Bellingham gained a new pizza and craft cocktail bar this May—Pendino, founded by one of Makeworth Coffee’s original co-owners, Corey Silversmith. This spot promises Neapolitan pizza paired with late-night energy that makes you want to linger. The name, according to Pendino’s Instagram, was inspired by Silversmith’s Italian great-grandfather, and evokes the enjoyable evening atmosphere they hope to create with their hospitality-first model.
If you just can’t get enough of authentic Italian pizza, Natalino’s Pizza in Bellis Fair is a can’t miss. It was founded by Natanael Gammarota, a.k.a. Natalino himself, an Italian pizza chef who grew up eating delicious and nutritious pizza in Rome.
Photograph by Isabel Hyde
His path to pizza was an interesting one. Since he’d always planned to become a missionary, young Gammarota realized he needed a job that could take him anywhere. His uncle, a pizza maker, pointed out that pizza existed all over the world. So while becoming a pastor, Gammarota trained with a prestigious Italian pizza chef. He now lives in Canada, where he opened the original Natalino’s Pizza in March 2020. Despite the COVID pandemic, they built their business and philosophy from the ground up with care. To this day, they combine Italian and local ingredients and prioritize customer relationships, practices that have allowed them to thrive in hard times.
The Bellingham location opened in 2023, bringing Natalino’s across the border and giving Bellis Fair Mall patrons the chance to experience fresh and healthy Roman-style pizza. If you haven’t tried them, we highly recommend it!
