Top 7: Quattro Formaggi Pizzas in LondonBy Alicia Grimshaw
There’s somethings in life that you just can’t beat – a runny yolk, the perfect porridge, and a damn good quattro formaggi pizza. This week we’ve been exploring all the cheesy goodness London has to offer with our friends over at Collier’s Cheese. From the tastiest cheese on toast to mac ‘n cheese sides – we’ve gone nuts for cheese. Without further adieu, here are London’s best 4 cheese pizzas. Happy eating, people:
1. Pizza Union, King’s Cross and Shoreditch
Order: Formaggi – Tomato sauce, mozzarella, mascarpone, gorgonzola and parmesan (£5.50)
The Lowdown: Pizza Union is a fast-casual style pizzeria without waiters, fuss and overdone pizzas. They have two branches in London, but it’s the King’s Cross outlet that gets our vote. Opened last year, it’s the perfect place to grab a speedy lunch all afternoon, stop-off for a quick bite on the way home, or get the gang together for a fun dinner.
Eat: All the pizzas. Roman-style thin and crispy 12” wonders made fresh and fire-baked in 3 minutes in a huge traditional domed stone pizza oven, the largest in the UK. Expect classic pizzas including Margherita, Fiorentina, and Pepperoni. Also on the menu is the Calabria with N’duja spicy sausage and rocket, and the Reine – a combination of cotto ham, mushrooms, black olives and parmesan. Remember to order their warm Dolce – a dough ring with a choice of three fillings including Nutella, coconut or salted caramel.
Where: Locations here
Order: Quatro Formoggi – Gorgonzola, piccante, parmesan, fior di late, scamorza and extra virgin olive oil (£12)
The Lowdown: Mayfair isn’t just home to high-end fashion and ludicrously overpriced coffee, it’s also home to Mayfair Pizza Co, a pizza spot with pizzaz. The first floor restaurant has an open plan kitchen where you can watch the chefs at work, kneading dough and cooking some mighty fine pizzas. Best to come in the evening away from the throngs of shoppers and tourist crowd.
Eat: The best quality freshly made rustic Italian pizzas and an assortment of Mediterranean-style salads and grills. Our pick of the menu has to go to the Porcini Pizza topped with truffle oil, chopped truffle, parmesan and buffalo mozzarella. The Surf and Turf pasta includes a heavenly combination of minute sirloin steak and king prawns, and the Crab Mac ‘n Cheese shouldn’t be overlooked either. Anywhere that sells a Nutella calzone with marshmallows gets a yes from us.
Where: 4 Lancashire Court, New Bond Street, London W1S 1EY
3. Pizza Metro, Battersea and Notting Hill
Order: Quattro Formaggio – Mozzarella, gorgonzola, scamorza, ricotta and grana padano (£11.75)
The Lowdown: From the outside Pizza Metro looks like a children’s play area complete with a ball pit and face painting, but inside is a different story. Opened in 1993, Pizza Metro is still on top of their game when it comes to dishing up proper Neapolitan pizzas – all made with hand-stretched dough from the finest wheat, made fresh everyday. You don’t come here for fine dining, you come here for their metre long pizzas.
Eat: Their pizza menu is a minefield. If you’re veggie you can’t go wrong with their Melanze e Ricotta which features mozzarella, tomato, aubergines and ricotta. Fan of meat? It’s all about the Pizza Metro – cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, meatballs and aubergine parmigiana. It feels like a pasta dish on top of a pizza – not that we’re complaining. As pleasant as the pasta dishes sound, swerve them and stick to the pizzas, trust us.
Where: 64 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1EQ
Photo Credit: foodbossindia
4. Saporitalia, Ladbroke Grove
Order: Quattro Formaggi – Mozzarella, pecorino, ricotta, smoked provola cheese (£11.50)
The Lowdown: Saporitalia is owned by two Italian brothers who came over to London 20 years ago. At the heart of Sporitalia is the recipes, which have been past down through generations. Never as the term ‘just like grandma use to make’ been more apt. The restaurant offers a slice of traditional Italian flavours and cooking right in the heart of Zone 2.
Eat: Kick things off with the Scarmoza al Forgo Con San Daniele, it’s basically soft cheese cooked in the oven with ham. Not too heavy, and just the right amount. Their pasta menu is small and concise – leading the pack is the Spaghetti al Palchino (no, not the movie star). It’s just 4 ingredients; plum and cherry tomato sauce, basil, garlic and extra virgin olive oil – but it’s really, really fresh. They also bang out killer Margaritas and Prosciutto e Fungi with Italian ham and parmesan.
Where: 222 Portobello Rd, London W11 1LJ
Photo Credit: liszapparoli
Order: 5 Formaggi – Mozzarella, gorgonzola, scamorza, ricotta cheese, parmesan, basil and olive oil
The Lowdown: Addommè Pizzeria and Trattoria brings a unique taste of Neapolitan cuisine to the capital. They’ve seamlessly blended modern and classic Italian dishes, and are extremely proud of their homemade pizza dough. They’ve tweaked ancient recipes and traditions, cooking all of the pizzas in their pride and joy – their wood fire oven.
Eat: Dare we say it, as we’re big pizza fans, but their pasta is a delight. The Paccheri con i Friggitelli is a veggie lovers dream – Paccheri pasta with Italian green sweet baby peppers, cherry tomato sauce and parmesan. There’s no denying that their pizzas are the reason why Addomme have become so popular. Highlights from the menu include; Marinara con Scarole with anchovies and capers, the 5 Formaggi with not 4, but 5 cheeses and the Italian Speck and Gorgonzola.
Where: 17-21 Sternhold Avenue, Streatham Hill, London
Photo Credit: alex_newbienerdz
6. L’ Antica Pizzeria, Hampstead
Order: Galileo Galilei – Mozzarella, gorgonzola, fortina, percorino, parmesan, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil (£10.95)
The Lowdown: L’ Antica Pizzeria use the best knowledge, the best equipment and carefully selected ingredients to create their pizzas. The team at L’Antica use caputo flour for the base in their low-salt dough which is then slow-fermented over 24 hours. It puffs up quickly when hitting 400°C in their neapolitan made wood oven. The end result: a crisp, sharp chewy base.
Eat: All of their pizzas are named after well-known Italians. For instance, the Marco Polo pizza is topped with mushrooms, prosciutto ham, artichokes and black olives, and if you’re a fan of the Sistine Chapel it would be rude not to give the Michelangelo pizza a whirl. They’ve got a great range of salads on offer, and also have gluten-free pasta available. Their burrata is not to be missed.
Where: Antica Pizzeria Hampstead, 66 Heath Street, NW3 1DN
7. Rossopomodoro, Various Locations
Order: Quattro Formaggi — Smoked mozzarella, Gorgonzola, pecorino, buffalo caciottella, basil (£12.45)
The Lowdown: Rossopomodoro has been quietly popping up in different locations throughout the years. London is now home to 7 restaurants, with them all knocking up out consistently good Neapolitan fare. There’s good reason why Rossomopodoro is packed at lunchtime and on evenings – you can’t argue with the quality or the price. Don’t fear the high street people, Rossopomodoro is fantastic.
Eat: They boast a dedicated bruschetta menu, and that sits well with us. The Funghi e Pancetta consists of chargrilled homemade bread with wild mushroom cream, crispy pancetta, garlic, chilli and parsley. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to pizza toppings as Rossopomordoro’s menu is endless. Head straight for the gourmet Neapolitan pizza section – the Cornucopia is what dreams are made of.
Where: Check out their locations here
Sponsored post as part of Colliers Cheese Week on About Time – to get involved, follow Colliers on Twitter here and like them on Facebook here
