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Nosy – Create-Your-Own Pizza

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photo: Christina Mitchell

Build Pizzeria Roma opened a couple weeks ago and I was invited to check it out.  It’s a create-your-own pizza concept from owners Lisa Holt and David Shapiro.  First, my friend and I went through the “Building Station,” an assembly line where we decided the toppings for our individual pizzas. I went with a Pizza Bianca ($7.95) with Sopressata Piccante, Broccolini and Roasted Garlic ($1 each). My friend ordered a Pizza Rosso ($7.95) with tomato sauce, chicken, pancetta and olives.  Chef Brian Langevin’s team baked it in the 900 degree wood oven for just a couple minutes and then it was delivered piping hot to our table.  Without sauce, my pizza was crispy and his was almost juicy with the tart tomato sauce.  We were both happy!  Scott Beattie was the consultant for the bar program, but I didn’t know that when I went to the bar side of the restaurant after dinner. I was planning to just have a dessert but when I laid eyes on the huge, clear hand cut ice cube ($1.50), I had to order a Cardamon Old Fashioned (bourbon, orange, bitters, cardamon, $9). The ice cube melted slowly and they say it can be reused 2-3 times to keep the drink cold.  I’ll have to test it out next time.  Anyway, the Crostata Di Frutta ($8), a seasonal fruit tart with mascarpone and balsamic caramel, was flaky, barely sweet and perfectly balanced.  Chef Clara Yun (The Dorchester in London and Aqua in San Francisco) knows what she’s doing.  But when the bartenders kept mentioning the Budino (housemade butterscotch pudding, sea salt, mascarpone, $8), I ended up trying that too.  Honestly, I planned on just taking a couple bites, but it was so creamy and downright addictive, I finished the entire thing. Oh well.  Sometimes you need more than one dessert, right?

2286 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley

510-898-1839

Tues – Sun, 5:30 – 10:30pm, Lunch added soon

Christina Mitchell

Christina Mitchell

Christina is the founder of East Bay Dish. Her writing has also been featured in East Bay Express, Berkeleyside, Oakland Magazine and Edible East Bay.
Christina Mitchell

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