Those who are familiar with the landscape of St Mary’s Road will never forget the almost hole-in-the-wall outlet of Ox and Tomato, squeezed into the ground floor space of an apartment complex. So, when we heard from owner Mansi Reddy that they had moved to a much bigger place on TTK Road (RIP Spoonbill), we sure were curious to see what was on offer.
The décor matches the mood of the place, with interiors popping with colour and the furniture (a mix of wooden tables, chairs and three-legged stools) placed all around the 48 cover restaurant. But what really catches our attention is the live kitchen, which houses, what we believe is the city’s first charcoal-fired pizza oven. “I cannot really attest if it is the first charcoal fired pizza oven, but I don’t believe any restaurant has one in the city so far,” says Mansi, adding that it was actually all Sandesh’s (her husband, the brain behind the menu) idea. “He is the brand owner — who researches everything from ingredients to technique, and even the charcoal oven. Between getting it sourced and designed by an Italian maker in Delhi, it was a quite a wait before we got it,” she adds.
The menu, like the place, has gotten bigger, but Mansi assures us that the favourites (think the belly buster sandwich and the three-cheese wrap) still remain. We begin with the familiar roast chicken salad, a crunchy mix of lettuce, peppers, chicken and olives dressed with balsamic vinaigrette, followed by a portion of cheese garlic bread which delivers a crunchy bite. We get to their famed pizzas next. The Artichoke Verdura (pizza topped with pesto sauce, cherry tomato, artichoke, Parmesan and mozzarella) is a happy mix of flavours that work well together, considering that artichoke on a pizza topping might seem like an unusual choice. The Kitchen Sink (tomato sauce, chicken, pepperoni, ham, bacon and mozzarella) is a meat lover’s paradise, loaded with crunchy bits of bacon and perfectly cooked ham, with a slightly smoky flavour from the charcoal oven coming through. Those with a sweet tooth can opt for their newly added Bee Sting pizza, that comes topped with a dash of honey because pineapple on your pizza is so passe.
We end our meal with a tiramisu, layered with the goodness of custard and coffee, and their delectably gooey brownie, which when served warm, can just about make everything in the world okay again.
Meal for two: Rs 1,000. Details: 43060-009