Nice Slice‘s Zaatar Slice, $5.75, 196 Borden St.
The dish
Nice Slice owner Nick White was inspired by his partner’s Lebanese heritage and opted to make a pizza similar to manakish, a flatbread commonly topped with zaatar, a savoury spice blend dominated by the tart, slightly floral flavours of sumac. “I like when (pizza) has a tangy element to it,” he said. The pie is topped with mozzarella, ricotta, Kalamata olives, zaatar and a drizzle of pomegranate molasses for a tinge of fruity sweetness.
Together, it’s a sublime concoction. The cheeses and olives have overlapping salty brininess, while the olives and zaatar both bring a sour tang. The sumac in the zaatar complements the fruity profile of the pomegranate. The hint of bitter char in the crispy crust is necessary to balance the acidity. One slice is $5.75, while a whole 16-inch pizza is $28.
The restaurant
Opened in October 2025, Nice Slice is part of what I consider a new generation of neighbourhood-centric slice shops. Think Pizzeria Badiali, One Night Only, Mac’s Pizza and Gracie’s Pizza, serving thin, crispy New York-style slices on iconic white paper plates — the ones with the fluted edges — that soak up extra grease. The menu is concise, with the requisite pepperoni and cheese, but also has slightly elevated toppings such as dollops of burrata or ricotta, housemade sauces and the occasional seasonal special.
Nice Slice owner Nick White previously worked at Mac’s Pizza and opted to open his own neighbourhood slice shop that also offers wine and beer. “It fills the role of a slice shop but you can also get wine on the patio. The idea is from Mac’s, but why not have more places like that in the city?” he said. The place does brisk takeout service, but the millennial-focused pop-rock playlist is worth dining in for.
What else is on the menu
For those who want their pickle-themed treats but aren’t heading to the CNE, get Nice Slice’s pickle pie ($5.75 a slice, $28 for a 16-inch pie). On top of the mozzarella base are dill pickle slices, a creamy dill vinaigrette and Hickory Sticks. Like the zaatar slice, there’s a nice balance of acidity and creaminess from the pickle and vinaigrette, while the chips add a contrasting dry crunch to the wet crunch of the pickles.
For first-timers, White recommends the vodka pepperoni slice ($5.75, $29 for a 16-inch pie), with vodka sauce, pesto, pepperoni, mozzarella and parm. Typically, vodka sauce contains alcohol, but White made an alcohol-free version where the sauce is made from tomatoes, cream, onions, garlic and chillies. In an attempt to make the pie as accessible as possible, the pesto is also nut-free.
Get one of the three housemade dipping sauces ($2.50): creamy garlic, a hot honey spiked with gochugaru, cayenne and smoked paprika, and an extra-hot honey with added ghost pepper. The regular hot honey added enough buzz for me to dip the crust in.
The fridge is stocked with bottles from local winemakers such as Paradise Grapevine and Pearl Morissette, as well as craft beer from Ferm Farm and Lovebird. There’s a slice-and-glass-of-wine combo for $16, as well as a $10 discount for buying a bottle and a whole pizza. The requisite pop cans are there too, but if you want to keep it to Ontario, there’s Brio, honey-grapefruit sparkling water from Grape Witches and one of my favourites, the super-refreshing cantaloupe and cucumber seltzer from City Seltzer.
Explore the area
Grab some friends and do a pizza crawl. A few steps eastward is Blondie’s Pizza (147 Harbord St.), Piano Piano (88 Harbord St.) and Papa Ceo. (656A Spadina Ave.). Heading westward from Nice Slice has Pizza Gigi (189 Harbord St.), plus a Pizza Nova right next to it (193 Harbord St.). Just north is the new, second location of Pizzeria Badiali at 581 Markham St. as well another relative newcomer, Raffaella (296 Brunswick Ave.).
