Pizzeria Centro, Calle 57 (Argentina) #41-57, Pizzas 28.000-33.000, Tuesday to Saturday 12:15 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 

Former TCS student Rodrigo Puyo displays hard work and a touching story through his soulful restaurant “Pizzeria Centro”, directly in the midst of Medellin’s cultural hub of “La Oriental”.

“Pizzeria Centro ” offers many delicious options of pizza, perfect for a night out with your family. The unique pizzas and cozy ambiance make Pizzeria Centro the ideal place to have an evening full of deep connections. The jazzy atmosphere and culturally Medellin-styled restaurant makes for an authentic urban dining experience. ‘Puyo’, the owner, carries a story full of resilience and passion made noticeable in the food.

Puyo graduated from TCS in 1989, and embarked on a journey where he learned the craft of pizza making. After graduating, he moved to Cartagena where a mentor taught him all he knows today, and the bohemian yet meticulous nature of his work is permeated across the entire restaurant. Such details regarding history and motive aid the general atmosphere of the establishment.

                                                      Rodrigo Puyo, TCS Class of ‘89

The “spotlight” is taken by the Pizza Margarita, one of my all time favorites when coming here. The Margarita has a thin crust, melted mozzarella cheese and a fresh tomato-based sauce. This pizza is completed with shredded basil on top, which gives a fresh, balanced taste. A few spices are provided at the table, so you can choose to add oregano, garlic salt or a mildly spicy pepperoncino oil to your taste.

While the pizzas are definitely worth coming here for, the ambiance and homey feeling that the restaurant provides is what really makes it stand out.

It’s an experience from the moment you step in the restaurant, from being greeted warmly by staff, to seeing the pizza be made right in front of you. However, location is bound to be an inconvenience to those living around the periphery of the city (such as El Poblado). Going out on a Tuesday night, we took about 40 minutes to get there considering traffic.

The next set of pizzas we ordered were the “Pizza Funghi, Pizza Vegetariana, and Pizza Alcachofa”. Although the food took a while to get to the table, it was phenomenal once it arrived. When looking at the food at first glance, the fresh ingredients and the thin base made it so a crispy yet fine texture was felt immediately after the first bite. Flavors were evenly distributed, and getting through the pizza was a joy as there were no burnt spots and/or raw dough.

The Funghi had at least three types of mushrooms and had a light coating of truffle oil. The mushrooms were perfectly cooked, and truffle oil gave it a unique, yet not overwhelming taste. The vegetarian pizza had a vast array of toppings, such as bell pepper, onion, cherry tomato, and rosemary. The “Pizza Alcachofa” had what its name suggests: an evenly distributed set of cooked artichoke leaves and hearts. The unique taste of artichoke brought to the table made it stand out with all other topping selections, giving it a fresh and tasty vegetable taste. The tender, perfectly cooked artichoke mixed with the delicate crust gave it a wide range of textures and taste.

Family and friends will immediately recognize Puyo as an individual with clear artistic direction. After all, his meticulous craft when it comes to baking every one of his pizzas is similar to how a sculptor would carefully chip away at one of their sculptures.

The TCS graduate hosts Pizzeria Centro at his own family home, which consequently lead him to stylizing the establishment with an authentic mediterranean look whilst leaving the classic 1960s Medellin-style intact.

The nice ambiance, however, could not be achieved without the equally welcoming staff. You enter through an enclosed hallway that opens up to the general dining area of the restaurant. While you get to your table, you pass through the bar, diverse heirlooms depicting Puyo’s family, sports team support (DIM), and relevant culinary objects. While you dine, pizza is made right in front of you, and while slow jazz plays in the background, you enjoy a relaxing as well as fulfilling dinner experience.

It’s rare to find such a special place among a sea of superficiality. Puyo’s “Pizzeria Centro” encompasses the warmth and service Medellin’s cuisine is known for. The pizzas are crafted with care and follow a tradition characterized by craftsmanship. Overall, I definitely recommend spending the evening with friends and family over at one of Medellin’s most authentic, bohemian, and welcoming Italian restaurants.