British food chain Pizza Express is back in Manila and opened its first branch since 2003 late last month. Because we at Coconuts Manila can’t say “no” to new pizza options (or any type of food, really), we went ahead and tried it for you.
Those who have traveled to the United Kingdom or Hong Kong are probably already familiar with the restaurant. Its branch in Manila looks a little bit more upscale with its mix of industrial fixtures and modern furniture, but it still has the same accessible vibe as other outlets.
READ: NEW RESTAURANT: British food chain Pizza Express opens in Manila
We would have wanted to stay inside but since we were a party of two, the staff seated us outside where there were smaller tables. Apart from finding it difficult to call the waiters, sitting outside didn’t really affect the dining experience. The food was brought to our table quickly (We were shocked at how fast they were) and everyone was very accommodating.
For the purposes of this review, we decided to order Pizza Express’ most popular dishes from every course but we encourage you to try their other menu items too and let us know what you think.
Starters
The baked dough balls (PHP195/US$3.77) are highly recommended online and is probably one of Pizza Express’ more popular menu items. We expected them to be robust like sourdough bread but were pleasantly surprised to find out that they’re actually pillowy with a nice char on the outside.
The bread comes with butter and your choice of pesto genovese (made with basil) or pesto rosso (made with sundried tomatoes).
We tried them both and liked the rosso much more. It had a mix of sour and sweet flavors and had a thicker consistency. The genovese was heavier on the oil than we would have liked and was more like a salad dressing than a dip.
Pasta
We ordered the Penne Pollo Piccante (PHP340/US$6.58) because we couldn’t decide whether to get a creamy pasta or one with a tomato base. This one is a mixture of both, made with a spicy cream-based sauce and cherry tomatoes. The pasta was cooked just right but the sauce could have used more seasoning. The dish was also on the dry side and would have benefited from a little more sauce.
Pizza
Another Pizza Express favorite, the Calabrese (PHP595/US$11.51) is a rectangular thin crust pizza topped with sausage, salami, jalapeños, green chilies, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella, arugula, basil pesto, and parmesan.
We enjoyed this pizza because it’s meatier than a margarita pizza but lighter and fresher than most all-meat pizzas. Though the arugula was a little wilted, it still added a peppery taste that went well with the fresh mozzarella.
Because it already gets a kick from the jalapeños, there’s no need to overload on the hot sauce.
Drink
Pizza Express has wine, beer, coffee, and tea on the menu but we decided to order drinks that would complement the food we ordered. That meant going for something light and refreshing with just a tinge of flavor.
Those who plan to order their iced tea (PHP95/US$1.84) shouldn’t expect the sickly sweet kind common in the Philippines. Theirs is more like the ones served in Western countries that are literally just tea over ice with a hint of lemon. Having said that, it’s simple, delicious, and fit what we were looking for.
Their lemonade (PHP120/US$2.32) is similar. We liked it because it was made with sparkling water, wasn’t too sweet, and was more like a sweeter lemon-infused water than a classic lemonade.
Dessert
They have several dessert options but their signature chocolate fudge cake (PHP260/US$5.03) seemed like the best choice. It’s a slice of chocolate cake served on a hot skillet with a side of vanilla ice cream. The cake was warm and was like an inside-out chocolate lava cake. We appreciated that it had two different kinds of frosting: a gooey glaze on the outside and a thick sugary chocolate as a filling.
Pizza Express doesn’t offer anything innovative and that’s fine because it delivers what it promises: comfort food in a comfortable setting. It’s a welcome addition to Manila’s casual dining experiences and a good alternative to staple restaurants for family weekend dinners.
Have you tried Pizza Express in Manila? What do you think? Is it just like branches you’ve tried in other countries? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @coconutsmanila.
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