24 February,2020 08:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Raul Dias
Pepperoni pizza
Food: Flavourful
Ambience: Bland
Service: Lethargic
Cost: Inexpensive
Verdict: 1/4
Over the years we've come to realise that having expectations can be a dangerous thing. Especially in this context, when pitted against one of the most interesting iterations of the humble pizza pie - the Chicago-style deep dish. That gooey two-inch high creation crammed with molten cheese and other scrumptious treats like good old pepperoni and spicy chicken sausage is made famous by iconic Chicago pizza places like Lou Malnati's and Giordano's.
Driving by Mahim's main LJ Road, we spotted a new pizza place and decided to give it a shot, egged on by the fact that it was a tribute to the American city. We hoped that we'd finally find the deep dish here. After all, it's even named after it. We're sad to report that we didn't!
There's everything but the said deep-dish pizza on their rather extensive menu.
Greeted by an empty restaurant and a deserted counter, we sat ourselves down on the uncomfortably low chairs, fronted by an even lower table. It would be almost 10 minutes later that the restaurant's staff finally emerges from their hibernation in the back kitchen and we are beckoned over to the counter to place our order in typical QSR style. All payments made upfront; we waited half an hour to see some action on our table.
Choosing the large (14-inch) thin crust Italian pepperoni pizza (Rs 529) from a wide range of sizes that range from a single slice (Rs 189) to an extra-large (Rs 909 for an 18-inch) proved to be a good decision. Bursting with the gooey umami goodness of cheese with the spicy hit of the pork pepperoni, we were in love with this pizza from the first bite. Equally scrumptious was the medium-sized (9-inch) four cheese pizza (Rs 269) where one could taste the distinct flavours of the Monterrey, cheddar, gouda and mozzarella cheese in this creamy, tomato sauce bereft version.
Sadly, our trio of mocktails were disappointing. While the Indian spice soda (Rs 99) was anything but spicy, the virgin mojito (Rs 99) was a watery, sugary miss. Faring a tad better, though flat and minus the fizz, was our strawberry cooler (Rs 99). While wishing the pizzaiolo (pizza chef) was a tad more generous with their light-handed sprinkling of mini chicken meatballs, we still loved the herby taste of the large chicken meatball pizza (Rs 399). Packed with the punch of robust Indian flavours, our medium-sized rustic mushroom pizza (R269) rounded off our action for the day perfectly with its savoury goodness.
Choosing to go a little 'off-piste' in our final selection of savoury items, the Italian chicken pasta in white sauce (Rs 259) was composed of perfectly al dente
penne with BBQ chicken morsels, corn and jalapenos, giving both the dish and us a spicy send off!
Time 10 am to 11.30 pm
At Chicago Pizza, 148-150 Kadriwadi, LJ Road, Mahim West.
Call 9833783615
Food review rating: 4/4 EXCEPTIONAL, 3/4 EXCELLENT, 2/4 VERY GOOD, 1/4 GOOD, 0.5/4 AVERAGE
Chicago Pizza didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals
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