Restaurants / Reviews
Pizzarova, Park Street – restaurant review
Having Pizzarova pizzas beside the Floating Harbour has become something of a Bristol tradition since the business became the very first to open a converted shipping container at Wapping Wharf.
This was preceded by permanent premises on Gloucester Road and now there is a third option to get your Pizzarova fix in a new restaurant at the foot of Park Street overlooking College Green.
Although it’s a restaurant, this new opening seems to be currently more geared up for takeaway than those choosing to eat in, with boxes piled up beside the pizza oven.
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On a recent evening, pizzas arrived to our table without knives, forks or napkins – which all have to picked up from near the counter.
For those choosing to eat in, there are some prime spots in the windows which can be flung open offering people-watching opportunities galore if you don’t mind also being watched chowing down on your food.
The format will be familiar to anyone who has enjoyed Pizzarova before: you either choose your own combination from more than a dozen toppings from the ‘Yours’ selection for £10, or you go with the regularly changing ‘Ours’ for £11.
There is also their version of the margherita pizza, ‘The Lady’, for £6.
Two Lady pizzas for two three- and seven-year-old ladies were not quite as well enjoyed as their favourite margheritas from Bertha’s, but a vegetarian option was better enjoyed by their mum.
On this particular Tuesday evening, the ‘Ours’ was smoked chicken, avocado and what was described as ‘hand-made’ jalapeño pesto.
In the middle of a satisfyingly chewy crust (all of the pizzas here are made with a 71-year-old sourdough starter) was a mighty fine combination of flavours with just a delicate hit of heat.
A small bit of gristle among the chicken was not quite so good, but it was soon forgotten thanks to a refreshing pint of Bibble from Wild Beer, on the drinks list alongside cider from Cornish Orchards, and a choice of red or white from Bristol’s own More Wine.
Just down the steps from Pizzarova is Sergio’s on Frogmore Street, which has been a firm favourite in Bristol for almost 30 years and shouldn’t be too concerned by this new interloper in their midst; they are very different places catering for very different audiences.
But for Pizzarova fans, however, enjoying their pizzas on College Green could soon become just as much as a tradition as pizzas by the Floating Harbour.
Pizzarova, 2 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5HS