Please note: This review was done on an invitation from the restaurant to taste their food, and no bill was presented to the author. While the author assures you of objectivity, the review may be influenced by the personalized attention the author got.

I must confess upfront that I am a fan of Jamie Oliver. Though it is the women folk who find him hot, I think of him as a good chap with some handy tips on cooking delicious food. So when I am invited for a media launch of Jamie’s Pizzeria at Ambience mall, I look forward to it with some degree of enthusiasm. I reach there at the appointed hour and am rather underwhelmed by the place. It is too small and cramped with an open kitchen and that is about it.

In true Indian tradition, the launch begins half an hour after the mentioned time. After an audio visual from Discovery channel promoting Jamie’s TV presence, and a small talk by Alexander Troughton, the Manager of Jamie’s restaurants, the tasting session starts.

The appetisers are disappointing by and large. Hand-stretched garlic bread with rosemary and olive tapenade (Rs 129) is too dry, and okra, chilli and lotus root fritti with green goddess dipping sauce (Rs 129) has lotus root that has not been crisped enough making it limp and a challenge to eat.

                  Garlic bread                                       Okra & lotus root fritti

Fritto misto, prawns, squid and a selection of fried local fish in crispy batter with chunky Italian tartare sauce (Rs 249) has the potential of being a great dish, but it is too bland and somewhat tasteless for me. Also perplexing is the phrase “fried local fish” since NCR does not have a local fish, and the one used here, Basa, is local to Vietnam.

                                  Fritto Misto

Since by now I am getting late for my next appointment, I take whichever pizza comes my way. Courgette Pomodoro Pizza with crushed tomatoes, marinated courgette, crispy potato, mozzarella, rosemary and parsley (Rs 349) is the one I get. After the not so impressive starters, I am not expecting much out of a vegetarian pizza, but I am pleasantly surprised. The crust is amazing, and the sauce is vibrant and alive. The cheese is melted just right and is gooey perfection. The toppings don’t really matter, and as it so happens, the ones I get are tasty too.

                      Courgette Pomodoro Pizza

So do visit this place, skip the starters and go straight for any pizza. With their crust, sauce and cheese, they all are bound to taste good.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 3.5 | Ambience: 3.0 | Service: 3.5 | Value: 4.0 | Overall: 3.5

Meal for two: Rs.1400 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: No

Address: 3rd Floor, Ambience Mall, Gurgaon. Tel: +91 9599180116