Review: Hyderabad's all-vegetarian 'Zza Bar is the answer to your pizza cravings

This is 'Zza bar's second outlet, first was opened in Manipal in 2015. 
Spinach and Feta Pizza
Spinach and Feta Pizza

While there is no dearth of pizzerias in Hyderabad, the number of outlets offering Italian handcrafted pizzas are a few. The all-new ’Zza Bar is a welcoming addition, which aims to pay attention to the authenticity and quality of pizzas.

Located on Road No 45, Jubilee Hills, ’Zza Bar (named after the three last letters of ‘pizza’) came to Hyderabad a few weeks ago. Although it is owned by city-based entrepreneurs Srini and Lien Uppaluri and Ankit and Trishla Shah, the owners first opened the pizza café in Manipal in May 2015. “I was based in Manipal three years ago, when I opened ’Zza Bar with just three pizzas on a handwritten menu. I spent a month or so to explore different variations of pizza. In no time, ’Zza Bar was the talk of the town,” shares Srini.

Srini making delicious pizzas
Srini making delicious pizzas

Oven story
Once we settled down in the 25-seater, we began with the Special Iced Tea — perfect to cool you down on a hot summer afternoon. Although the restaurant is rather small, it offers two sections — air-conditioned (three tables) and outdoors. We chose the indoors to stay away from the heat and bustling traffic on the Road No 45. The space has café-style wooden furniture on the right and a long counter-top with bar stools on the left. The first thing that catches our attention is the huge Il Forno oven by New Delhi-based over maker Marco Cappiotti. “I’ve known Marco for years. He personally came down to both Hyderabad and Manipal to set it up,” says Srini.


One in a melon
The all-vegetarian menu is brief with salads, sides including garlic bread and bruschetta, sandwiches, pasta, pizza and desserts. We choose the Watermelon and Feta salad to beat the heat. The sweet, juicy watermelon against the salty and creamy feta is a winning combination.
 

Watermelon and Feta
Watermelon and Feta


Moving on to something hot, we try the Four Cheese and Pesto sandwich. Tucked inside the grilled Puccia bread is iceberg lettuce, pesto, tomatoes, olives and four cheese — cow mozzarella, bocconcini, feta and cheddar. Unlike other cafés, ’Zza Bar doesn’t serve sandwiches with fries or wedges, but you don’t miss them, thanks to the filling and flavourful eight-inch sandwich.

Four Cheese and Pesto sandwich
Four Cheese and Pesto sandwich


Going by the name, it’s not a surprise that the heart of the menu lies in their pizzas, which are made in-house right from the dough to baking and toppings. From the 11 pizzas, we pick Spinach and Feta. Made with homemade tomato sauce, fresh spinach, olives, cow mozzarella and feta, the eight-inch pizza is not overwhelming. It is rather light yet filling and is baked in less than two minutes — something we love about this café, apart from their delicious desserts.

<em>Tres Leches </em>
Tres Leches

For a person with a sweet tooth, like me, their Tres Leches and Cheesecake are to die for! Made by Lien herself, the cheesecake comes with a soft base and seasonal fruit toppings — strawberry during our visit, while the Tres Leches is a chocolate lover’s heaven. As we finish off the well-plated cakes, we can’t help but say that ’Zza Bar’s desserts are as mouth-watering as their pizzas.

Cheesecake
Cheesecake

Price for two: Rs.1,200.
Pics: S Senbagapandiyan.

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