's where their signature crust dippers come in, and we decided to try both. The basil pesto (£4.99) was our favourite, giving off a powerful garlic flavour and mixed with shavings of grated pecorino. This paired particularly well with the potato pizza, though it worked beautifully with both. The second one was crushed cherry tomatoes (£4.99) with diced shallots and torn basil leaves - essentially a mild salsa that also complemented the taste of the pizza nicely.
On the side, we also devoured the baked sweetcorn ribs (£6.95), coated in a basil and chilli blend, topped off with balls of bocconcini cheese. These were a spicy twist to the meal, providing a welcome freshness in between bites of doughy goodness.
The potato pizza combined two of our favourite things.
We ordered another round of cocktails before dessert, and I switched to the Il Botanista spritz (£13) this time. This was a gin and Aperol blend that was topped with St Germain elderflower liqueur, prosecco and fresh mint. This was certainly a lot boozier than my first drink, but it was also extremely refreshing. My partner went for another of the Covent Market Fizz (£10), though he chose the passion fruit flavour for his second - which tasted like a less sweet version of the classic pornstar martini.
I had hoped to try their skillet cookie, but sadly they'd sold out for the day - demonstrating its popularity. So instead we shared an absolute classic: sticky toffee pudding (£10) from Pivot next door, as they offered their menu to us as well. I was glad we ended up with this dessert in the end, as the generous portion of fluffy sponge was topped with the most mouthwatering caramel sauce, as well as a light serving of custard - definitely a good end to the meal.
Doughnation: Overall
If you're searching for a casual but delicious spot to relax in after a long day of touristy fun, or even a mid-shopping trip lunch stop, you couldn't find a better place for it than here. Right in the heart of the action, this venue is absolutely nailing a menu of top-notch pizzas with all sorts of creative toppings - and I'd highly recommend ordering a crust dipper too. And in such a central location? The Doughnation Covent Garden prices are pretty reasonable as well.
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💰 Price: £99 for two, including two drinks each. 📍 Address: 3 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8LU. 👌 Perfect for: A casual meal after a day of sightseeing. ⭐ Need to know: You can order from Pivot here too. |
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