None of the pizzas I have had in the chain outlets have been right and hence they have walked to me instead...and there lies the story.
Situated exactly a mile from home is this new place...have been awaiting their opening for some time now and had kind of given up assuming the vicissitudes of the economy must have changed the plans of the owners...but what the heck they finally opened. Went there on 8th of August 2009 along with the Missus and the Miss...
Reservations made and arrived on dot...the place was crowded and we were shown to a table in a long room with one AC visible. The place was packed and figured it is going to be no fun in a room full of people with one AC and no ventilation. Did not want to end of smelling of food and mistaken for dinner by the street dogs of the locality once I came out. Asked for and was promptly shown to the terrace and decided to park there.
I am not going into depth into the decor but but to say it will suffice.
Since alcohol was not on offer ordered fresh lime sodas and a spinaci salsa which was our way of testing how much of the Little Italy has been replicated..it was as good as the original. Then came the Sun dried tomatoes hummus served with Pita bread.It was very ordinary with none of the flavours of the sun dried tomato being felt on the palate...only seen. Maybe they were meant to be garnishing only.
Then came the Essence of tomato soup and was judged adequate by the Miss.
For main course we ordered the Margherita Pizza. It was just right. Thin crust pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese in abundance with just the right amount of basil. It was delicious as only truly simple dishes can be and immensely satisfying.
Then came the Risotto Al Forno and here is where I have all my grouse. The Risotto was nowhere near as creamy as it should be. Mind you the creaminess of the risotto is not always a function of the cream or cheese but because of starch in the rice combining with the broth or the sauces when it is cooked just right. Maybe they added cold wine (if they added it that is) to the hot rice shocking it and it remained hard at the core. It was like thick rice in a bad tomato rasam. Maybe risotto is a wrong dish to order in a restaurant as they would be intent on turning over the tables than cooking it for the required amount of time on moderate heat.
We were thinking of desserts and lo and behold our fresh lime soda sweet made it's rather belated appearance thus sparing us of the decision of what to order...this was dessert for us and less billing for the restaurant.
All this cost us Rs.1160 taxes included. I would say not bad.Will I go again ...of course as where else would I be able to walk a mile for a Pizza.
foodyfoodpecker
