We review pizza at The Woodyard in Woodbridge

It’s quite apt for the beginning of this review.  

“Are you sure we can’t book?” Mr J enquired as we circumnavigated Ipswich on the A roads last week, the sky periodically dazzled by pre-November 5 firework displays. 

“They don’t take bookings. And anyway...I don’t think it’ll be busy,” I said, reeling off a batch of reasons why I thought our destination for dinner wouldn’t be packed to the rafters. 

“It’s really cold. People can’t be bothered to go out when it’s cold can they?” 

“I reckon loads of people will be at fireworks events.” 

“It’s a bit expensive to eat out at the moment...I think it’s gonna be quiet to be honest.” 

I was soon eating a large dose of humble pie, because we arrived at The Woodyard in Woodbridge’s Deben Wharf to find it absolutely rammers.  

The Woodyard in Woodbridge (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

So busy, in fact, we were placed four-deep on the waiting list. 

As someone who has genuinely queued for over an hour for food (The Old Chocolate House, Bruges, worth it) this was no skin off my nose. Though Mr J, who’s a slip of a thing, often wearing two coats at this time of year, wasn’t so keen on sitting outside for 20 minutes under a blanket, watching other people (in the warm) having a good time. 

We de-camped across the way to The Boathouse – another newish restaurant I frequently recommend to others for its awesome cocktails and delicious list of sharing/small plates. 

A pint, chai latte and hot chocolate later we were installed at The Woodyard – the boys admiring the rustic, industrial fittings, while my eyes fixated on the specials boards. ‘Ooh, carbonara pizza!’, ‘Warm homemade apple cake!’, and ‘Look they’ve got tiramisu gelato, yum’. 

Service, despite a full house, was quick and friendly. Regardless of operating an ever-lengthening waiting list, staff displayed no signs of trying to turn tables. They were well versed in the menu too – we eavesdropped a few conversations for special dining requests, which were handled, I thought, very well. 

Anyway, it didn’t take us long to get our order in. We were chomping at the bit by this point - the tantalising waft of freshly-baked dough from the open kitchen becoming unbearable. 

From a menu chalked up with pesto-drenched burrata and hefty wedges of parmigiana di melanzane, we decided to begin with a sharing platter of cured meats, and a plate of house seasoned bread. 

The Woodyard's salami platter (Image: Charlotte Smith-Jarvis)

Talk about value. The salami platter, easily enough for four to pick at, was only £13. In fact, the entire menu at The Woodyard can match, if not obliterate, high street competitors on price. Pizza costs between £10 and £14. Desserts hover at around a fiver. 

What a feast! Wedges of tender, smoky, pizza oven-fired bread, all charred and puffy at the edges, with a moreish confit garlic butter. Copious porcine goodies (from a spicy salami, to a silky Milano-style salami, and a fennel-spiked, hand-cut variety). Tiny crocodile-skinned cornichons. Sweetly saline olives. Simple. Done. Good. It was on the table in around five minutes too. 

Next up – the main event. 

Head chef Franco works alongside supplier, long-time friend, and fellow Campania region native Michele to source the best of Italy for The Woodyard. 

And the proof really is in the pudding. Sorry, pizza! 

The Woodyard's house special meatball pizza (Image: Charlotte Smith-Jarvis)

Let’s talk about that dough first. Slow-fermented, and rolled fresh to order, it delivers a complex, toothsome flavour restaurants cooking with ‘quick dough’ just cannot achieve. When you factor in that pizza here is cooked on Italian biscotti stone rather than nudged against a wood fire, the end result is even more remarkable. 

The crusts alone are worth the wait - even better if you buy one of the restaurant’s own sauces (nduja, ragu, garlic) for dunking. 

And that sauce. Mwah. Perfection. 

Ethan’s face lit-up as he almost plunged himself face first into a salami pizza, topped with a hefty amount of spicy and Milano-style salami, and finished with just the right portion of mozzarella. 

My husband was equally taken by the house special – Nonna’s Meatball Ragu – a sauce-drenched melting pot of devilishly creamy stracciatella (basically the gooey innards of a burrata) finished with flavoursome meatballs. What could be better? 

Neither could finish, but thankfully I was there to save the day. I’ve been on a lower GI diet of late, so while I did steal a slice of each pizza, declaring them as equal to anything we’ve eaten on the backstreet’s of Rome’s Trastevere district (trust me, we’ve had our fair share), I’d plumped for a salad as the mainstay of my meal. 

There are some things that truly demonstrate a restaurant’s mettle, and amongst these, for me, is the house salad...often a miserable bowl of rocket, tumbled with whole cherry tomatoes and a fistful of sliced cucumber. 

The Woodyard's house salad (Image: Charlotte Smith-Jarvis)

The Woodyard’s version was so tasty I was still extolling its greatness on the way home. There’s nothing particularly earth-shattering here, but it showed the kitchen team have actually put a bit of thought into what they are plating up. Fresh, interesting leaves. Olives. Silky roasted peppers. Slivers of marinated artichoke and sundried tomatoes. A gorgeous dressing that clung to everything without amassing to a pool of oil at the bottom of the bowl. Bravo.  

Pudding is largely crafted to showcase the restaurant’s freezer-ful of locally-made H& J gelatos, with options include a dainty affogato, and apple tarte tatin. 

I instinctively went for my favourite flavours – pistachio and hazelnut – smooth, just-sweet-enough, and made the proper way, as in without harsh colourings. Pistachio gelato should never be lurid green! 

Ethan’s brownie was a bit of a let-down. Served chilled, it was so solid he could barely make a dent with his spoon – a shame as the flavour was very good. 

Pudding at The Woodyard (Image: Charlotte Smith-Jarvis)

Mr J’s dessert of house tiramisu jar never materialised, so service was let down a little at the end of the night. Though our server was mortified and ended up (despite our protests) taking all the puddings off our bill. 

All told, dinner (included desserts, a mocktail, beer and ginger ale) came to a very respectable £75. We took home half a leftover pizza too. 

We left very very impressed. It’s a 40-minute drive from home, but I think The Woodyard could be our new go-to pizza joint. 

Visit thewoodyard.pizza to find out more. Bookings are only available for tables over 6, otherwise it’s a case of walk-in and wait. From December 12 The Woodyard will have a set festive menu to choose from, costing £21 per person for three courses.