What does a Sufi Pizza taste like?

What are tacos doing on the menu of an Italian eatery? And isn't Fondue a Swiss dish? If questions like these don't bother you, Little Italy's La Pizzeria should be your stopover for a rocking veggie meal

The menu of the new eatery (even the take-away menu), is an interesting read with imaginatively-christened items such as "Sufi" pizzas and "Masala Mafia" providing food for thought. For instance, while we imagined that the Pizza Toe-Toe may be prepared with dough that's kneaded by foot, the description suggested that the name probably has to do with the use of both, tomato sauce as well as sun-dried tomatoes. Still, the list does make for a great guessing game. Guests may also find themselves entertained by other spontaneous acts we got to watch waiters participate in a sort-of relay sport involving an electric mosquito-swatter.



But sprightly service and sparse clientele, owing no doubt to the swine flu scare, kept us from focusing on these. Our order started materialising in a matter of minutes and from that point on, we weren't bothered by the overpowering soapy aroma of the scented candles. The Garlic Bread (Rs 115) was excessively-buttered, but fresh and feathery. The Bruschetta (Rs 270) was boring but easily fixed with a dollop of well-prepared pesto sauce. And the delicious Margherita Pizza (Rs 335) may even have impressed Queen Margherita of Savoy (after whom it's named), though the straggly, crushed basil garnish did little to tempt the palate. The Cream of Mushroom soup (Rs 155) alone is worth visiting this restaurant for, and the fondue (Rs 550) was surprisingly scrumptious as was the pure vegetarian, though alcohol-soaked Tiramisu (Rs 235). "We don't use Mascarpone as it's not believed to be vegetarian," the manager told us when we inquired about the unique texture of the Tiramisu. He confessed to substituting it with processed cheese.

More enjoyable than the food was strange bill. "Rs 28.60," it said, and we would have gladly signed and left, had we not spotted the "Base Tip" note in one corner. As it turned out, that's all the waiter had charged us.

Even more surprising was the fact that we actually had to coax him to check with his senior about the amount and that it took several whirrs at the counter for the correct amount to be charged, though the credit card statement still featured the entire amount as "base tip". Someone at the bank is sure to wonder just what service they provided to deserve such generosity. Now, there's a novel way to build a good reputation!

ON: Ground floor, Shalimar Building, G Road (at the end of the Kishco Cutlery lane), Marine Drive.
Call: 66153322 / 66153555