Broccoli Pizza & Pasta is a very well-known chain in the UAE.
Their first location in England opened last July in Covent Garden.
I got to try it out for the first time last week and guys, I think it’s a game changer.
C O N C E P T
Unlike most pizza and pasta restaurants where you order off a menu, Broccoli gives you the ability to “make your own” pasta, and it’s done right in front of you. This process reminded me of Subway and how they make their sandwiches. It’s easy, authentic, and delicious. Most Broccoli restaurants have the kitchen next to the seating area, but this one did not due to space constraints. They deliver within three miles and have plans to open in multiple other London boroughs.
D E C O R & L O C A T I O N
Since the first Broccoli UK is located in the hub of Covent Garden, this place is frequented by working professionals. The Covent Garden location is unique in that it is a takeaway, given the limited space. I am looking forward to the future locations, which will have seating on level with the kitchen. The downstairs has seating for twenty or so, but there is no natural light, so it doesn’t feel like the most welcoming of spaces. I think the era of brightly colored restaurants came to an end five years ago, so I’m surprised they’ve pushed through with lime green. But that could just be my modern design mindset coming through.
T A S T E
I give this place ten out of ten stars for their flavor. To be honest, the lime green decor made me a little anxious when I walked in because the food and drink world is clearly moving toward minimalist decor, but the flavor of my food made up for my eyes hurting from the bright green. I ordered the margarita pizza, and my friend/fellow blogger in crime (hyperlink her blog), Chaz, ordered the chicken lasagna. When we got our food, I knew we were in for a treat. My pizza was glistening with cheesy tomato goodness, and her lasagna looked baked to perfection. The crust was delicious, but not too doughy, and filling. The lasagna had a generous amount of meat in it, and looked like it belonged in a bistro. I ate half of my medium-sized pizza, and she had half of her chicken lasagna. Thankfully, they gave us takeaway bags! (Still surprised at how many places in London don’t do that.) The operations manager told us that the vegetables and sauces are fresh every day and that the recipes are originally Italian. So hey, even if it started in Dubai, it is authentically Italian miei amici!
P R I C E & S E R V I C E
If you go to an Italian restaurant in London, you can bet you’ll pay between £12-30 for one person’s meal. Our meal for the two of us came out to less than £20. Not even joking. Like I said earlier, I think this is a game changer, people. There’s a reason Broccoli is so successful in the UAE. If the constant stream of people coming in and out while I was there told me anything, it’s that we can expect Broccoli to do very well here in the UK! The staff behind the kitchen were very friendly and making conversation with every customer. I found that very refreshing, given how overwhelming it must be to have so many people ordering at once or changing orders multiple times.
Check out their Instagram or website for more details.
So tell me, have you had a chance to check out Broccoli? In London or abroad?
Cheers,
