Food Review Pizza Pilgrims, Docklands
Pizza is now an item of normal city dwelling reality with options in store and restaurants, as well as gluten free and vegan becoming more available.
Anyone knows though, that finding good, or even excellent pizza, and a great environment can be difficult. Many places offer the casual atmosphere (such as Pizza East), but fail in making memorable pizza.
Pizza Pilgrims, an already established chain, has London locations which include Soho, Covent Garden and Shoreditch. With a brand new addition in the West India Quay strip of restaurants by Canary Wharf, they hit the nail on the proverbial head.
On the visit there, not only was the pizza - from its caringly made dough to its flavour focused toppings - immensely satisfying, but the small plate antipasti of mozzarella, smoked sun dried tomatoes and prosciutto sticks was a brilliant start.
With authentic chefs from Italy creating the dishes, specials, like a Carbonara Pizza, are equally as great as their set menu and Nduja Pizza, (skinless spicy sausage sprinkled liberally with piquant pepper flakes). The house wine is of recommended quality, their red being a nice compliment to all the dishes. The beer choice is pleasant in scope.
The space of the West India Quays location (which includes an outdoor terrace) was atmospherically lit, with a sorta tech bro start up feel, including couches for Mario kart (65 inch TV) and a foosball table (for up to 22 players!) downstairs, part of the spacious restaurant's ‘pizza playground’ which includes an outdoor boules-style bocce ball court.
Exposed brick walls meet a traditionally boothed Italian family restaurant. The over-all effect is casual, but with clear designed aspects such as Italian movie posters and pop culture references.
The prices are realistic for the portions at £5-11, depending on the meal. So, when the pizza craving hits, Pizza Pilgrim is the place to go for a deeply enjoyable (and meticulously flavoured) meal. Perfect Pizza.
12 Hertsmere Rd,
Canary Wharf,
London E14 4AE
Tel: 020 3019 8020
West India Quay / Canary Wharf (DLR)