Our reporter went in search of the perfect pizza and found it on Timber Hill in Norwich, here's what she had to say about her dining experience at Donnelli's Pizzeria...
Interior/atmosphere
The small establishment is the ideal place for an intimate catch up with friends or a romantic dinner for two. The decor is stripped back and simple but entirely charming at the same time, with monochromatic colours used stylishly throughout. The open kitchen, complete with large wood fired pizza oven, is easily the focal point of the restaurant and creates the feel that there are no barriers between the guests and the chefs, everyone is equal and all is pretty mellow.
Drinks
If like me, you're partial to a glass of rosé with your meal, the drinks menu at Donnelli's probably won't knock your socks off as it's rather limited. However there's definitely something on there for everyone, from Italian beers that pair perfectly with pizza, to glasses of Prosecco for those who want their dining experience to feel a little more fancy.
Food
The menu offers 18 standard pizzas, four white pizzas, two different calzones and a selection of salads, with vegetarian and vegan options available. I chose the Florence pizza, which was topped with tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella, prosciutto ham, rocket and Parmigiano Reggiano shavings and had a thin, crisp base. It was delicious, by far the best pizza I have ever had (and I'm not exaggerating, I promise!) - Only criticism was that there was a little too much rocket heaped on top for my liking, but even this wasn't enough of an issue to detract from the experience as a whole.
My dining partner opted for the Napoli, a dairy-free pizza topped with tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, basil and oregano. To this they asked to add olives and serving staff were more than happy to oblige. As a vegan, my friend has struggled to find good pizza in the past, but was thrilled by the possibilities at Donnelli's and thought the pizza was molto bene! So you can basically bring anyone here and be confident that they will love it.
Service
The service here can't be faulted, our waitress was incredibly polite and seemed very knowledgeable about the menu, rattling off items and giving recommendations without a second thoughtt.
Loos
There's only one toilet but it's perfectly pleasant, so no problems here.
Parking
The restaurant doesn't have its own parking, but there are various options within close proximity, with the nearest being the Castle Mall shopping centre car park located just across the road.
Location
Set in the heart of Timber Hill, nestled among quirky boutiques, bakeries and bars, the pizzeria is a mere few minutes off from the city centre making it an ideal spot for day trippers and weekenders alike.
Price
Roughly £10 per pizza unless you opt for a calzone which is a little pricier. Expect to add £3.50 on top of this per beer or glass of wine.
Highlight
Make sure to order yourself a hefty serving of Nocciolata ice cream for dessert, even if you don't think you've got room - it is literally like eating a bowl of frozen Nutella, so good I can see myself going back just for more of this. Forget the pizza, someone pass me the tub and a spoon!
In Summary
A cosy little eatery that knows EXACTLY what it's doing when it comes to pizza. Will definitely be forgoing trashy take-aways from now on and heading here to treat myself to a taste of Naples in Norwich instead and I thoroughly recommend you do the same. Ciao bella.
If you like this, try these...
• Brick Pizza, Norwich
Priding themselves on making 'proper pizza', Brick Pizza located in the very centre of the city at 39 Market Place has a very specific menu comprised of everything from the traditional to the gourmet. From the menu: The Manica, a pizza topped with mozzarella, Norfolk ham, pears, walnuts, wild rocket.
£10 per pizza on average.
• Suffolk Stonehouse, Bungay
Handmade pizzas are created daily at Suffolk Stonehouse and left to prove in their Georgian cellar before being baked at 300 degrees. From the menu: Many of their pizzas are named after local places such as Harleston, which is a pizza topped with rosemary baked chicken, roasted peppers, tomato and mozzarella.
£10 per pizza on average.
• Is there a local restaurant you'd like us to review? Email courtney.pochin@archant.co.uk
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