Di Napoli at Mumbai's Nariman Point is a good power-lunch option
Great food and no drinks make Di Napoli at Mumbai's Nariman Point a good power-lunch option.
The interactive open pizzeria is warm and welcoming
I can eat pizza on any day of the week and as the saying goes, twice on Sunday. So, with much hunger and anticipation, we marched off to try Di Napoli - the pizza joint in Nariman Point that claims to have the most authentic pizza this side of the Mediterranean. Di Napoli is a small but functional space in the heart of Mumbai's commercial hub - Nariman Point. Owner Jai Thakur tells us that at lunch time, the place is full of bankers and corporates grabbing a quick meal between high-power meetings. And quick it is. Di Napoli prides itself on being able to conjure up a pizza in just 70 seconds. Apparently, at the correct temperature of 400 degrees, it's supposed to take that long in the oven. We began with a Vesuvius salad - the balsamic dressing was perfectly tangy though the incongruous gnocchi altered the balance a little. Next came the Pepperoni pizza which was all about the meat; no scrimping on ingredients here.
An original Neapolitan pizza or as we know it, Pizza Napoletana, is meant to be so soft that it can be folded up - Di Napoli's pizzas definitely passed the test. Pizzas aside, the thyme rosemary chicken was excellently seasoned and came with a burst of freshness from the tomato sauce. Despite the chunks of chicken, the pizza does weigh you down, because the dough isn't greased with oil. We would only have to disagree on this when it came to the four cheese pizza, which felt a tad oily.
The gorgonzola was also a little sharper than what we would have preferred. But vegetarians should rejoice - the Funghi pizza with white truffle oil was just fabulous. While the shitake and fresh mushrooms were locally procured, the porcini mushrooms were imported - and all three, along with the fresh mozzarella, came together to create one of the best mushroom pizzas I've ever had. Smooth in texture and serendipitously juicy, this is something you must try if mushroom is your thing. The dessert is worth skipping, particularly the flourless chocolate fudge.
Vesuvius Salad Neapolitan Pizza
Meal for two (with alcohol) Rs 1,200
(022) 43473200
A slice of the four cheese pizza sprinkled with herbs and seasoning
The gorgonzola was also a little sharper than what we would have preferred. But vegetarians should rejoice - the Funghi pizza with white truffle oil was just fabulous. While the shitake and fresh mushrooms were locally procured, the porcini mushrooms were imported - and all three, along with the fresh mozzarella, came together to create one of the best mushroom pizzas I've ever had. Smooth in texture and serendipitously juicy, this is something you must try if mushroom is your thing. The dessert is worth skipping, particularly the flourless chocolate fudge.
Vesuvius Salad Neapolitan Pizza
Meal for two (with alcohol) Rs 1,200
(022) 43473200
