Friday Food Insider: It’s pizza o’clock somewhere

Photo / Alexis Wells OTTO Pizza has 11 locations including Biddeford, shown here.

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What better way to start off your Friday evening than a nice slice of pizza and a cold beverage?

Welcome back to the Friday Food Insider for Pizza O’clock.

OTTO Pizza, known for its mashed potato pie called “The Masher,” has opened its 11th location in Maine. The newest pizzeria is located at 404 Elm St., in Biddeford, is in a former Meineke Car Care. The Biddeford location is a full-service restaurant featuring dine-in, a quick-serve counter, and a bar with cocktails, wine and local beer.

“Chris Weston and the entire team leading this new location are super-passionate about creatively elevating the pizza experience that the OTTO brand has become so well known for regionally,” said the Biddeford+Saco Chamber of Commerce. “They've done a ton of great work transforming their location into a "human filling station" and a beautiful new local restaurant destination.

If you are looking for a pizza place with creative ingredients look no further; try their three-cheese tortellini, butternut squash with cranberry and ricotta, or eggplant, ricotta and basil pies.

To celebrate, OTTO held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday featuring live music from Taylor Smith and Ron Gallant a bluegrass band. As well as specials on pizza, beer, wine, cocktails, appetizers, salads and desserts.

Let’s head to Brunswick

Brad Moll / Brickyard Hollow

This is the Brickyard Hollow Brewing located in Skowhegan.

Brickyard Hollow Brewing has opened a new location at 149 Maine St. in Brunswick. It's at the Tontine Mall at the former site of Butchers & Baker with indoor and outdoor patio seating in the heart of downtown Brunswick.

“We are excited to be part of this incredible community and vibrant Maine Street filled with so many great local businesses,” said owner Brad Moll.

Brickyard Hollow’s other locations include Yarmouth, Portland, Freeport, Ogunquit, Skowhegan and Eustis.

More pizza pies to try

Back in southern Maine, there are plenty of pizza options.

Coletti's Pizza Factory is in Biddeford at 497 Elm St. If you would like to try Neapolitan-style pizza made fresh every day with all-natural ingredients then this is the place to go.

Pizza by Alex is at 93 Alfred Road in Biddeford. The pizza shop has been a local icon for over 50 years, serving Greek-style personal pizzas.

Michael's Pizza is at 12 Common St. in Saco, has been in the same location since 1966, and is a family-owned enterprise serving original recipes.

Portland Pie, which was founded in 1997, is known for its signature flavored dough, including basil, beer, garlic and wheat. They have locations in Portland, Biddeford, Brunswick, Waterville, Westbrook, Scarborough, Windham and Falmouth.

Micucci Grocery is at 45 India St. in Portland and serves up Sicilian-style, thick-dough pizza. It is Maine’s only Italian grocery store.

Flatbread Co. is at 72 Commercial St. in Portland. The restaurant was founded in 1998.

Slab Sicilian Street Food is located at 25 Preble St. in Portland. It focuses on pizza, 20 rotating craft beer selections, wines and cocktails. Slab is most known for the "slab." These thick slices of Sicilian pizza are offered as a meat wedge, a vegetarian wedge, or a vegan cauli wedge.

Oysterhead Pizza is at 189 Main St. in Damariscotta and is known for its wood-fired pizza and small plates.

When Pigs Fly Pizzeria is at 460 U.S. Route 1 in Kittery. The restaurant has wood-fired pizza, appetizer plates, craft beers and craft wine. It is also home to the When Pigs Fly company store, which offers classic and artisan bread and other products.

Evergreen Lanes Featuring the Rendezvous Restaurant is at 60 Access Highway in Caribou. The bar and restaurant has the largest television in Maine. Evergreen Lanes is a bowling alley, but brought in features from the former Rendezvous restaurant, including pizza recipes and the former Limestone restaurant's iconic sign.