There are dishes you eat, and there are dishes you experience. At our restaurant, the 60×40 cm pizza is clearly the second kind. When it comes out of the wood-fired oven and lands in the centre of the table, the same thing always happens: conversations pause, phones come out, and everyone smiles. That’s the Italian festa spirit.

The idea comes straight from the Italian tradition, where pizza isn’t an individual dish but an excuse to gather the famiglia around a big table. In La Louvière, we wanted to keep that spirit alive: a pizza you share, cut together, and pass from hand to hand. Not a pizza you order just for yourself. A pizza that brings people together.

What exactly is a 60×40 cm pizza?

The name says it all: 60 cm × 40 cm of dough, hand-stretched, generously topped and cooked directly on the hearth of our wood-fired oven. The finished pizza easily weighs over 2.5 kilograms, depending on the toppings chosen.

We cut it into generous slices — expect between 20 and 30 slices depending on how large you’d like them. The cooking time is longer than for a standard pizza: it needs to be turned in the oven so that every area gets its fair share of heat. It’s a real pizzaiolo’s job, not a quick slide in and out.

How many people does it feed?

This is the question we’re asked all the time. The honest answer: between 8 and 12 people, depending on what else is on the table.

  • 8 people if the pizza is the main course and there isn’t much else on the table
  • 10 people if you’ve planned a few antipasti to nibble on beforehand
  • 12 people if it’s a full meal with a starter, several side dishes and dolci to finish

As a rule, we also suggest ordering a few focacce or an Italian antipasti platter to keep everyone going, especially if you’re with friends and a little hungry. The pizza arrives in style, and everyone helps themselves.

To work out the right quantities for the rest of the meal, see our guide on how many pizzas to plan per person.

What occasions is it for?

Honestly? For any occasion where you want to make an impression without any fuss. Here are the moments our customers order it most often:

  • Children’s birthdays and adult birthdays — the effect is guaranteed
  • Extended family meals, christenings, communions
  • Parties with friends or colleagues
  • Sports gatherings (end of season, post-match get-togethers)
  • Team meals at the office
  • Private evenings in our hireable function room (up to 42 guests, see our private hire page)

It’s also the perfect dish for an impromptu festa at home, when you’ve got a big table of people and want something spectacular without spending three hours in the kitchen.

How we make it

The 60×40 cm pizza isn’t just a big ordinary pizza. It’s a handcrafted creation that demands method.

It all starts with the dough, which we leave to rest for 48 hours in the fridge. We go into more detail about this long maturation process in our article on 48-hour rested dough and wood-fired cooking, but it’s essential: it gives an airy crumb, a crisp surface, and above all a pizza that’s easy to digest and won’t sit heavily in your stomach.

Next comes the stretching. For this XXL size, we work the dough by hand, slowly and carefully. It needs a perfectly even length, edges that will puff up evenly, and a consistent thickness. This is where real skill shows.

Then comes the topping: mozzarella fior di latte, San Marzano tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, PDO parmigiano reggiano, plus the specific ingredients depending on your choices. We can top it zone by zone if you’d like several flavours on the same pizza.

And finally, the wood-fired oven. The intense heat sears the dough, puffs up the crust, and melts the cheese. The cooking is precise — just a few minutes, but closely watched throughout.

What toppings can you choose?

This is the magic of the 60×40 cm pizza: on a single pizza, you can have several different zones. In practice, we divide the length into two, three, or even four sections, each with its own topping.

Our most popular combinations:

  • Margherita / Diavola / Quattro formaggi — the classic trio that pleases everyone
  • Margherita / Vegetariana / Diavola — for mixed tables including vegetarians
  • Quattro formaggi / Margherita — a milder, simple, indulgent option
  • Diavola all the way along — for dedicated spice lovers

We can also put together more personalised combinations: just let us know when you place your order. If you’re not sure what to choose, we’re always happy to advise — we know what works well.

How to order it

The 60×40 cm pizza needs to be ordered at least 24 to 48 hours in advance, because the dough needs a long preparation time and we need to schedule the cooking for the right moment during service.

There are two ways to book your pizza:

  • By phone on +32 64 28 32 73 — the simplest way; we’ll discuss toppings together and arrange a time
  • By email at mammamarianet@gmail.com — handy if you’d rather put it in writing

When you place your order, we’ll ask you for: the number of people, the toppings you’d like (and whether you want different zones), the date and time you’d like, and whether it’s for dining in, takeaway or delivery.

For any practical questions, we also have an FAQ answering the most common queries.

Dine in, takeaway or delivery?

All three are possible, with a few points to note:

  • Dining in, at our address Rue de la Loi 40, 7100 La Louvière, is our favourite option — the pizza goes straight from the oven to the table, still steaming hot. It’s also a great opportunity to make use of our hireable function room for up to 42 guests for special occasions.
  • For takeaway, we prepare the pizza in a dedicated, elongated box. Make sure you’ve got a car with enough space (rear seats folded down, boot cleared) — a 60×40 cm pizza doesn’t fit in just any bag!
  • For delivery, we’ll check together whether it’s possible based on your location and event. Please specify this clearly when placing your order.

Want to see it in person?

We won’t pretend otherwise: the 60×40 cm pizza is genuinely impressive. Photos never quite do justice to the effect it has when it arrives at the table.

The best thing to do is come and visit us, at Rue de la Loi 40 in La Louvière, take a look at our wood-fired oven, browse our menu, and chat with us about your gathering. Whether it’s a surprise birthday, a family celebration or a meal with colleagues, we’ll always make sure the pizza lives up to the occasion.

Call us on +32 64 28 32 73, or come and see us directly. We’ll be waiting for you at the table!

To prepare your order, get in touch about your 60×40 cm pizza with the date, number of people and toppings you’d like.