La Befana Pizza in Allston
There’s music from Jimmy Durante piped in, and if it’s not him crooning, it’s Frank Sinatra. Sometimes it’s the Temptations, sometimes it’s Frankie Valli. It’s always old school at La Befana.
The owner, Liam Lydon, is always there, working with the fresh dough at the counter, chatting with the customers, rolling garlic knots, making one of his gourmet artisan pizzas. The place is tiny, but it is clean and inviting. And as we settle into our table, bottles of sparkling orange soda in our hands, we could feel the heat of the oven and smell the flavors wafting in from the kitchen. We know we’re in for another good meal.
La Befana Pizzeria is yet another hidden gem in Allston, MA. My co-workers and I are regulars here. I love the chicken caesar salad and the Bianca pizza (come on, with a name like that…). Everything is made with fresh ingredients, from the pesto sauce to the garlic infused olive oil.
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You can watch the pizza being prepared to order.
This last visit, we had the Roasted Garlic and Grilled Chicken – with red sauce, pepperoni, grilled chicken breast, roasted garlic, smoked gouda, mozzarella, and spinach. Liam said it is one of his favorites and now it is also one of ours.
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There’s enough charm in La Befana that sets it apart from other pizza joints in the area, but it’s really the pizza that we keep coming back for. And the salads. Oh and the meatballs.
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The other pizza we had was the Shrimp Pesto – a white pizza with grape tomatoes, roasted garlic, pesto sauce, and fresh mozzarella. The mozzarella is tossed in some pesto sauce before being added to the pizza, essentially creating pesto cheese on top of the pesto sauce.
Two of the best sellers at La Befana are the garlic knots (fresh dough coated with generously helpings of garlic, cheese, and garlic-infused olive oil) and the classic cheese pizza (if you’re buying one slice, it’s actually one-fourth of the pie!). Hot and fresh from the oven, both are mouth-watering.
La Befana is named after the Italian folklore Befana, an old lady riding a broomstick who delivers gifts to children on Epiphany Eve (January 5), similar to Santa Claus. The child’s family would typically leave out wine and food for the Befana. I thought it was a nice and fitting story; while the Befana brings presents to children in Italy, the folks at the Allston pizzeria spread good cheer to Boston with their well-crafted artisan pizzas.
Because really, who isn’t happy when there’s good pizza?
Hi! I’m Bianca Garcia. I love food, running, yoga, sangria, and my job. I'm an advertising professional, social media enthusiast, blogger, freelance writer, and obsessive list-maker. I think about dessert constantly. 
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That garlic knot is gorgeous . I’ve never heard of this place, very intriguing
The shrimp pesto looks delicious!
Until I saw your reviews, I had never heard of La Befana. I’m always up for a good pizza, so I’ll have to give it a try. And the garlic knot does look really good!
This place looks great!
you and your co workers look like you are really enjoying yourselves here and the pizza looks so very good. nice to know about another hidden gem in Allston.
I pass this place every day on my way home and have been so curious about it. Now I’m going to have to stop :)
I am seriously drooling right now! That pizza looks so delicious, and i absolutely love the chair back made from the pizza paddle! :) So cute!
I love local pizza places! This one looks so good. Wish I lived closer!
Wow these pizzas are making me drool- especially the big tomatoes!
The pizza looks fantastic but I’m loving the soundtrack even more!
that chicken pizza looks INSANE. omg. want.
Wow…food porn right here.
I don’t know how I haven’t heard of this place because I LOVE finding new pizza places! All of those pizzas look fantastic.
I lived in Brighton for a few years but never ran into this place, probably because I was always going to the North End! It looks wonderful.
I live just up Washington Street in Brighton Center and I’ve never heard of this place. I must check it out! Also, I LOVE garlic knots. Thanks for sharing this local gem!
Garlic knots!! I must go. :) The pizzas look really awesome too!
what a great review! i love the behind the scenes look! all the pizza looks so good and fresh!
I judge pizza places on how their classic cheese tastes and that one looks amazing. The garlic knots loot super also.
This place sounds amazing and the food looks so so so so good! That garlic know looks so yummy and the Shrimp Pesto pizza sounds like a great medley of flavors. YUM!
Okay, I just want to dive headfirst into these pizzas. No joke.