Dubliners love pizza and there are enough take outs and restaurants scattered across the city to prove it.  Pi Pizza is the latest addition to the pizza scene. Apparently there have been queues down the road from eager pizza lovers ready to try it out.  So is it worth the queue?Well first off, I don’t really get involved in the whole queuing business if I can help it.  I’m in my 40’s, I’m too old for standing on the street waiting on a slice of pizza, unless of course I’ve had a barrel of drinks in which case I seem to be able to queue like a pro for any bit of food on offer.

I was meeting my good pal Katia AKA Proper Food for lunch and we settled on giving Pi a bash as our meeting spot.  It was an early lunch at 12 and they were literally opening as I arrived so no queue for me !

The Setting

Pi Pizza on Georges street have kept the interiors minimalist. Clean and stylish with a huge pizza oven in the middle.  Seating varies from booths to tables to stools at a counter by the window.  If you visit with a group, on your own or with a pal like me, there is a suitable space for you.

The Menu

The service was prompt and friendly and jugs of water and glasses appeared on the table in minutes.  The menu is kept simple. A choice of beers and ciders from €4.50 to €7 including Yellowbelly, Wicklow Wolf and Orpens.

Pizzas are 12 inch wood fired and range in price from €9 for a Marinara up to €16 for the Funghi.  Extras on or with your pizza consist of a variety of dips (garlic, herb, chipotle) and a choice of Hen of the Woods Mushrooms €3 or the likes of Chorizo and Nduja. They also have a choice of three red and three white wines by the bottle (€26 -€29) and glass (€6.50 – €7.50) and one Prosecco €30.

Desserts are a choice of two.  Chocolate Budino (€4.50) which is a chocolate pot topped with Maldon sea salt or vanilla ice-cream with olive oil and Maldon sea salt.  There must be a special on the sea salt.

Our Food

We knew of course when we made our order that we were also going to be eating off each others plates.  Its pizza, that is a given.  I went with the Salumi (€15) which was crushed tomato, buffalo mozzarella, rocket, Prosciutto, sun-dried tomato and extra virgin olive oil.   It was a fine pizza no doubt.  A little heavy on the rocket perhaps.   The pizza base itself was light with enough crisp to keep me happy.  I would have preferred a bit more crushed tomato base but perhaps that’s just down to personal choice.  An ample serving of Prosciutto and overall a very tasty and enjoyable pizza.

Katia had the Broccolini (€15) which was loaded with Grana Padano, tenderstem broccoli, Toonsbridge Fior di latte, red onion and Nduja. Again it looked great but I felt her toppings were a little more sparse than mine.  Taste wise it had the same light and crisp base and there was a none to subtle kick from the Nduja which I quite liked.

The Verdict

There is no doubt that Pi Pizza are serving up good quality pizza.  They have attention to detail, great service, comfortable surrounds and a simple menu that they handle well.  Is it the best pizza I’ve ever tasted? No.  Is it perhaps a little over hyped at the moment around town?  I think yes.  I’d happily eat it again and sure I would recommend, but you won’t find me queuing for it or indeed fawning unnecessarily over it. Take a visit and make up your own mind is the best advice I can give.