Il Cortile
Pizza.
It is just part of life. Good pizza, bad pizza, cold pizza, freshly wood fired pizza, frozen, delivered, boxed…
However, finding really good pizza is hard. Really good pizza that you want to go back for over and over.
Il Cortile is one of those.
It is part of a chain across Valencia with restaurants in Cañada, Canovas and Santa Bárbara. Technically an Italian restaurant with salads, pasta and the like but it is the pizza that really shines.
Even so, you should start with one of the salads as they are ample servings that can easily be split between two people. The Insalata Caprino is delivered with mixed lettuces, warm aged goat cheese and grapes dressed with a light balsamic vinaigrette and topped with a pistachio Dukah that’s a little bit sweet. It’s sort of Italian but contemporary.
There are other starters on offer but their menu contains three burrata choices. The best is a burrata with greens and chilled blistered tomatoes on top of greens and served with basil pesto. Again, more than large enough for two diners to share.
The starters are delivered with Pane Croccante — crisp pizza dough flatbreads served with a choice of olive oils, however, the dishes and bread are just there to keep you busy for what you came for.
A great example is their Classic Margherita pizza. The tomato sauce is excellent and topped with fresh mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. The crust is thin and crispy around the edges but a bit soft and yeasty in the center. If there is any complaint, there should be more fresh basil but honestly this is really great pizza.
The Fincanesca Vegeteriana is a delicious vegetarian pizza topped with very thinly sliced eggplant, goat cheese, mozzarella, honey, fig jam and sage. It is not to be missed.
One of the best things about Il Cortile is the service. Each and every time you will get consistently friendly and welcoming service from the staff. Oh, wait. Even better is that they offer a gluten free pizza dough that may well be one of the best that you will ever have.
Even better is the cost. The pizzas are more than large enough to split as are the starters. With a glass of wine, a starter and pizza you will only spend about 35 euros for two.