We thought a pizzeria backed by the legendary Jamie Oliver would do more than offer crisp crust and comforting lasagne
Capricciosa
Jamie's Pizzeria
Food: Average
Service: Efficient
Ambience: Cheery
Chicken & Mushroom Lasagne. Pics/Sneha Kharabe
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A large grey-and-yellow mural mashing in Mumbai landmarks greeted us as we stepped into a packed Jamie's Pizzeria at a mall in Lower Parel on a weeknight. We gave them a miss and locked our eyes with the British blue-eyed chef, Jamie Oliver — the mastermind of the pizzeria chain that's already made in-roads in New Delhi — who showed us how to roll a pasta sheet and bake healthy treats in videos on a screen fitted on the opposite wall. With checkered flooring, colourful chairs and an open kitchen, the brightly lit, compact space presented a cheery vibe.
Brush with bruschetta
Settling in quickly, we browsed through a no-frills menu featuring appetisers like Fritto Miso (sustainable fish and other seafood in tartare sauce) and Chilli Chicken Wings, salads and sides, a children's menu, a dessert section with sorbets and brownies, and of course, a variety of his signature 11-inch hand-stretched pizzas. We began with Roasted Tomato Bruschetta (Rs 199), which unexpectedly featured only one large piece of a garlic ciabatta generously topped with ricotta, basil, cherry tomatoes and olive oil. Well, so much for the pocket-friendly pricing. While we loved the smooth texture of the ricotta that went well with farm-fresh, blush red cherry tomatoes, the chewy bread was a downer. We washed it down with a refreshingly fizzy homemade Ginger Beer (Rs 130; the diner stocks a few beer varieties).
The vibrant interiors
Pizza test
In a recent interview with mid-day, Oliver had picked Paneer Piccante as an India-special flavour that he was proud of. We went with the chef's recco and called for the pizza (Rs 399), a spicy offering topped with spongy chunks of cottage cheese, bell peppers, mozzarella and fresh coriander. Though the pizza kept the desi factor in check, the flavours were average. Instead, we fell for the palate-pleasing, crispy crust, especially when dunked into Minty Yogurt (Rs 40), one of the three flavours of dips that the menu offered. Next, we picked Capricciosa (Rs 549), which came topped with pork ham, crushed tomatoes, roasted mushrooms, olives and thyme. Laced together by the stringy mozzarella, the flavours from the meat and crushed tomatoes came through well, though the pizza lacked a distinct 'wow' factor.
Lasagne comfort
From the oven-baked section, we ordered Chicken & Mushroom Lasagne (Rs 469). A burst of flavours greeted us when we dug into the succulent, diced chicken and silky mushroom in a white sauce coated with a layer of well-baked pasta sheet and gooey cheese. What we loved the most was a brown, mushroom crust that rimmed the comforting, baked dish.
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