Florina Pizzeria & Paninoteca is a must-try pizza joint in Boston’s Beacon Hill.  

Florina Pizzeria & Paninoteca is a quaint neighborhood pizza shop in Beacon Hill. Despite its low-key appearance, the pizzeria has received many accolades. Florina has been featured as one of the best comfort foods in Boston by the Boston Globe and received an 8.2 rating by Barstool Sports One-Bite pizza reviews.  

My friend and I stopped by Florina at 2 pm on a Thursday. The pizzeria is in a residential area, so there are not many options for non-permit parking. Fortunately we took public transportation there and Florina is only a ten-minute walk from Park Street station.  

The inside of the pizzeria had a rustic design and a casual atmosphere. The interior had wood furnishings, and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural sunlight. There were four tables and three separate rows of steel bar seating. Along the walls was a chalkboard menu with all the different pizzas, paninis, salads, and starters. I could also see the chefs in the open kitchen tossing the dough and assembling paninis. 

We quickly got in line to order. For an off-peak time on a weekday, it was busy. There was a constant flow of office workers entering the restaurant, and most seats were taken. We ordered some of the most popular menu items – a thin cheese slice, a sausage arrabbiata slice, and a That Sandwich panini. They had a deal where you get a free drink if you buy two slices of pizza, so we picked out a Pepsi from their fridge.The prices were quite reasonable for a place in Beacon Hill. 

We took a seat while we waited for our food. Less than five minutes later, both pizza slices came out steaming hot. My first impression was how big each slice was. One slice was about ¼ the size of a pizza! We tried the cheese pizza first. It was very reminiscent of a classic New York-style slice. The thin crust was crispy at the edge, but the rest was chewy and easy to bite into. Due to its large size, I found the easiest way to eat the pizza was to fold it in half.  

The pizza’s flavor was simple. It had a layer of flavorful tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. I liked that the tomato sauce had a satisfying sweet undertone.  

The sausage pizza was the polar opposite of the cheese. Its dough was thick, chewy, and airy. The sausage was inherently salty and tasted herby from the basil and garlic seasoning. There was also crushed red pepper on top for a zesty spice. The meat was my favorite element of this slice! 

The last dish to come out was the That Sandwich panini. The Italian-inspired sub came with breaded chicken tenders, prosciutto, roasted red peppers, and chunks of mozzarella with a white balsamic vinaigrette. I was caught off-guard by how sweet the sub was! The roasted red peppers gave the sandwich an overwhelming sweetness. Other than the peppers, I liked the ingredients. The breaded chicken was crispy and tender, and the mozzarella was fresh.  

I recommend Florina Pizza to anyone craving a pizza slice in downtown Boston. The star of the meal was the cheese slice. It was tasty and budget-friendly. However, I heard everything else on the menu is just as delicious!