Aug 14, 2001 01:18 PM
4466 Views
Location :
Located at the corner of Veer Nariman road and Marine Drive bank opposite Arabian Sea,
Ambience :
Pizzeria is a “sort-of” side walk-pizza-café. I say “sort of” because it IS just outside “Not Just Jazz By The Bay” but not fully “open” like all sidewalk café’s but is semi open. Walled up to the waist level and full windows above it does give an impression of sitting in and “semi-enclosed-sidewalk-café”. Sitting arrangement is quite cramped up but then again, if it wasn’t, the number of people waiting would increase a lot. As it is on weekends and Sundays one would have to wait at least 20 to 25 minutes during peak hours. The “kitchen” (if I may call it a “Kitchen”) is separated from the sitting area, merely by a glass partition, that’s about head-high, enabling all to see the pizzas and pastas being prepared. This becomes the worst part for people sitting near the “kitchen”, as the odour of fumes of the pastas makes it very uncomfortable, often resulting in eyes-watering.
Food :
In my opinion there are three most important factors that make GOOD pizza and a BAD one. First…Most places like Domino’s etc. keep a semi-baked crust pre-prepared in order to save time. For the pizza to be GOOD, the dough should be rolled just before putting it in the oven. Second…There are number of types of mozzarella cheese available, but the RIGHT one chosen for pizzas makes hell of a difference. Third and the most important… The right period of baking. This makes all the difference. An Over-baked pizza tastes “burnt” and the crust becomes “biscuity” An Under-baked pizza is too soft and tastes “lumpy”. How do we know if it is baked properly??.. Mozzarella cheese oozes cheese-oil when is perfectly baked. If the pizza is over-baked, you won’t see any oil (because it is burnt off) and the cheese will have turned brown. If the pizza is under-baked again you will not see any oil (for the cheese not having released any), but the cheese will be whitish and will “look” soggy and under-prepared.
I have visited Pizzeria several times and except for a couple of exceptional occasions, I have always been served “perfect” pizzas.
They have regular as well as stuffed-crust pizzas. The number of toppings they offer is more than most pizza-places in Mumbai.
Regular (thin-crust Pizzas) : They have good number of “spiced” toppings for those who cannot do without spices in their meals, AND they have the normal “bland” toppings for people like me who prefer their pizzas to be the-way-pizza-should-be. I would recommend the “Bombay Masala” for those who like their pizzas with spices. Otherwise all the toppings they serve are very very good. For veggies, I would say, go for American-corn, mushrooms, onions and green pepper. For the non-vegetarians ham, salami, dahina chicken, prawns are all excellent.
Stuffed Crust : Venture at ANY of the stuffed crust pizzas, if and only if, you are double-hungry. Otherwise you will have a dilemma on your hands. They taste so good, you can end up with your stomach not accepting even a bite more, but your tongue not allowing you “leave” what’s left on your plate.
Pastas : All the pastas they serve are very good but just the regular stuff. Nothing exclusive about their pastas. I haven’t tried many though.
Service :
The service is very good. The stewards are knowledgeable, and hence readily helpful, always polite and prompt. So far I have rarely had any complaints about their service.
In MUMBAI, unless any other new restaurant props-up offering better pizzas, I would not take a bite from any other, be it Domino’s, Smoking Joe’s or Pizza Hut or…….
