Up Close: Sam's Pizza - Grab a slice of authentic Neapolitan taste but with a twist in Bancroft

Hitchin Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups in and around our town and surrounding areas.

We regularly showcase some of these businesses, organisations and individuals doing excellent work in our community in a Nub News feature called 'Up Close'.

So, read on to learn more about a Hitchin rising star, Sam's Pizza, now with premises in the heart of our town centre. By Deven Thakeria

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The Hitchin food scene has been soaring in the post Covid era, and now Danny of Sam's pizza is firing up the oven on Hitchin's Michelin mile, Bancroft. Ok, so we are not talking Michelin starred restaurants, or at least yet, but more the home grown pride of creative independents.

Nub News catches up with Danny just before the evenings orders start piling up.

"My aim is to use the best quality ingredients to make authentic Neapolitan pizza, with a twist"

His conviction clear, just as it was in an earlier interview in 2022 when Sam's Pizza was rising to fame in the attic of the Brickyard directly opposite. When nudged about the twist in the pizza's, Danny shared with no hesitation. 

"I leave the dough for 72 hours to proof. This gives depth of flavour. I also make the pizza's crispier than the traditional Neapolitan style, giving it more hold," explains Danny with emphasis.  

Pizzeria's in Hitchin certainly aren't overflowing in the same way as coffee shops or hairdressers, though we are lucky to have pubs like the Radcliffe Arms and The Victoria that are known for pizza as well as popular high street chains like Pizza Express and Zizzi's that offer the family and group dining experience.

Sam's Pizza sits in a unique spot that provides diners with further options, as Danny describes. 

"We have seating and soon an alcohol licence, but the primary focus is on the pizza experience. I also want to introduce lunchtime meals like pizza by the slice as well as more collaborations," passionate Danny says.

Talking of collaborations, there's one proudly on the chalkboard at the moment. It's the butter chicken pizza in conjunction with @brothersbbqofficial.

After their collaboration with Cawsburger last year, the Indian influence is now stretching the way we see pizza.

Is this match made in Hitchin a perfect romance, or are they better left alone?

Danny fires up the oven earlier to wow us with this invention. Soon enough the kitchen crackles with blistered crusts glistening with smoky butter and sprightly sprigs of coriander. Is it a curry? Is it a pizza? Is it a curry on a cheesy naan? It's all of it and more! The result has retained the best of both and executed with such elegance. 

One by one the staff are popping in and whipping on their aprons. It's a sign to wipe off the crumbs and put away the notepad. Danny points out before cracking on with the orders,

"Would you believe that quite a few of my staff are from the same school that I was at.

"It's a strange feeling. I want to give a good start to working life and help them build the strong qualities for wherever they go next". 

If Hitchin's on a plate, it is sure to have on it a slice of Sam's. 

Sam's Pizza

103a Bancroft, Hitchin SG5 1NB

Open Wednesday to Sunday evenings from 5pm.

Instagram: samspizzahitchin

Grab a slice of Sam's Pizza at their store on Bancroft in Hitchin. CREDIT: Deven Thakeria/Nub News

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