Co-existing and sharing the same space with
Tap Room (along with
PaperKite beer and cocktail bar
Tap Tap) is
Pizza Duo @ Bamboo Hills. We enjoyed the ambience, experience and food at
Tap Room very much during our first visit and vowed to return to try the pizzas.
Moreover, a friend of mine was interested to return at night to feel the ambience after seeing the beautiful and serene surroundings when we were here for lunch before (it was indeed pretty as a picture as night fell). The atmosphere seems even more lively at night. Luckily we made prior reservations as the place was brimming with waiting patrons.
Pizza Duo specialises in
Neapolitan pizzas, an authentic Italian pizza originating from
Naples, known for its thin, soft crust with simple toppings cooked under high heat in a wood-fired oven. That impressive-looking oven is apparently called a
Stefano Ferrara oven...and apparently it's also currently the largest
Stefano Ferrara oven in Malaysia.
And, for this visit, we came specifically for that! ;) But, before we get to the pizzas, let's start with a couple of starters and bites...beginning with something that's part of their signature menu, the
Chilli Lava Crab @ RM48.80 which unquestionably did not disappoint. It
knocked it out of the park! ^.^
Featuring crab meat in a spicy chili/sweet & sour crab sauce, this dish is distinctively Malaysian, a highly sought-after dish in Chinese seafood restaurants, except this one you don't have to get your hands messy and dirty to get at the crab meat. It's already done for you...what better way to eat crab than to have all the meat picked out for you, right? I would say
yessss to that! ;D
The crab meat was super fresh and the sauce well balanced with a spicy kick. Served with golden mantou and crispy
youtiao which were the perfect
vehicles to soak up all that awesome sauce. We used it (and wished we had more) to mop up every single last drop of that rich, flavourful sauce. We couldn't get enough...it was beyond what I expected (and my friends loved it too).
Up next was a dish we did not get to sample on our last visit here, the
Grilled Padron Peppers @ RM25.80 as it wasn't available then. Padron peppers, a
Spanish tapas staple, are typically mild and slightly sweet although occasionally you'll get one that packs a spicy punch. The unpredictable spice level of each pepper adds that element of surprise and fun to eating them (no wonder I got one that was really spicy)! >_<
Blistered and charred to perfection and tossed in shrimp floss, they're best eaten dipped in the accompanying creamy shrimp paste sauce that tasted somewhat like a spicy
Thousand Island sauce. This was something different that we tried...and it was another winning dish.
We remember liking the simple, refreshing take on this dish the last time we were here, so we just had to order the
Watermelon Meze @ RM13.80 again with
chuka wakame and crushed peanuts tossed in Thai dressing.
Now, onto the main event, the very reason we made this return trip for...especially after seeing their impressive wood-fired oven that's touted to produce the best-tasting pizzas due to the high temperatures and unique flavour imparted by the wood which produces a smoky, rich flavour that's hard to replicate in other types of ovens.
We started with one of its most popular pizzas, a speciality of theirs, the
Shroomami Pizza @ RM72 (which also happens to be the most expensive pizza on their menu) with
Parmigiana fondue, truffle salsa,
fior di latte (fresh cheese),
portobellini mushrooms,
ricotta and truffle oil. Hands-down, this has to go down as the best pizza I've eaten thus far. Being a non-fan of cheese (as many of my readers already know)...but this one I super enjoyed. Apparently I enjoy cheese if it's good
Italian cheese like
Parmigiana Regianno (especially),
Fior di Latte and
Riccota...
hehe! ^_~
The intense heat and flames cooks the pizza quickly (like maybe in just 90 secs depending on the pizza's thickness and oven temperature). And because the pizza cooks so quickly, the crust is still moist with a slightly chewy interior...and not dry, hardened or overly crispy like many others that I've eaten before. I used to leave the crust behind for those that fell short but this one...I wanted more! ^o^
Just look at the super puffed up and perfectly charred crust with its super light and airy texture and its
umami filling of
portobellini mushrooms and truffle...so, so good! I once heard a
Top Chef contestant say "that puffed up, charred crust can only be achieved if you use a wood-fired oven" (and he's right, of course).
After tasting our first pizza, we immediately ordered a second. This time we placed an order for a simple, classic
Pizza Margherita 2.0 @ RM44 filled with
San Marzano tomatoes,
fior di latte, parmigiano reggiano, semi-dried cherry tomatoes and basil oil.
Again, the slightly charred, soft, thin crust gives it a distinct smoky flavour that makes it absolutely out of this world. A good pizza doesn't need to go overboard with all its many toppings...just a good crust and simple, fresh, high-quality ingredients for
Neapolitan perfection!
After stuffing ourselves silly with two awesome pizzas, we still had room for dessert...and we kicked off with the
Molten PB Choco @ RM26.80 which featured a chocolate and peanut butter lava cake served with vanilla ice cream, granola, fresh strawberries and blueberries.
The chocolate and peanut butter lava cake did live up to its name....the molten chocolate centre, with its intense chocolate flavour, flowed out when cut into (sorry, forgot to take a photo of the gooey, flowing lava). This is certainly a delight for chocolate lovers.
Our second plated dessert was something similar to the
Orange Souffle Waffle we had on our earlier visit. Since we enjoyed it the last time round, we ordered the
Lemon Souffle Waffle @ RM19.80 this time.
The only difference was that it was served with earl grey (instead of vanilla) ice cream and a lemon (instead of orange) reduction. I particularly liked the intense lemon-flavoured reduction with the souffle and waffle.
Finally, to wash all that good food down, you need good beer...and we ordered the
PaperKite Flight @ RM58 featuring 4 types of (mini-sized) craft beer...
Pale Ale,
Copper Ale, Oatmeal Stout and
IPA for sharing.
I also had a
Iced Caffe Latte @ RM16. A friend also had a cocktail,
Day & Night (
Sake/Peach/Yuzu/Lemon) @ RM30.
My Personal Opinion
If you're a lover of pizza or haven't had a good one thus far, make sure you have a go at this one...made with the finest ingredients like fior di latte, San Marzano tomatoes and Italian flour, it's no wonder that this was by far the best tasting pizza experience I've had in a long while. I've a new found love of pizza (and cheese) if it's this good...and the Shroomami comes highly recommended as your first choice. Just the mere thought of it at the time of writing makes me yearn for it with such great desire! ;)
Not only that but the fact that
Pizza Duo shares a space with
Tap Room makes eating here a double joy as you can cross order from both fabulous menus. So far
Tap Room's starters and light bites have not disappointed one bit and this visit's choices of
Chili Lava Crab and
Grilled Padron Peppers added two more to that fantastic list.
Tap Room's menu is rather extensive and together with Pizza Duo's many other pizza options as well, there are still lots more to try here...and we look forward eagerly to yet another visit. ^.^
Pizza Duo @ Tap Room
Lot P10 Bamboo Hills
Taman Bukit Bambu
Off Lebuhraya Duta-Ulu Kelang (DUKE)
51200 Kuala Lumpur
