NO GODS NO MASTERS SERIES: NOBLE PIE
From humble beginnings to an instant Calgary classic. Drawing experience from everywhere but the restaurant industry, Mike and Leslie baked their passion for pizza and insistence on excellence (in product and service, respectively) into Noble Pie Pizza. Even in their most limited capacity as a pop-up serving two pizzas, two days a week, they quickly developed a cult following and found a brick and mortar to call their own. Always prioritizing consistency (no emergency dough! iykyk), they ran a strictly takeout business from their own place for months before opening for dine-in. Mike even built a custom online ordering system to maintain quality and distribution—and keep the kitchen sane. Now, with a delightful dining room accessible only by alley, takeout still accounts for 40% of their business.
The restaurant itself reflects the same hands-on, hearts-in philosophy as the food. Inspired by world-class pizza parlours and the vibe of old New York, Mike and Leslie created something that feels lived-in and more timeless than trendy. The couple are just as selective and discerning with how they build and treat their team. Staff retention is massively important to them, and not just because this is reflected in the calibre of the product. They avoid high turnover by fostering a respectful, collaborative environment that weighs all voices equally.
Like the people behind the joint itself, the name “Noble Pie” has a different origin than might be expected. It’s not a play on “humble pie”, instead it’s an homage to the business’ philosophy: that true nobility is being superior to your former self. Far be it from us to put words in their mouths, but if we did, it would be something like “don’t limit yourselves, but do limit your output with quality as a constraint.” But you’ll never catch us (or them) asking you to limit the amount of parmigiana reggiano you put on your Caesar salad.
📍 720 11 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0E4 (Alley entrance)
🍺 Serving Annex Ginger Beer and select Annex beer beers
