Pizza Locadeli

Pizza Locadeli is the pizza pop-​up by Michelin starred Italian restaurant Locanda Locatelli and largely seems to be something for the staff to do while the restaurant is undergoing a 3 month refurb. And that, beyond the loose Italian theme, is about all the two have to do with each other. The menu is centred around a handful of pastas and pizzas and is best described (and priced) as a slightly upscale café.
We opted to try both the pasta and the pizzas and ordered the mushroom pasta with truffle, the Calabrese pizza, and the seafood pizza whose proper name escapes me. We also got the parma ham with black figs drizzled in honey and the swordfish carpaccio to start.
The parma ham with figs was delicious but really it’s hard to go wrong. Great fresh ingredients and very little cooking required. The swordfish carpaccio had great potential with delicate flavourful fish boosted with the mild peppery rocket balanced by the refreshing balls of watermelon. All that lovely flavour was then brutally overwhelmed by the addition of pine nuts which added absolutely nothing to the dish.
Pizza-​wise, the group was divided on which one was better but unanimously agreed that they were pretty damn tasty. The base is thin and crispy, the toppings crisp and fresh with the Calabrese boasting a spicy Nduja sausage paired with a soft burrata. This was my pick of the two and it worked well with an overall warming heat that was just shy of fiery.
Our second choice was a seafood medley of a pizza which actually worked. The seafood was fresh and flavourful and, because of the thin base, avoided being overcooked and rubbery. I’m usually against any seafood pizzas as they tend to ruin the delicate fish but this one was spot on.
The pasta actually was the highlight of the meal with strong mushroom flavours matching up to the savouriness of the truffle. The pasta itself was perfectly al dente although that shouldn’t be a surprise given the calibre of the kitchen. The only gripe is that the portions are so small that sharing it with others is a bit heart breaking.
While I enjoyed the meal, I think it was overpriced with the bill for two starters, two pizzas, a pasta, and a bottle of wine rocking in at £130. I believe the wine was around £30−40, but that still leaves a hefty food bill. I’d rather head to Homeslice or Earlham St Clubhouse where I’d shell out about half that for more delicious pizza and get a bit more atmosphere to boot.

I am actually not that trendy and I happened to stumble upon this place through a friend’s invite. I am really happy we went there as it is like a spot reserved for hungry pizza craving people like me on a lunch break. It was indeed quite busy but nevertheless we got our order after a respectable wait. From there on I can’t remember much, it’s all a blur as the pizza was getting in my hungry belly until it gave out. I was full but it was so good and I was as determined to finish it all as the people waiting in line just to get the new iPhone.
The space around was also really clean.
Very tasty place indeed, not that great variety in the menu but I surely will try it all in the next weeks.

This is a pop up restaurant, so not sure how long we’ll have it in the neighborhood. I went for lunch just last week. The interior is spacious, and features long wood tables for more of a «family style» feel.
The menu featured a few nice appetizers, but I didn’t partake. I went straight for a Calabrese pizza, which featured a chorizo-​like sausage and fresh moz. The crust of the pizzas is really excellent — It’s true, thin crust, brick oven stuff.
The pizzas themselves were also well enjoyed by the group. Not the best or most imaginative pizza I’ve ever had, but definitely fresh and well made. I’d definitely hit the place up for a casual birthday dinner or to catch up with friends for an evening. Seems like just the right kind of place.

Lovely pasta dishes too… shame they close on Sunday! Nice atmosphere and enjoyable lunch.

This may just be the best pizza place I’ve been to.
I walked into this place at lunch and it was empty. But as soon as I sat down the owner was chit chatting with me to keep me company as I waited for friends to arrive. He explained that his Michelin star restaurant is currently under refurb so they decided to open a pop up pizza place to keep staff and try something new.
As we ordered he told us ‘this pizza is THE pizza’. And as we ate the pizza, he wasn’t eating his words. It was soooo delicious. Fresh fresh ingredients, perfectly thin but not too thin crust, simple toppings, it was just perfect. I got the Parma and someone else got the sausage meat and mushroom one and the third got the friarielli. I would have halved and halved the pizzas as mine was a tad on the salty side and the fresh tomato sauce on the other was just scrum. Puddings were also a delight and the coffee espresso went down in one.