Hotline Pizza: 21 Who Made a Difference in 2021
GoLocalProv Food Team
Hotline Pizza: 21 Who Made a Difference in 2021
There is pizza in Providence that is so popular, there has been a two-month waitlist for a pie.
That is when the waitlist is open. There has been so much demand, the waitlist is often closed.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAt the time, when GoLocal unveiled the pizza it was known only to those in the know.
“Hotline Pizza is crazy good, possibly the best pizza I’ve ever had,” said one Reddit user — which sparked over 75 comments about Hotline's waitlist.
“I’ve heard of similar things in SF, LA, and NYC,” responded another Reddit user of waitlists in big cities. “Does... does this mean we've made it?”
Hotline is a pop-up with no physical store. The pizza is made in a secret location.
Hotline's Allure
Hotline, which describes itself as “Detroit-style pizza in Providence, RI," first appeared on the scene two years ago.
In an Instagram post in May 2019 featuring a square pepperoni pizza, Hotline thanked Far West -- a bar located on Cromwell Street -- for helping to “kick things off.”
Hotline has continued to pop up at Far West and other locations across the city, including at the Courtland Club, Solid Gold Provisions, and more.
It features such Detroit-style pies as French onion (provolone, mozzarella, gruyere, caramelized onions, thyme, with an option of bacon lardons) as well as Sicilian style pies including “Mort + Pistachio Pesto” (cream sauce, mozzarella, shaved red onion, thin-sliced mortadella, pistachio pesto, parm), with slices being often listed for $5 each.
Can You Even Get a Whole Pie?
As for getting a whole pie, however, well, that gets a bit more complicated.
“Worth the hype, worth the wait,” said Pawtucket resident Michaela Foulkes, who finally got her pie in May — after reaching out to Hotline on Instagram (as there is no phone number listed) in March to get on the waitlist.
“I happened to be on a two-month waiting list for this Detroit style pizza and it was totally worth [it],” she said. “If you’d like to smell, taste & feel something a bit otherworldly, this pizza might be worth checking out.”
As for picking it up? Just like the waitlist, that, too, is shrouded in intrigue — and execution.
“They’re a pop-up situation. I had to wait to hear where to pick up the pie until the day before. Somewhere on the West End, in a neighborhood,” said Foulkes. “I had to Venmo the money to secure the pizza, had to pick a time, had to not be early or late.”
“They were lovely though,” she added. “I got the need to keep things super organized.”
If you’re interested in trying the pies everyone is talking about, stay tuned to their social medial for summer service details.
Return of Popular Pizza
In July, Hotline announced its summer schedule as follows. Orders can only be made through Hotline's social media.
Starting Wednesday, July 14th we will be serving pizza Wednesday through Saturday from 4-8 pm.
Menu will be posted each day and we will start accepting orders through dm at 1 pm for pick-ups that night. Orders sent before 1 pm will not be answered.
We only do 30 pizzas a day first come first serve. We will not be answering dm’s once they are sold out and we’ll let you know if they do!
There will be a 3 pizza per person limit & half and half pies are always available. We are not trying to be confusing this is just what works for us to provide consistency and work happily. The important stuff! Much love, Hotline.
And Hotline lovers loved it — the post racked up over a thousand likes and a hundred comments in just over twelve hours.