We try out one of Norwich's most popular pizzerias for the first time.
Food
Tucked away next to Norwich market, Brick Pizza prides itself on 'proper pizza' made the 'proper way'.
Small, but pleasingly open and light, with a trendy minimalist interior, pizza is cooked from scratch in a wood-fired oven. Simplicity is the name of the game, with plain wooden tables and metal chairs, and the menu displayed on a board above the bar. It is a casual sit-in or takeaway place, and on Mondays you can buy your own pizza and take it next door to the Sir Garnet pub to enjoy with a drink.
The menu is not extensive, but has everything you would expect from a good pizza restaurant, and is actually fairly impressive considering the size of the place. Choose from 12 different pizzas, with the option to change toppings if you wish plus specials. There is also a selection of sides and nibbles available to order like garlic dough balls and olives.
I ordered a Parma, which comes with tomato, mozzarella, Parma ham and wild rocket. The pizza was truly delicious - perfectly cooked on a thin base with that signature smoky tangy taste you can only get from wood-fired pizza, although it had a fairly doughy consistency, but I prefer that texture over crispy edges, and it managed to avoid being too soft or wet in consistency. Brick claims to use only authentic Italian ingredients, which the flavour certainly demonstrates, with the rich tomato sauce more than delivering.
Each pizza is a good-sized eight pieces, fine to share but also more than possible to eat on your own! My dining companion opted for the cheese-less pizza called the Marinara, which doesn't compromise on taste despite missing an element. There is also a welcomed vegan option on the menu.
We also ordered the dough balls, which came with a generous pot of garlic butter. I love dough balls so my standards were high, and I have to say these were the best dough balls I have ever tasted - simplistic but done so well.
Brick ethos and cuisine is simple and authentic, which means it needs to be perfectly executed to work – and it does. It's a vision I can get on board with, and I can't wait to go back for more.
Drinks
I found the drinks range fairly disappointing, only offering a few choices. Mainly San Pellegrino for soft drinks and Adnams dry hopped lager on tap.
Ambience
It is a small and simple setting with a friendly atmosphere. Everything is within one room so you can watch your pizza being made behind the bar while you wait. The size means there's limited seating in the restaurant and it does get busy easily, but food is quick and a large number of customers create a bit of a buzz. If you are not a fan of small restaurants, there is always the option to take your food away instead.
Service
The service was quick and polite, but nothing too noteworthy. It can get very busy and they turn out pizzas quickly so our interactions with the staff were limited, but friendly and helpful nonetheless.
Loos
Just the one loo, basic and clean.
Parking
Brick is right in the middle of town and within walking distance of the majority of car parks. The closest is probably the Forum car park, which is open seven days a week.
Location
Smack bang in central Norwich, the understated building has unique views over the colourful market tops, and is easily accessible.
Price
Prices are extremely good with pizzas ranging from £5 to 12 with a standard Margherita coming for £6, it's a steal!
Highlight
It would have to be the food itself, it was all excellent, though the dough balls really stole the show.
In summary
If you're looking for a quick, casual bite to eat in a quirky setting that lacks pretention then Brick is the place to go. The relaxed vibe doesn't compromise on quality, and you'll be hard pushed to find better pizzas in Norwich.
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