Pizza Roma has closed after years of serving Sicilian slices at 212 Waverley Avenue in Watertown, and a new sourdough-crust concept called Bougie Pizza Co. is moving into the storefront. The changeover was first spotted by a local contributor who photographed a coming-soon sign in the window, and owner David Bourgeois has since confirmed the new concept.
Boston Restaurant Talk reported the closure, noting that Pizza Roma had ceased operations sometime within the past couple of weeks and that the coming-soon signage for Bougie Pizza Co. had already gone up, according to Boston Restaurant Talk. Per WhatNow, Bourgeois plans to operate the roughly 600-square-foot space as a fast-casual counter-service eatery, with total occupancy capped at 15 guests, including counter seating for four.
The menu will center on elevated pizza made with Neapolitan-style sourdough, using a slow fermentation process the operator has summed up simply: great pizza begins with patience, according to the same WhatNow report. Planned offerings include margherita, bruschetta, hot salami, and unagi steak pizzas, along with a gluten-free crust available upon request. WhatNow's report also notes the eatery is expected to serve sandwiches and salads alongside the pizza lineup.
Event Packages and an Undetermined Opening Date
Bougie Pizza Co. is also planning private event packages, per WhatNow's reporting: one option runs $300 for setup plus $20 per person with unlimited sourdough pizzas in three styles, while a pricier version adds an appetizer and a fourth pizza style for $25 per person on top of the same $300 setup fee. No projected opening timeline has been announced. The status of Bougie Pizza Co.'s Common Victualler and health permit applications is not specified.
Any new food service operator in Watertown must clear a specific regulatory path before flipping on the ovens. City health department procedures address health inspections and coordination with the Building Department and Licensing Department; a certified food-manager certificate may be needed depending on the operation, according to the City of Watertown. The document distinguishes the Common Victualler permit from the food permit and certificate of occupancy. This account does not detail the former operator's corporate name, licensing history, or tax records.
A Neighborhood Staple's Long Run
Pizza Roma had operated in Watertown for years before its closure. The shop served Sicilian slices. A Portnoy review of the pizzeria is also referenced in the available material, without a rating, date, or pizza description.
The storefront sits on Waverley Avenue in Watertown. The area also has transit connections, as Hoodline has previously reported.
Other Sourdough Plans
Bougie Pizza Co.'s sourdough approach has a local parallel in Hamilton-based Honeycomb Bakery, which has been planning a second Marblehead location with an opening targeted for February 2027, a shift Hoodline covered in its report on Honeycomb's move to Marblehead. The two reports describe separate sourdough-focused business plans.
The turnover also lands squarely within Watertown's push to reshape its commercial districts. The city adopted the Watertown Square Area Plan in July 2024 and passed new zoning that November aimed at promoting ground-floor retail and small business growth, according to the City of Watertown. That effort emphasizes ground-floor commercial space requirements and streetscape improvements, positioning corridors like Waverley Avenue for exactly the kind of storefront transition now playing out at 212 Waverley.
