Pass me that slice of heaven, quick!

Hit your gastronomical g-spot with these Italian doughy delights at Pizzeria Romano, the newest pizzeria in Koramangala

Ever been completely flabbergasted when your neighbour wolfs down a 12-inch pizza with complete panache and still seems to have room to nibble on a huge cheesecake? Watching someone gorge on pizzas at a new Italian pizza joint, aptly named Pizzeria Romano, could tempt even a Kareena Kapoor to forgo her diet... and we're not kidding, they're that delicious!



Driving past the one-way Sukh Sagar lane in Koramangala Block 5, you realise how huge the food culture in Bangalore has become. You can spot at least one eatery every time you wink -- the place seems choc-a-block with food destinations and we're not complaining. One might be spoilt for choice here, but this eatery atop Sprocket, a car audio showroom will surely catch your attention. We were the first ones to check this place out and review it, like so many times before this and we're not bragging when we say, we know where you should be heading for your next meal.

Play, love, eat

Walk up the colourful stairs done-up with popular Hollywood film posters of contemporary classics like Pearl Harbour, with the theme continuing right into the restaurant. Pick a place near the glass-panelling and watch the zestful pizzas go in and out of the wood-fire oven. Delicious you ask? Sinful temptation is more like it! Your taste-buds will go bonkers as you wait for those round bites of pleasure to arrive on your plate. If you're bored while waiting, you can get rolling on the X-box with some mad car racing or better still go on a love note in a quiet cozy corner at the other end of the restaurant with dim lights -- perfect to get your foreplay switch rolling, while you nibble on some garlic bread from the bread basket.

There are plenty of appetizers to choose from -- Nachos, Quesadillas, Tacos and the likes and a long list of Soups, Salads, Pastas, Lasagnas and even a section of Lebanese food including the famed Kibbeh, Falafel, Tabouleh, Hummus, Baba Ghanouj etc., but I chose to skip them for next time.

I began my meal with the classic Mexican starter -- the Chicken Quesadillas. This one was filled with oven roasted chicken and mozzarella cheese alongside a sour cream and salsa dip -- Heavenly! I also forked in on some creamy Chicken Penne Pasta cooked in butter and garlic and was reminded of the way the Italians do it back home in their country, the pasta, just a little bit al dente and yet creamy.

Saucy delights

The big draw though here are the wood-fire oven pizzas, sure to spark off the existential ruminations of the cosmic sort. You might get boggled with the sheer variety of 20 vegetarian and 20 non-vegetarian pizzas, all of them in variations of 10 or 12 inches with a choice of ordering them baked on stone-oven or a wood-fire oven.

Well, here's your solution to that -- when in Romano, do as the Romano's do -- yes, please pick the wood-fire ones, (even though they might cost you just about 50 Rs more, it's worth every penny) as they retain the juicy flavours of the cheese, the veggies, the sauces and the meats!

Need we tell you, the pizzas here are all about the crunch -- one bite, and you're hooked. They are thin crusted, just like the way they should be, with a crackly crust and fresh sauces, herbs and toppings.

Pizzeria Romano appears to travel the distance far more than a regular, friendly, neighbourhood fast-food pizza joint. We recommend you walk in with a voracious appetite and you sure won't be sorry. The service is boisterous and accommodating and dessert options include a delicious Chocolate mousse that is almost the perfect ending to a meal fit for any gourmand.

At: Pizzeria Romano, 55, 1 Floor, 5 Cross, 6 Block, 60 Feet Road, Koramangala.
Call: 4095 3751.
Meal for two: Rs 1,000