This February, artisanal pizzeria Pi is winging its way from Winchester to London with a top-secret pizza dough recipe and a whole lot of tasty toppings. The original Pi pizza was born back in 2014 from a simple idea and a big dream. Following a stint working in a Florence pizzeria, first time restaurateur Rosie Whaley was inspired to serve simple, exceptional and honest food in a vibrant atmosphere you’d want to return to with your family and friends time after time. After three successful years in Winchester, Pi is set to bring a slice of pizza perfection to South West London with an 85 cover restaurant on Battersea Rise, a stone’s throw away from Clapham Common.
Pi’s artisan dough has been perfected by a team of Italian chefs and the secret recipe involves a 72 hour fermentation process resulting in a light, lean base with airy crispy crusts; the perfect vehicle for Pi’s creative combinations of the finest quality cheeses, meats and vegetables. Pi prides itself on a supplier led approach; working with a hand-picked selections of producers in Italy and closer to home, with tomatoes organically grown on the Isle of Wight.
Pizzas are available as standard size; with the option for half and half, or as a 20 inch base to share with two or three menu options. Show stopping toppings include; Hampshire pork sausage, sliced desiree potatoes, garlic, thyme, caper crumb and nocellara olives; wild boar salami, red chilli and piquillo peppers; Lebanese spiced ground lamb with Turkish yoghurt and fresh parsley; and Old Winchester cauliflower cheese, chorizo and spinach. All pizzas can be pimped with whole balls of Burrata Pugliese or Bufala Mozzarella; a signature Pi twist sure to please London’s army of cheese lovers.
To complement the pizzas, Pi’s menu also features small plates and salads to start or enjoy on the side. Guests can expect the likes of cauliflower and Old Winchester arancini, garlic and thyme flatbread with olive tapenade and truffle ham with Pecorino.
Pi’s wine list has been curated by Rosie and her team with the menu in mind and offers a wide selection of organic reds and whites. Boasting a 25 seat bar area, Pi will welcome guests for aperitivos and after dinner drinks, sure to be an attractive offer after a glance at the impressive cocktail list. Tempting tipples include smoked chocolate Manhattan, pear and rhubarb Collins and the Fur Coat a refreshing combination of Henricks Gin, elderflower, vanilla sugar lemon juice and Prosecco.
Pre Pi, owner Rosie Whaley worked in fashion design, and she has used her creative flair to personally design the restaurant interiors. A key focal point of the dining area is a living tree which won Rosie over as soon as she saw it, letting this take centre stage details will be kept simple in the dining area with exposed brick adding a rustic touch. The tables are being hand carved from fallen oak trees from woodland in Salisbury and banquet seating will be finished with colourful Azilal Moroccan rugs hand-picked by Rosie at the Medina in Marrakech. An open kitchen off the dining room will allow guests a glimpse of Pi’s pizzaiolos at work and the eye-catching woodfired pizza oven, sparkling like a disco ball with mirrored mosaic finish. In the bar area, a dramatic ceiling installation of hanging dried flowers will add colour and a feminine touch.
Rosie comments; “It’s been three whirlwind years since we brought Pi to Winchester and I’m so excited to be opening a second site. Londoners have an insatiable passion for pizza and I hope we can bring a slice of something special to the table.”
