THE CLAY OVEN

We’re all fired up about our pizzas!

The Egyptians and Mesopotamians gave us the first bread ovens around 5000 years ago. Like ours, the Ancients’ ovens were made from clay and straw and bread was so important it was used as payment  for salaries and taxes. Millennia later, we tried the same trade with our waiters at Molly’s, but as enticing as the offer may sound, they maintain “cash is king”! 

Now, to get to the reason for visiting The Clay Oven at Molly’s: Tradition has is that real pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven and we refuse to change tradition. To us, it’s very much a guarantee of superior texture, taste and quality.

It’s all about flames! First, we get the oven hot … seriously hot, sometimes exceeding 400 degrees Celsius, by burning our wood of choice – exotic and invasive bluegum.  Our “pizzaiolo” (pizza baker) then moulds our hand made dough to shape, ladles on some of our home made tomato sauce, then sprinkles a mound of Mozzarella cheese and the freshest of toppings on top.

The magic then happens! Because the floor is hot, this is where the cooking happens. A hot floor, made from special clay bricks, cooks the base quickly and prevents it from becoming ‘soggy’. Cooking time is very short, averaging a few minutes or so. This very intense cooking in a wood-fired oven is what makes our pizza base crisp, bubbly and tasty. Some charring on the edges is expected and intentional. Throughout the process, we avoid overcooking so that textures are preserved and ultimately means a melt-in-the-mouth experience.

We call it Authentic. Artisanal. Artistry.

RECENTLY LAUNCHED

The Chevre 

(‘Goatsmilk Cheese’). 

Our latest gourmet vegetarian creation waiting for you to tuck into

Operating Hours

MONDAYS – Closed

TUESDAYS – Closed

WEDNESDAYS TO FRIDAYS 12PM to 10PM 

SATURDAYS 9AM to 10PM

SUNDAYS 9AM to 6PM

Pizza Menu

Click the left or right arrow to navigate through our selection of artisanal pizzas … you’re sure to find more than one that tickles the taste buds.

Pizza Menu

Here is a convenient, shortened version of our Pizza Menu

What our Guests say

"To say this is the best pizza in the neighborhood is a severe understatement! It is simply the best Pizza I have had in recent memory, including a trip to Naples last year. I had the Argentinian and the other name I cannot recall (jalapeño, peppers and salami). Well done!!! World-class pizza in Henley!"
[Name removed for privacy purposes]