Pizza Factory Dishes Meaty Italian-Style Pizzas
As online voting continues for the 2017 Pizza Cup, The Deep Dish will be previewing a few of the restaurants vying for the title of Beijing's most beloved pie. So take a look, grab a slice, and pick the team you want to be victorious.
Pizza Factory, on the second floor of Topwin Center, fits in Sanlitun 100%. I mean, come on: The sleek and stylish location with black and white tile flooring, blackboards with artsy chalk paintings on the walls, high ceilings, industrial-style lamps, fresh flowers on each table, and floor-to-ceiling windows with a Sanlitun view … It reaches its target customers effortlessly, which was proven by the full house during our weekday visit at lunchtime.
The Four Season Meatlover Pizza (RMB 98 for a 14-inch) is aptly named, as it is a meat lover’s fantasy. It's divided into four quarters, each a different type of meaty pizza: ham and mushroom with creamy mushroom sauce; steak and onion with black pepper sauce; chicken and pine nuts with pesto sauce; and salami and basil with tomato sauce, all on a thin and crunchy crust. It was too close to call which was best, but we enjoyed the steak and onion a lot – the sweet onion slices and beef were seasoned well with a spicy pepper sauce. They also offer Holy Spicy Steak Pizza (RMB 78 for a 10-inch, and RMB 98 for a 14-inch) for those who want the spice to flow.
Cheese King Pizza (RMB 48 for a 10-inch)
Cheese lovers, try the Cheese King Pizza (RMB 48 for a 10-inch, RMB 68 for a 14-inch). It was topped generously with four different cheeses, cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, bleu cheese, and in case that’s not a cheesy enough cheese, they drizzle it with cheese sauce. The steaming-hot and crisp crust with heavy cheese distribution played a harmonious song in our mouths. The secret? The Neapolitan-style 1.8-ton pizza oven is made of volcanic rock, the natural micro-pores of the oven maintains a constant temperature inside, bringing a certain flavor to the pie.
If you are not in the mood for pizza (though we can never and will never empathize), the main dishes here are fairly good. The Il Vesuvio Quinoa Salad (RMB 58, main image) features quinoa, red kidney beans, chickpeas, and arugula, dressed with mint sauce and yogurt. The Mediterranean mussels with quinoa (RMB 68) were a star – the mussels were flavorful and tender, and paired with chopped onion. The umami flavor was balanced with an herbal flavor, further enhanced by the rich and creamy pesto sauce, and a splash of lemon juice. The seafood and asparagus soup (RMB 36) hit every element that a hearty soup must: creamy, delicious, and rich.
Mediterranean mussels with quinoa (RMB 68)
Too much food? You can stuff your second stomach with their homemade yogurt with three different flavors (RMB 38-45), such as mixed fruit, wild berries, and purple sweet potato. Reviewers on dianping.com also give generous compliments to their intriguing desserts, such as crème brulee and lava cake. Unfortunately, we were simply too stuffed to try more, so we leave you the chance to explore for yourself. Their new menu will hit the market soon. After the annual Pizza Festival last weekend, the month-long voting session has just begun. We know you want to stand for your favorite pizza place, so click here to vote.
Photos: Tracy Wang
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