By Katerina Ralli, First Year, English and Philosophy
Having very recently opened in January of this year, Basil is a cosy, independent shop on Queen’s Road serving authentic Roman pizza by the slice. Placed conveniently close to the university, they offer a 10% student discount, as well as other lunchtime deals throughout the week.
In a city where Neapolitan-style pizza seems to be the easiest to find, in restaurants like Pizzarova and Franco Manca, Basil brings square Roman pizza into the spotlight. The owner, David, is an award-winning pizza chef who has lived and worked in Bristol for 10 years. Before opening his own shop, he worked as head chef in other Bristol pizza restaurants such as Bosco Pizzeria and Zerodegrees, and even won the National Pizza Award for his Cinghiale pizza in 2023!
While Neapolitan pizza is circular with a thinner base and raised crust, a Roman-style pizza base more closely resembles foccacia, being deliciously crispy while maintaining a softer, airy interior. I asked David about how this texture is achieved, and he explained the ‘Poolish’ prefermentation technique, which involves the dough resting at room temperature for 18 hours, and then fermenting in the fridge for a further 72 hours. The effort put into preparing a pizza slice goes beyond just a matter of toppings, and starts days before. This process is completed every day to ensure the bases’ consistency in quality and freshness. And, the ‘Poolish’ technique uses less yeast so it is easier to digest, making the pizza a little healthier for you!
What comes with opening your own pizza shop is having complete control over your menu and ingredients, and David’s emphasis on ingredient quality shines through in taste. Ingredients like the tomatoes in his focaccia sandwiches are imported from Milan every week! While there is already a great selection of choices on the menu, from pizza and focaccia sandwiches to specialty coffee and sweet treats, this is being developed further as more potential menu items are explored, such as a traditional Roman potato and rosemary slice.
The shop itself is a lovely space with tables to sit at, decorated with a variety of plants. The most impressive of these are the healthiest pots of basil I’ve ever seen sat on every table. Customers are welcome to take leaves off to add on top of their pizza, after it gets cut up and presented beautifully with finishing touches and ingredients on a slate, perfect for buying a few to share with a group. The staff are very welcoming and took the time to explain the various pizza types to me, including vegetarian and vegan options.
Basil’s great location makes it perfect for students, but while on a budget it’s important to keep an eye on the cost. Luckily, they have a 10% discount and other deals you can treat yourself to some lunch with. For example, on ‘Moody Mondays’ from 9am to 1pm, any focaccia sandwich comes with a complimentary coffee. From Tuesday to Friday, you can get any slice of pizza and a can of san pellegrino for £6.50, from 1pm to 3pm.
Kate Gaskill
Their pizza is brilliant, my favourite slice so far being their mortadella and stracciatella with the distinct texture and taste reminding me of one I had while on holiday in Rome from a little shop selling it by weight. The reviews I’ve seen of the shop so far have been nothing short of five stars, and I look forward to trying more of their food the next time I go. I have no doubt that Basil will continue to develop its exciting menu further and thrive in its location.
Featured Image: Basil
