It may be one of the worlds most popular foods but with popularity can come mediocrity and all too often a pizza can be lacklustre at best and disappointing at worst.

But there is a new wave of pizza boys who are so cool and good at what they do, they have baristas and mixologists quaking in their Mr P Eco Edition Larry Sneakers. We’re talking brilliant bases and tip-top toppings - meaning you need never accept a less than superlative slice ever again...you just have to know where to look.

After the pandemic paused the world’s live music industry, Stephen Kirkwood and Steven Galloni (Gal) who head up Dumbarton’s music and training business SKapade Studios, were forced to adapt. They took the opportunity to explore their passion outside of music and launch their own authentic pizza restaurant, Bangin’ Pizza.

After the pandemic wiped out 90% of SKapade’s business, Stephen, founder of the studios, saw a chance to delve into a whole new industry.

“The fundamentals in making good music and good pizza are the same,” Stephen says. “We want to create a product we can stand behind and be proud of.”

For Stephen and Gal, opening a pizza restaurant had been a dream for years. Inspired by old recipes that had been shared to them by Gal’s grandmother, the two decided to bring the art of authentic Italian pizza crafting to their hometown of Dumbarton. Bangin’ Pizza’s small, close-knit team - which includes Stephen’s mum Janet who lost her job of 43 years due to the pandemic - has been serving Glasgow with pizzas made of only the finest Italian ingredients.

Although Bangin’ Pizza has thus far been limited to takeaway, there are plans to move into deliveries and add indoor and outdoor seating when restrictions allow.

Bangin' Pizza, 15 Castlegreen Street, Dumbarton G82 1HG tel: 01388 733 833

Edinburgh based Pizza Geeks have officially opened at the shore in Leith, their largest venue since launching in 2018 when they opened their very first restaurant in Haymarket, followed by their kitchen residency in Cask Smugglers on Waverley Mall’s rooftop, pairing their pizzas with their delectable cocktails which launched in summer 2020.

As well as their renowned handmade Neopolitan crust - Pizza Geeks are recognised in the capital for their ‘Pizza for the People’ initiative having given over 10,000 pizzas to people in need. This one for one initiative sees sales of their featured pizza matched and donated to homeless and disadvantaged people within the local community.

Finlay Clarkson, Co-Founder of Pizza Geeks said: "We are absolutely over the moon to have our biggest and best location to date in the heart of Leith taking it back to where it all began for us with street food at The Pitt, The Biscuit Factory and Leith Market in 2016. We will have seating comfortably for 35, a completely revolutionised drinks menu - seismic plans on the way with Pilot and Cask Smugglers as well as the geekiest wine list you can imagine; and mouth-watering menu additions

Perhaps most importantly another permanent pizzeria means we can scale our ‘Pizza for the People’ initiative up a notch with plans afoot to take weekly donations to those in need from 135 to 200.”

Pizza Geeks, 7 Commercial Street, Leith EH6 6JA tel: 0131 629 0970

The Gaff, a brand new pizza restaurant, from Mike Gaffney, the owner of Mikes Pizza Gaff will its doors to the public in Ellon, Aberdeenshire in the next few weeks.

Mike, who has spent the pandemic running a series of pizza-making workshops and creating dough kits, which have allowed pizza fans to prepare delicious, fresh, artisan pizzas in the comfort of their home, is keen to get the doors of his new venture opened as soon as possible.

All pizzas at The Gaff will be baked in an authentic Italian woodfired oven and topped with delicious, locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients.

If Edinburgh expansion and Gen-Z popularity is the goal then Michele Civiera, owner of Civerinos is surely the star striker in the pizza game.

Not only does he own three branches in the Old Town; Civerinos at Hunter Square, The High Dive on St Leonard’s Street (both preparing to reopen) and Civerinos Slice on Forrest Road, he has just launched another “slice bar” in the west of the city on St John’s Road. Corstorphine’s Westslice, which offers takeaway and delivery, will seat 20 once restrictions are lifted.

Next month sees the opening of another “slice bar”, this time in Civiera’s hood of Portobello on the east of Edinburgh. All set to open on Porty Prom with space indoors for 20 and another 100 deck chairs outside - the currently nameless branch (they’re running a comp on insta) it looks set to be the place to hang out this summer.

Camera-shy Alexander Brady is the founder of Beirm (Gaelic for yeast) the high-end pizza concept born in Glasgow. Offering pizza and small plates accompanied by natural wine and bespoke cocktails, Beirm is currently popping up around the city with its entirely stylish take on a takeaway.

Alexander studied the art of making pizza in Naples under Enzo Coccia, as well as gaining experience at Bæst in Copenhagen. However, it was in Glasgow he perfected his sourdough at the much loved Freedom Bakery which is evident in his pizzas which are made from a Rye sourdough base, proved for 72 hours, using a blend of Scottish flour and Italian flour, for a light base with that distinctive sourdough tang.

The brand is big on collaboration having already teamed up with the Cotton Rake Bakery and Hybrid Drinks and focuses on using high quality Scottish ingredients to elevate the humble pizza. Think ricotta made from the milk from Mossgiel Farm and fennel salami from East Coast Cured.

Keep an eye on Instagram to see where Beirm will pop up next

Superlative Slices