Buongiorno e Buonasera, a much loved pizza place in Oxford, has opened its first London branch on busy Baker Street. You might walk straight past it if you’re not paying attention: the inconspicuous exterior doesn’t give much away. But once inside, the offering of lighter-than-average Roman-style pizzas – made of organic, non-GMO ingredients – will make you glad you stuck around.
‘Buongiorno e Buonasera’ means ‘good day and good evening’ in Italian: the idea being that you can pop in any time of day to grab a coffee, pastry or Italian-style baked bread with eggs; satisfy a sugar craving with a gelato or a pistachio cannoli; or make a beeline for their pizzas. These are, after all, the main event.
Laid out deli-style and so very tempting, you can pick and choose your flavours at the counter while ogling your soon-to-be meal. With many toppings to pick from, the half-size portions on offer come in handy so that one can try a few slices of (almost) everything. Highlights included the carbonara pizza, complete with pancetta and a creamy sauce; and the tried-and-tested favourite of spicy salami and bufala mozzarella. If you’re not too keen on gluten-induced bloat – or are vegan – you’ll be well served here, with many (fairly exciting) options on the menu to cater to your needs.
Things to steer clear of are the bruschetta aglio e olio, which came served as a mere slice of white toast lightly brushed with a splash of olive oil and a sprinkling of potentially non-existent garlic. A lasagne was underwhelming and almost cold.
Get comfortable at one of the wooden tables by the deli-style grocery section in front: the pastas, cheeses and olive oils may just inspire you to you do some Italian cooking at home.