Most food writers have a tendency of pulling down anything that is not authentic. McDonalds have customised their burgers, pizza hut and Dominos offer Indianised products and so do the KFC. Most of the Chinese consumed in India never originated from China. So if we, the Indians, like products that suits our taste buds and marketeers are acceding to our demands then personally I do not see anything wrong in it till some of the iconic dishes recipes are not changed but a new name is instead used.
I am at Crusty pizza, a small time chain that has been getting rave reviews from the foodies in Gurgaon. The small 16 seater restaurant has big lamps, and an open kitchen with the owner taking out time to meet and check for the feedback before he goes inside to personally assemble the pizza. I start with the virgin green apple mojito. Competitively priced at Rs79, I get a very mint-y flavor that comes from peppermint polo that is crushed in the mojito. An interesting take, I must say.
Then we start with garlic & herb starter pizza (85) and bruchetta pizza (129). The intention are noble to have a starter pizza that can replace garlic bread and a pizza base bruchetta. They are nice but fail in fulfilling the aspirations. In bruscetta the crunch is missing while starter pizza looks like a mini pizza. Starter pizza can do well by calling it a garlic flavored pizza.
My family wants a original crust half & half Margarita and Veg pizza, while I order for a superthin half and half meat and seafood pizza. The base is very different. Crusty uses samolina while rolling the base giving the pizza a much better hold. Even the sauces they use (Pesto and Peri Peri) and modified to appeal to masses and pesto is spiked up from its mellow avatar while peri peri is toned down using mayonnaise. If I don’t delve into the authenticity, the pizzas are brilliant and appeal to my desi palate. This pizza neither require any ketchup (no, I don’t like it eitherways), or any chili flakes or oregano. The pizzas are adequately spiced and flavorful. I just did not like the excellent bocancini cheese that crusty uses is completely melted in the pizza and I am unable to get any bite of it on the pizza. However the owner, Rohit Narang, takes the feedback and immediately comes back with few slices of bocancini to spread on my pizza. Rohit who has worked in Australia early in his career, says that many people complained that the raw cheese was being served to them and hence he complied with customers demand.
Ending the meal with excellent fig and honey gelato, Crusty makes me think. While most of the international chains have tailored their products, what’s wrong if a small Indian chain is doing the same. Crusty pizza has redefined the market. It caters to the masses and they happily accepts the fact. People are loving them and it is showing in the way they have already expanded to their second outlet and are planning many more soon. It is a self funded small chain and expansion is only possible when they make money, which fortunately they are doing from their first month itself.
If Crusty can show they can make one or two gourmet pizzas, it will be good. And even if they don’t, love it or hate it, they are going to grow.
Ratings (Out of 5)
Food: 3.5 | Ambience: 3.5 | Service: 4.0 | Overall: 3.5
Meal for Two: Rs. 800 | Credit Cards: Yes | Timings: 12 noon to 11PM | Wheel Chair Accessible: Yes | Home Delivery: Yes
Address: Crusty, G-31, Baani Square, Sector-50, Gurgaon | Telephone: 0124-6528833/ 4047070/ 9999968583. Also at Galleria for Take Away only (4048833/ 6518833/ 8588000052)
