Forget white tablecloths and polite little bites. At Ogniem i Piecem, pizza comes with attitude, music runs through the DNA, and playing it safe was never part of the plan. We sat down with Ola and Krzysztof
OLA, WHAT CAME FIRST: PIZZA OR MUSIC?
Ola: Pizza! My uncle founded OiP when I was around 20. I’d return from modelling abroad and head straight there with my suitcase. It became our hangout. Undadasea grew out of that world. Music, friends and pizza were always connected.
KRZYSZTOF, HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?
Krzysiek: I’d worked my way up from barback to manager. I joined OiP as manager, then became a partner in 2019. Now Ola and I run it together.
WAS THIS EVER A SERIOUS BUSINESS PLAN?
Ola: More like, “Fuck it, let’s make something happen!” We wanted a welcoming place, not a corporate restaurant. There was plenty of chaos until Krzysiek brought some order. There’s still a little chaos today!
HOW MUCH OF THE UNDERGROUND SCENE REMAINS?
Ola: All of it. Independence, collaboration and doing things our way still define OiP.
DID YOU INTENTIONALLY BUILD A COMMUNITY?
Ola: Not at all. We just lived our lives there. Friends came, parties happened, pizza travelled everywhere. The community built itself.
to talk dough, Gdynia’s underground scene and the beautiful chaos
behind one of the city’s most recognisable pizza spots.
EVERYONE CLAIMS THEIR PIZZA IS SPECIAL. WHY YOURS?
Ola & Krzysiek: We won’t reveal the secret! But our pizza has its own unmistakable taste. Try a slice, then a whole pizza. They’re different experiences.
WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART OF MAKING GREAT PIZZA?
Krzysiek: The dough. It takes around 24 hours. Temperature matters, technique matters, but patience matters most. You can’t rush good dough.
WHICH PIZZA DESERVES MORE LOVE?
Krzysiek: Batata! White sauce, spicy salami, sweet potato, mozzarella and parsley. Sweet and spicy together. An underrated classic.
WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST PIZZA YOU’VE SERVED?
Krzysiek: Pizza ruska, inspired by pierogi, with potato, cottage cheese, bacon, red onion, dill and sour cream. The name caused controversy after Russia invaded Ukraine, although it has nothing to do with Russia.
PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA: CRIME OR GENIUS?
Krzysiek: Like putting Coke in expensive whisky. If you enjoy it, go ahead! We don’t serve pineapple, though.
WHAT DO PEOPLE OVERLOOK ON YOUR MENU?
Krzysiek: Our pasta! Everyone thinks we’re only about pizza, but our pasta, changing soups and salads deserve attention too.
WHAT’S THE MOST OIP THING THAT’S EVER HAPPENED?
Ola: Our tenth birthday in 2023. Live rap, a packed restaurant, people spilling into the street, dancing everywhere and eating pizza. Pure OiP.
KRZYSZTOF, WHAT DRIVES YOU CRAZY ABOUT OLA?
Krzysiek: She constantly checks whether we’re achieving our goals. It’s annoying, but I actually asked her to do it! The more she pushes, the better the business runs.
ONE LAST DINNER. WHO’S COMING AND WHAT’S PLAYING?
Krzysiek: Anthony Bourdain and my closest friends. A bottle of rum, definitely. First track? Frank Sinatra’s That’s Life. Hospitality is constant crisis management. You just keep getting back up.
For Ola and Krzysztof, Ogniem i Piecem has never been just about pizza. It’s the friendships, the music, the late nights and all the beautiful chaos in between. And after everything they’ve built together, one thing is clear: the pizza brings people in, but Ola and Krzysztof give them a reason to stay.
