Life of Pie Pizza

After living in NYC for three years, I didn’t think I’d find a pizza place that even compared to what I used to eat. Life of Pie is the closest thing I’ve had thus far to the brick oven pizza I used to eat in NYC.
The bottom of the pizza wasn’t as crispy as I was hoping for, but I did love the chewy crust around the edges!

fairly good personal sized wood fired pizzas.
some are more interesting and better than others, pick wisely!
their happy hour menu is pretty well priced and has their margarita pizza on it for $ 5.
i decided to try their spaghetti with fennel sausage for $ 8 and it was so damn good.
it was al dente and the sauce and sausage were perfect.

This past (federal holiday) weekday afternoon, I took sweet sweet advantage of the daily 11−6pm happy hour, ordering a $ 5 margarita pizza and $ 3 glass of house red. The 4-​slice personal-​pie-​sized pizza was split with my partner, serving as a perfect, albiet hearty, snack (for a full meal for two adults I recommend at least one pie each). The pizza was delicious, nicely charred crust, zesty tomato sauce, dotted with fresh mozzarella AND it paired well with the happy hour red wine, which was good for $ 3 wine, but it was $ 3 wine, so I’m not complaining.

Oh hell this place deserves more then 5 stars for the food alone. This has to be the best pizza I have had in a long time. It is brick oven so expect the slightly dark crispy edges. They make their own mozzarella, the marinara sauce is so dang fresh tasting I couldn’t stop eating it.
I enjoyed an appetizer of brick oven meatballs covered in marinara sauce. Tossed some dried peppers to give it kick. I saw a plate of spaghetti go by with the meatballs and I will get this next time for sure.
My pizza was pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms and fresh basil. The typing were perfect in proportion to the 14 inch pizza. The mozzarella was so good, I am not sure how to describe it. It is not that sticky mozzarella you get in some places.
They have a bottle olive oil with a chilli pepper in it, don’t be scared it is not spicy, however dump some on your plate and dip the light yummy crust in it, you will not stop.

I can’t comment upon the experience dining in, other than on a Thursday at 6pm it looked like a lively, fun place to be (quite filled).
I order take out to bring to a friend’s house. A margarita pizza was $ 10, four large slices, and they told me about 35 minutes or so on the phone. I thought it was a tad long but they were probably just being safe because I arrive about 10 minutes early and it was all set.
The pizza was great, good ratio of cheese to tomato sauce, blistered and crispy crust. I’m certainly looking forward to checking it out again, especially for their happy hour specials.

Wonderful pizza, good beer and a great staff. It’s nice to actually see the wood fired oven. They have a good selection of beers. Can’t wait to go back!

We love this place! Except for pizza in France and Italy, this has to be the best pizza in the world!
We always get the large caesar salad to split for 2, and split the truffle pizza. Simply the best!
The caesar is garlicky and fresh. The pizza crust is chewy and perfect. Service is fast and the people seem genuinely happy to be there! I can’t wait to go back :)

Life of Pie must have one of the top happy hours in Portland, offering a $ 5 margarita pizza and $ 3 house wines — they do this EVERY DAY until 6pm! I didn’t make it in for happy hour but I’m so glad I made it in. It was listed among the top pizza places in Portland, and lucky for me, it is a 3 minute walk from my apartment! The wood-​fired oven is an impressive piece of equipment but it’s even cooler to see them put the pizzas in!
I started with the kale and arugula salad which is HUGE. The honey lime vinaigrette is delicious and there are hints of lemon and lemon seeds in the salad as well. I think the salad could use some crunchy toppings like pumpkin seeds, or even be complimented with some beets or squash, but it is a good salad with the dressing (I got my dressing on the side).
For my pizza, I got the bacon, goat cheese and leeks — hands down delicious. The wood fired crust adds such a hint of smokiness that takes you away with each bite. And also, my tip here is to order a side of marinara sauce. They make their own in house and I was eating it by itself it was that good! The service was great and I like the casual atmosphere — you can wait around for your pizza and sit whereever you find a seat.

Woodfired pizza with salads and good craft draft beers on tap. No nonsense. Good value. I was captivated watching a gal flip and stretch pizza dough while getting happy on hoppy IPA. Fun side show! Oops! She missed one — dough hit the floor!
Pizza is not soggy. Cooked through and thin. Like it that way! Crust is fluffy and crunchy. Like it that way too! Caramelized onion, cheese and garlic confit is delicious and the margarita is right on as well!
Who knew! Happy hour everyday mid-​day. Like it that way! Good pizza and brew at happy hour prices. Margarita «as is» pizza $ 5! Just do it! Munch! Crunch! Munch!

I finally broke my rule of avoiding West Coast pizza when I ate at Life of Pie Pizza. I was trying to eat at Tasty ‘N Sons but it was still closed due to renovations. Life of Pie was one of the few places that were open in the area. I thought the name was clever and saw it has good reviews on Unilocal.As a result, I finally gave in and tried West Coast pizza. At the risk of being called a pizza snob from the East Coast, I am going to be honest. The ingredients on top of the pizza (e.g. tomato sauce, mushrooms, cheese, etc.) are fresh and very good. However, I do not like the taste of the dough at all. It is a theory that the water is the reason pizza and bagels are infinitely superior on the East Coast. While I have no idea if the reason is valid, the results are certain: the dough tastes better in New York.
If you are traveling the Portland area and looking for recommendations, please see

If you’ve read all the other reviews and you’re still no convinced, you’s a fool.
My wife and I live nearby have been here three times in two weeks (oops). One time we were walking to New Seasons to get ingredients for dinner but looked at each other and that look said it all: «Life of Pie happy hour?» Needless to say, groceries were not purchased on that day.

What else needs to be said about this place? I angrily hunt for parking spots on Williams just so I can dine here. The crust. The homemade mozz. Sidewalk seating. Close to Tin Bucket, which is the coolest bottle shop in town.
Nothing else! That’s all. Probably the best pizza in Portland of its kind. I would actually nominate this for best wood-​fired or thin crust pizza.

This is our favorite pizza place. We drive 20 miles to go here & pass a hundred pizza places on the way. They make their own fresh mozzarella in house. Wood fired pizza. Happy hour from 11:00am to 6:00pm daily means an 11″ Margherita pizza is only $ 5.00. Don’t miss out on the kale salad. I would give this place 10 stars if I could…

First time here and we will be back!!!
Ordered the Fennel Sausage with Mama Lil’s Peppers. Asked for extra peppers for an added spice. This pizza was the best!!! It wasn’t spicy as in hot, but it had a great flavor and zest. The thin crust here is packed with a perfect wood char on the crust.
Ordered the Chop Spicy Salami with Mama Lil’s peppers, goat cheese and Honey. My girlfriend liked it more then I did after it had sat and the flavors had time to meld. The honey added a mild sweet flavor and the goat cheese added a warm texture and pleasant flavor.
The atmosphere was quaint and a little rowdy. The natural wood tables are beautiful and the wait staff was more than helpful and friendly.

It was my first time here, I had margarita pizza, and I Loved it ! Crust was very soft and chewy, the wood fire gave the crust a wonderful flavor ! pizza sauce was perfectly seasoned, dough was thin. I ate the whole plate myself ! Dang it !

A pizza for $ 5.00 and a glass of wine for $ 3.00. An $ 8.00 lunch.
Never mind that this place makes one of the best pies in town.
Absolutely fresh, fresh, fresh.
They even make their own mozzarella cheese. I would not be surprised if there was a cow out back!
Great atmosphere, great people and quality tasty food.
Nothing but the best.

Very good pizza place. Definitely worth a visit while in Portland. I came here midweek after visiting a nearby brewery. The workers are super chill and friendly. I enjoyed a classic margherita pizza with bacon and it was fantastic. While waiting for my pizza I had a side salad which was as expected and not bad. They have a small selection of craft local beers to enjoy as well. I would come back if in the area.

The happy hour is a tough deal to beat in Portland — $ 5 for a Margherita pizza. The pizza is quite good — maybe not as good as Nostrana, but definitely one of the better pizzas in town. I’d go back again just for the Margherita. I’d pass on the kale salad. It only consists of kale and arugula with Parmesan cheese and vinaigrette. It too much of one thing, and the portion is actually way too large. Also, a can of soda is $ 2.50.
The décor is very aesthetically pleasing — lots of natural light, lots of wood, and lots of people for happy hour.
What I didn’t like was the service. Why has Portland given up on full service dining? You order at the counter before you can get a table. There is a tip jar with a note saying tips are shared among all the staff. So, you’d expect a little bit of table service at least. They do bring your food to you. But you’re on your own for water, and for wrapping up your leftovers. I also got the impression that they wouldn’t mind if you got your own silverware and bused your own table. Given that the place was full of staff members, I don’t see why it is so do it yourself.
But for a $ 5 pizza, and a good one at that, there isn’t much to be upset about.

It appears that I review a lot of pizza restaurants, but of all the pizza joints in all the towns in all the world, we walked into Life of Pie, and I left surprisingly satisfied. They offer a great happy hour ($ 3 wine!), and open seating throughout the restaurant (so you don’t feel claustrophobic), and great outdoor seating (which is conveniently located near an ice cream shop, making your dessert decision effortless). Great marketing endeavor!
There were five of us at a table, and we split three pizzas: the margherita, the fennel sausage, and the seasonal mushrooms with truffle oil. Since mushrooms and truffle oil are two of my favorite toppings, the latter impressed me most because it was delicious, unique, and I will probably never be able to replace the experience my tastebuds had that evening. However, the margherita is a classic, and it was done awesomely, and the fennel sausage pie had tremendous flavor. Each pizza offered a distinct aromas and flavors, which are complemented by the wood-​fired essence that is the crust. The crust was perfectly thin, fluffy, and crispy. I really dislike it when the crust is either too soft or too crunchy; keep up the great technique, LOPP!
So, if you are in Portland, and you are looking to eat at one of the many pizzerias in town, and you don’t have time to wait in line at Apizza Scholls, I would choose Life of Pie.

This may be the first truly 5-​star pizza place in Portland.
A corporate storefront and laid-​back natural wood décor make Life of Pie Pizza feel like any modern artisan pizza joint, but the huge wood oven and frenzy of pizza makers behind the counter are what sets Life of Pie apart from their Portland pizza peers.
Happy Hour is every day of the week from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm with a Magherita Pizza for $ 5, Draft Beers $ 3, and House Wines $ 3. A Ninkasi Total Domination IPA was a totally satisfying brew.
The thin natural crust is near perfect while the flavors are unique combinations of pizza joy. No matter which pizza you order from the creative list of specialty pies be sure to try the Chili Oil for some extra zing.
I tried 3 types of pizza. All three will bring me back to Life of Pie Pizza again and again.
***** Mushrooms, Pecorino Romano, and Truffle Oil Pizza (5 stars)
***** Chopped Salami, Mama Lil’s Peppers, Goat Cheese, and Honey Pizza (5 stars)
**** Margherita Pizza with Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella (4 stars, but just $ 5)
I hope Ang Lee makes an award-​winning movie with me stranded on a boat with nothing but these pizzas … and a huge CGI IPA …
*** Life of Pie Pizza ***
Embark on the pizza-​venture of a lifetime with tasty wood-​fired pizzas along an epic journey of chopped salami, truffle oil, goat cheese, and draft beer … based on a really useful, funny, and cool true-​life Unilocal review.
*** This film has been rated 5-​stars and for mature palates only ***