The Best Wings in Maine Might Be at a Pizza Shop

Nick Krunkkala trained in some of New York City’s most demanding kitchens. Today, he’s smoking chicken wings for four hours behind a pizza shop in Damariscotta, Maine.In this episode of Maine Famous, April sits down with the owner and chef of Oysterhead Pizza to talk about why he left fine dining behind to build something more personal: a neighborhood restaurant where locals can grab a slice three nights a week, high school students learn the restaurant business, and every sauce, dough, sausage, and dessert is still made in-house.They talk about the cult following behind Oysterhead’s wood-fired wings, the deep dish pizza Nick describes as “Damariscotta style,” the influence of New York kitchens on his cooking, and why he believes affordable food still matters. The conversation also dives into mentorship, community, live music nights, and the strange movie references hidden throughout the menu and decor.If you’ve ever wondered how a pizza shop becomes a Midcoast institution, this episode tells that story.