What you see Have you ever wondered why Little Italy only serves vegetarian food? Well, we think we have the inside information. It is because the owners of the company are Gujaratis.
Now here’s another piece of background. The brand was founded by an Italian chef named Don Giovani, 17 years ago, when he came to visit the Osho Ashram in Pune. Then something called La Pizzeria started that still works in Pune with the same name. Little Italy started later in time.
The brand has now expanded to various cities such as Mumbai, Goa and our own Hyderabad. And even though Giovani is no longer the owner of the company, he makes sure to come to India to advise on the menu and cooking style. After all, Little Italy is known for its authentic Italian cuisine.
Little Italy in Hyderabad reminds you of a small country house. Homey in appearance and minimalist when it comes to décor, this restaurant-bar allows you to dine both indoors and outdoors.
What you get – Now when you take a look at the menu here, don’t be embarrassed if you can’t pronounce most of the names here. And by the way, even try to ignore spelling mistakes like “mouse cake” instead of “mousse cake”. Ask the captain and he will guide you. We went for Zuppa Di Pomodoro (we told you, don’t let the names confuse you … it’s just tomato soup), Chiller, and Pasta Barberesca.
The tomato soup was average, the Chiller (a mint-based drink) was refreshing, and the Pasta Barberesca (pasta with a creamy tomato sauce, tomatoes, broccoli, Parmesan cheese with pepper and garlic) was amazing. Well, we don’t leave anything on the plate. Of course, apart from the taste, the small amount could be one of the reasons to do it.
When it comes to prices, Little Italy charges a bit higher (probably due to the rich cheese and herbs they use in the dishes). So the Chiller or any other non-alcoholic drink would cost you around Rs. 130, a main course around Rs. 260, soups around Rs. 100 and desserts around Rs. 120. By the way, they also offer Indian wine and, according to Passary, within a month, imported wine will also be on the menu.
So the bottom line is that the food here tastes great and is a must try when looking for something beyond the ubiquitous Naan and Paneer Butter Masala. However, the areas where they could improve are the interiors and the service. Looks like the walls need a new coat of paint.
In fact, Little Italy also has a boutique inside that has ethnic clothing, bags, and accessories designed by Vinita Passary (yes, she is Vikas’s wife). There was also no sales executive in the boutique, giving you the impression that things there are for display only and not for sale.
The verdict – We recommend that you dine outside to watch the chefs prepare those pizzas for you. Vikas Passary, the owner of the Little Italy brand in Hyderabad, actually says these are the best-selling pizzas at the restaurant because nowhere else in town can Hyderabadis get a taste of wood-fired pizzas.
And the service? Well, they served us the wrong dish at our table. And did we forget the parking space? It can fit in only about 3 cars and 6 two-wheelers. That is very little for Little Italy!
