Takeaway Dough at Deer has just launched at The Reindeer pub in Norwich, offering pizzas, po' boy sandwiches and sides. Louisa Baldwin placed an order to try it out for herself.
Food
Dough at Deer started a kitchen residency at The Reindeer in Dereham Road in January and is offering both collection and local delivery.
I ordered with my boyfriend for collection on its second week of opening through its own app, supported by the Tudoo platform that many local businesses have signed up to during the various lockdowns, which was easy to use.
We selected a time slot and pulled up outside and the food was ready when we arrived and piping hot.
On offer are two styles of pizza, which are Neapolitan, which are 10 to 11 inches with a thin base and a puffy, charred crust, or New York, with an even thinner and larger base of 14 inches.
I opted for the barbecue chicken New York pizza pie (£13), which came with Louisiana barbecue sauce, torn roasted chicken, crispy bacon pieces, fresh red onion, mozzarella, sharp cheese and chives.
The quality of ingredients was superb with tender chicken and thick bacon chunks and combined with the tangy barbecue sauce, crunchy onions and gooey cheese it was an absolute delight.
The chives also gave the pizza a kick and the dough was light with a soft and chewy crust and it was already cut into slices which was a bonus.
My boyfriend also ordered a New York-style pizza and went for the Shawarma (£14) with a harissa base, shredded lamb, grilled courgettes, pickled chillies, fresh mozzarella and mint yoghurt - basically a kebab on a pizza.
As he has a dairy allergy he was able to swap the mozzarella for vegan cheese and it was a real treat for him to be able to eat a takeaway pizza with meat as he usually has to go for the vegan option with places unable to adapt.
Before even eating it, the pizzas looked very inviting with lamb strips, fat chillies, plump tomatoes and the yoghurt drizzled on top.
I tried a slice and it tasted absolutely amazing and my partner said it was the best takeaway pizza he has ever had.
We also ordered the Neapolitan garlic bread (£5) and it was very moreish and slathered in tangy garlic sauce.
As we wanted to try as much of the menu as possible, we ordered a po' boy sandwich to share and went for the southern fried king prawns filling (£11).
This type of sandwich is traditional in Louisiana in the US and consists of meat or seafood served in bread with a crispy crust and fluffy centre.
Although £11 may seem a bit pricey for a sandwich, when it arrived it was more than worth the cost.
It was crammed to the brim with chubby prawns and was swimming in a rich thousand island sauce, with tabasco, shredded iceberg lettuce and pickles too.
The bread is all homemade, which is great to see, and on the Dough at Deer Instagram page it says they got advice from the Pye Baker of Norwich, aka John Watt, and this sort of collaboration is just what the Norwich food scene is all about.
We also ordered the Louisiana coated skin on fries (£4) which were tasty. They also gave us an extra portion for free and asked for feedback as they were still testing what was the right level of seasoning.
We also got the sticky chipotle and maple-glazed nuggets (£7) and we went for vegan soya tenders instead of chicken breast because of my boyfriend's allergy.
They were bite-sized chunks of joy and were accompanied by a refreshing ranch sauce and rocket.
Finally, there are a range of homemade dips available (£1.50 each or three for £3) and we got confit garlic, barbecue and sticky Louisiana which elevated the pizzas even more.
Price
All the food cost £48.45 - it should have come to £57 but they were running a discount code of 15pc. The food was well worth the money and you can get two excellent pizzas for under £30 if you don't want any sides.
Drinks
We didn't order any drinks as we already had plenty at home and the focus is on the food - but you can get coke, diet coke, ginger beer and lemonade.
Service
Collection was easy and we parked outside the pub. The team were also really helpful when we were ordering on the app when we messaged with questions about allergens.
Highlight
My barbecue chicken pizza was amazing and the confit garlic sauce was so good - they should sell jars of the stuff.
In summary
Forget the big chains, this is now my go-to pizza takeaway in Norwich and it caters really well for those with dietary requirements.
Our food reviews are always independent. They are the opinion of the reviewer based on their experience of the venue when they visited.
The establishment is not aware of our visit, is not informed we intend to write a review and bills are paid by the reviewer.
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If you like that try these...
1. The Fat Fox Pizza Den, Norwich
Since opening in Prince of Wales Road in June, The Fat Fox Pizza Den takeaway has proved very popular. The menu takes classics toppings and gives them a twist, with options such as a BBQ Chicken Tailgate, with added brie, and You Stay Classy San Diego, with sliced sausage, bacon and tomatoes and an egg on top.
2. The Lion at Thurne, Thurne
This lovely riverside pub, just a stone's throw from Thurne Mill, is offering takeaways during the latest lockdown for collection or delivery. Alongside pizzas, with options such as The Full English, The El Mexicano and The Smokey Joe, there are burgers, chip boxes and other nibbles.
3. Eric's Pizza, Thornham
Chef Eric Snaith, behind the award-winning Eric's Fish and Chips in Thornham and Holt, launched a new pizza business last summer and he uses a woodfired oven. Located in Drove Orchards, click-and-collect is available and also on offer is antipasti, salads and desserts.
How you can support your favourite restaurant in lockdown:
Takeaways - While more places have opted to stay closed for the next few weeks, plenty are still open and offering takeaway meals for delivery or collection.
Vouchers - A valuable way to help businesses, you can buy yourself - or a loved one, as a gift - a voucher now to enjoy when it's safe to do so down the line.
Shop local - Make sure to support restaurant and pub suppliers, including beer, cheese and fruit and vegetables, by shopping local.
Social media - It's not an easy time for many people financially. A simple like on Facebook or follow on Instagram shows support for traders, though, and can help them build exposure.
Don't forget them when they reopen - It might feel like it, but this lockdown isn't forever, and our support should be consistent.
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