Londonist brings it on home.
Basilico
26 Penton St N1 9PS
Delivery Area: Islington
0800 093 4224
5pm-wee hours (Monday-Thursday)
11am-wee hours (Friday-Sunday)
Expect to Pay: Around £10 for a 13” pie or £15 for an 18”
Rating: 7 out of 10
On a handful of occasions, Londonist has ordered pizza from the Basilico franchise in Islington, a takeaway and delivery pizzeria with five locations. We were pleased with the Americana (Italian spicy pepperoni, green and red bell peppers, spring onion chopped tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and mozzarella) and no less than impressed with the Proscuitto Dolce (olive oil, figs, Dolcelatte, semi dry cherry tomatoes, wild rocket and Parma ham). And, while we’re at it, Basilico’s All Day Breakfast (crispy cured bacon, Cumberland sausage, tomato, free range eggs, mushrooms and mozzarella) didn’t let us down either. Basilico has a range of many more pizzas with a menu stating that the “recipes are flexible so please feel free to customize your pizza to your own requirements.” Basilico’s pizzas come in two sizes: 13” and 18”. The menu suggests that the 13” is suitable for one or two persons. However, Londonist would deem this size too big for one but not quite enough for two. As for the 18”, it’s a similar story: slightly too much for two people but just a little short of ample for three. Anyway, cold pizza is wonderful as a mid afternoon snack or a next day breakfast; so, just order a bit more than you might otherwise think you’ll require. Another minor complaint is that Basilico’s pizzas come without being sliced, making the otherwise social aspect of ordering pizza somewhat problematic. A reliable source confirms that City workers have even resorted to using scissors to cut their pizzas!
Other London bloggers have much to say about Basilico, most of it positive. J at Have Fork Will Travel believes Basilico deserves “all the plaudits they’ve received” because the pizzas are cooked “expertly in a wood-burning oven.” Ripe London, who finds Basilico’s pizzas to be “amazingly” good, considers them “a trusted friend on speed-dial.” Even lentilpraxis, which gives Basilico a zero out of 10 rating, must confess that, “On the plus side the pizza base is passable; the whole not-too-thick not-too-thin thing is done just right.”
Not our favorite pizza in London, we’re still happy Basilico exists and will continue to call ‘em up when a little deliverance is needed.
Photography by Tiki Chris © 2008
