A Custom Canvas for East Coast-Inspired Flavour
During its years on Elgin Street, Hooley’s Pub offered more than just pub fare—it also featured hand-rolled pizzas built on house-made dough and crafted with a strong emphasis on personalisation. These pizzas reflected both the kitchen’s flexibility and the diners’ desire for comfort, texture, and bold combinations. While the establishment no longer serves food, the memory of its made-to-order pizzas still offers insight into how regional influences shaped a humble slice.
Starting with Simplicity: The Cheese Pizza Base
The foundation of every pizza at Hooley’s began with hand-prepared dough. Rolled fresh and baked to achieve a balance of softness and crispness, the base carried a simple cheese topping that allowed other ingredients to shine. This minimalist starting point made it easy to build a custom pizza, whether guests leaned toward vegetables, proteins, or sauces.
Layers of Customisation: From Crunch to Cream
The topping list spanned a wide range of flavour profiles. For those seeking freshness and crunch, additions like green peppers, red onions, tomatoes, and olives brought vibrancy to the plate. Meanwhile, ingredients such as jalapeños and salsa added heat and acidity, enhancing the experience for those who preferred sharper notes.
In contrast, richer elements like garlic butter, BBQ sauce, and sweet garlic sauce transformed the base into something more indulgent. These sauces, often layered beneath or drizzled on top, created a complex texture that balanced moisture with crispness. For guests looking to push the boundaries of traditional pizza, these additions made it possible to create something entirely distinct.
A Protein Selection That Reflected Regional Influence
Hooley’s protein options leaned into both pub staples and regional favourites. Bacon, ground beef, and grilled chicken brought hearty, familiar notes, while crispy chicken added a satisfying crunch. However, the inclusion of donair and Brothers pepperoni pointed to something more specific—Maritime and Nova Scotian culinary roots. These toppings gave Hooley’s pizzas a cultural tie-in to East Coast comfort food, bridging the distance between Ottawa and Halifax through flavour.
A Platform for Personal Taste
While the kitchen guided through its base offering, the real experience came from building a pizza suited to one’s preferences. With the ability to mix and match vegetables, cheeses, meats, and sauces, diners could shape something light, rich, spicy, or bold. In that way, Hooley’s pizza menu served not just as a meal but as a creative outlet—one that reflected the diversity of tastes found in Canadian pub culture.