Review: Stone Fired Artisan Pizza, Newhaven

What thought process led me to deliberately order from a takeaway/delivery-only pizza place in Newhaven when I had nowhere to eat it?

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Girdy checks out Edinburgh’s new @StoneFired_Pizza. From Prestonpans this plucky wee business was trying to open when the building they were in started to crack open.

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It wasn’t just because Stone Fired Artisan Pizza also serve cheesecake, although that helped.

I was curious.

Stone Fired Artisan Pizza was an unfortunate small business that expanded into Edinburgh from Prestonpans. When the tenant block crisis struck, it was just trying to refit and open in Lindsey Road. You might remember the crisis from local media stories as it had the whole block evacuated in the middle of the night when a crack opened up in the building.

Was it the local tram work that had caused it? It surely wasn’t the refit. I think the debate continues or has moved to legally more discreet areas. It turns out the crack wasn’t new but had got worse. Months later, the scaffolding is still up, but plucky Stone Fired Artisan pizza is finally open complete with their impressive oven.

Stone Fired Artisan Pizza vibe

Stone Fired Artisan Pizza is takeaway only. Maybe by the time this review is written up and live on Edinburgh Reviews the delivery service will be up and running, but there will never be sit-in. The venue is too small. [Update: Yep! They’re on Just Eat.]

That’s not to say it’s not a welcoming place! I’ve been in twice and spoke with the owner each time, and it was a delight. I felt genuine interest, care for customers and charisma. The second time, when I was actually ordering a pizza and not just being nosey, I asked why they’d picked this little patch of Newhaven. “It felt right” was the answer.

Back at you pizza place. I’m no longer a local but this business does feel right for the area. Stone Fired Artisan Pizza is small, clean and friendly. Okay, I know not every corner of the waterfront is clean. How could it be? Stone Fired is shiny clean like some of the new developments we’re being promised up and down the length of the Edinburgh coast.

If I’ve had a hard day and trudge off the tram once it gets to Newhaven I’m certain a pick-me-up trip to Stone Fired would help.

Stone Fired Artisan Pizza’s food!

I’m fussy about my pizza, so let me break it to you – Stone Fired Artisan Pizza is a contender!

On offer are thin base pizzas on par with that local favourite on Great Junction Street, that green restaurant on Leith Walk, and that growing empire that always manages to get pop-ups at Edinburgh’s events.

The flipside is that this means these pizzas are not the deep dish you can sometimes get in Edinburgh, and nor are they the more robust bases you might get from a chippie or kebab shop.

I went for the Philly cheesesteak and was pleased. I didn’t get the reconstituted beef you sometimes get in inch long sandwiches but carefully cut slices of steak. It was steak. I’m told it was just your regular Mozzarella cheese and so I conclude the garlic butter base makes a big difference!

The pizzas are 12” and, frankly, vanished in record speed and as if they were half that size. I wish they had larger sizes on offer.

I was taken aback at how quickly the pizza got to me. I walked in and ordered. We had a wee chat and then the pizza was ready. I watched it being made. It cooks that swiftly because it’s nicely thin and because that pizza oven is impressive. As you’d expect; it’s a proper stone fired dome. It’s not one of those tank treds that slowly pull pizzas under a grill on a belt.

I couldn’t resist and also ordered a cheesecake. Another success! The portion size was larger than ‘posh restaurant’ signature dessert and probably about what you’d expect to get from a generous host when you visit their home. Like the pizza; I wish Stone Fired did larger sizes!

Stone Fired actually as a solution for my big belly; they sell starters and sides such as mac and cheese bites, salad, chicken tenders and a whole pasta menu.

Things to do in Newhaven

Is there much to do in Newhaven? Stone Fired is just on the Leith end and ideally placed for Ocean Terminal, Leith Distillery and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Whisky buffs that this is the part of town for The Scottish Malt Whisky Society’s Vaults, but that’s members only.

Other destinations are Cockburg House for art and Newhaven Harbour for scenery and perhaps a pint.

Overall

I’m glad there’s a new business in this little Forth-facing community. It’s not an easy space to find commercial success, but I suspect Stone Fired Artisan’s quality will spread by word of mouth and that their pizza will be travelling around Edinburgh on the backs of bikes in no time.

There’s no shortage of great pizza in the area, and if Stone Fired Artisan Pizza was not a challenger for the local championships, then I wouldn’t be thinking of them again. As it is, I’m planning when to ‘test’ the delivery service and which pizza to get.

Note

In my Tiktok I’m not very precise with my use of the “the building”. I’m sure Stone Fired don’t own the whole building and might just be renting a slice.