Mother Pizzeria
Mother Pizzeria
Newport, RI
Okay, guys, we’re back! Did you miss me? Because I definitely missed you! And for all you non-Kardashian fans, the point is—it’s been a crazy two months, but I’m finally back, and I’ve hit the motherload. It’s called Mother Pizzeria, in Newport and it might just be the hot spot for all things pizza.
Before I get ahead of myself, I’ve spent the last month becoming a Rhode Island resident and just in time for a seafood-filled summer. My list of recommendations is growing, and while I’ll still be bouncing around New England, the next few blogs will probably focus on restaurants in my new, perfect, little town. With that said, if you want the most mouth-watering sourdough pizza that doesn’t leave you feeling stuffed, come visit me, and come visit Mother. This place caught my eye not only because of its sleek, modern design in the heart of downtown but also because rumors on the street say it’s the sister restaurant to Guisto, a well-known and highly praised spot. No need to worry, we’ll be checking that out soon, but for a casual Saturday lunch, I thought Mother would be a great place to start.
For a little history, named after the starter or "Mother" used in sourdough baking, the restaurant opened in July 2023 and is opening a Providence location this month. The star of their menu is the pizza- the Roman-style 12" pies made from their sourdough starter. Mother has a make-your-own charcuterie option, and a dessert menu boasting homemade gelato! They hold aperitivo hours, have a raw bar, and overlook a waterfront view- what more could you ask for?
Now, I wanted to try everything but we forced ourselves to narrow it down. I skipped the mussels which I’m already regretting since those were apparently a “don't-miss” (poached RI Mussels with coconut curry, serrano chili, cilantro), but oh well. Instead, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try the calamari to start, along with some cacio e pepe garlic knots, oysters, and a Caesar salad. Something for everyone, right? Oh, and I was sipping on an Aperol spritz (just to set the scene.) While the cocktail menu was fun, I wanted to stick to something tried and true to complement my meal. Although honorable mention to the beverage menu for having the most fun descriptions- for example: “Montepeloso A Quo- a benchmark super tuscan that makes us crave tomatoes” that made even my boyfriend (a non-wine drinker) crave a glass of red wine.
For the food rundown: The Preserved Calamari was good for a non-calamari eater, but the sauce? AMAZING. I’m talking about a Calabrian chili and squid ink aioli that should be on everything—seriously, put that sauce on all your pasta dishes. Then the Cacio E Pepe Garlic Knots… Unfortunately, these weren’t my favorite. They might have been burnt, so I’ll give them another shot because the flavor was there; the texture just didn’t quite hit. The Caesar Salad was solid. The sourdough chips set it apart and made it feel extra fresh. Finally, the oysters: while they weren’t super meaty, the buttery flavor was spot on. (Don’t be fooled, we liked them so much we ordered half a dozen more.)
Onto the main event: pizza. Of course, we had to go full pizza mode, so we ordered four different ones (then may or may not have ordered a fifth.) I’ll rank them in order of preference below:
RI Party Pi (tomato, estratto di pomodoro, Sicilian oregano, chili flake) – This was the surprise standout. We didn’t expect much from it, but we liked it so much, we ordered a second. The red sauce was beyond impressive, and the addition of burrata was not only totally theatrical but necessary.
White On Time (ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, arugula, oregano, lemon) It was flavorful and cheesy, with hints of lemon that perfectly balanced out the arugula and made it feel healthy, even with all the cheese.
Fat Tuesday (prosciutto cotto, capicola, provolone, fresh mozzarella, olive tapenade, sesame) – This was my brother’s pick, and I wasn’t sure about it at first, but it was surprisingly delicious. It was almost like an Italian panini of sorts and even with all the flavors worked.
Margherita (fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil) - It may be a classic, but it came last for us here. Not because it was bad by any means, but because it just couldn’t compete with the others. It got a bit weighed down by cheese and lost some flavor as it cooled, which was disappointing but that may be my only negative remark for the pies.
*My small disclaimer- none of the pizzas were as hot as I’d liked, which knocked them down a point. As a former Colony Grill employee, I know it’s tough to keep thin pizzas hot, but if they had been- they would’ve been perfect. Next time, we’ll sit at the bar counter and catch them straight from the oven- but they were still divine.
One of my favorite parts was surprisingly, even after all that pizza, I wasn’t feeling overstuffed. I did decide to save their mouthwatering desserts for next time since I’ll already be going back for those mussels and obviously the RI Party Pie but I’m pretty sure I could have eaten a few more slices if I tried. The pizzas were perfectly thin pies with fluffy crust- arguably the superior part of a slice, and for your notes ranged from $16 to $26. The menu wasn't huge and was way more diverse than your typical pizza joint. Everything tasted fresh, the restaurant was minimalist and the entire staff was so friendly. It's safe to say, I understand the Mother hype and it made for the perfect introduction post in the new neighborhood. It won’t be another two months before my next post, I promise- so stay tuned!