Review & Testimonials
SA Times - 4th July 2007
Big Flavours with Small Prices
Pizza might be the last thing on your mind when you decide to go out to eat, but decide just yet, writes Francios van Heerden.
There are many restaurants that claim to specialise in pizzas and pastas.
And most people will probably assume that such restaurants must be an ordinary fast food outlet. Not if that restaurant is a Say Cafe bistro.
Say Cafe is truly a specialist in pizzas and pasta dishes and is the brainchild of globetrotting South African Carl Say, who has a unique take on the whole concept. His Say Cafe bistros in London, Bristol and Bath have taken the Italian motto of big flavours, small prices and fresh ingredients to the absolute extreme, creating a completely refreshing experience that enchants the senses. Nothing extra-ordinary goes on in either the kitchen or the sprightly and well lit, open-plan surroundings, but somehow, everything that is served makes the mouth water.
As the focus is on pizzas and pasta, Say Cafe doesn't offer many starters, but we kicked off with bread and olives (£3.95). It came with three kinds of dipping oil, breadsticks and really good marinated olives.
I decided on pizza and I was overjoyed to hear that they do "halves" as I had a hard time deciding which was the best. I initially chose a chilli-driven Bolognese sauce version called Kalahari and the Cape Special consisting of bacon, feta, spinach and avocado (£7.75). Exquisite!
My partner's seafood Linguine (£8.70) featured very fresh scallops, mussels and prawns in a light, caper- infused tomato sauce. I'm not a seafood fan myself but she assured me, it's the best she's ever tasted in the UK.
Save some space for dessert because, like the mains, the servings are generous and you'll kick yourself for wasting it. It's that good. I got half way through a slice of Warm Chocolate Almond Torte (£4.25) and she barely made a dent in Baked Cheesecake (£4.25) before we had to surrender.
But we'll live to eat another day and when we'll make sure we don't eat anything for at least a day beforehand.
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