Renowned Pizza Chef to Introduce Pizza Tasting Menu Concept in Soho

Michele Pascarella, recently honored with the esteemed title of the world's finest pizzaiolo, is inaugurating a new establishment in Soho, featuring a pizza-centric tasting menu.

Chef Michele Pascarella

Napoli on the Road is arriving in Soho

The ground floor restaurant will provide a traditional à la carte menu, highlighting the seasonal pizzas for which Pascarella is renowned globally. However, a fine dining restaurant will be located downstairs, where patrons will savor a six-course Neapolitan tasting menu.

The chef states, "We will commence with antipasti, proceed to salads and focaccia, and additionally offer triple-cooked pizza and other specialties, accompanied by a wine flight." The wines will originate from Campania. All elements will be novel and seasonal. However, classic pizza will remain central to the experience.

Image: Adrianna Giakoumis

The forthcoming establishment will be Pascarella's third pizzeria in London, where he refined his culinary skills from a young age in Naples. “I acquired the fundamentals of counter work at the core of the pizzeria situated between Caserta and Naples; it was there that I internalized the discipline, rhythm, and reverence for this craft,” he informs C&TH. However, about dough, I am completely self-educated. I dedicated years to learning, experimenting, testing, and developing procedures independently.

At the age of 19, he departed Italy for London, originally offering his Neapolitan pizzas from a three-wheeled Piaggio van. He ultimately established his own restaurant, Napoli on the Road in Chiswick, which achieved remarkable success, earning the esteemed title of Europe’s Best Pizzeria twice, leading Pascarella to inaugurate a second location in Richmond. Pascarella was awarded the title of the world's top pizza maker at the 2023 50 Top Pizza Awards.

What is Pascarella's unique selling proposition? "The key to an excellent pizza resides in simplicity and the significance of each detail," he states. It begins with the meticulous selection of premium ingredients and allowing them to shine without unnecessary complexity. Every component, from the dough to the toppings, is selected with purpose. However, it also pertains to the meticulousness, the craftsmanship involved, and the fervor inherent in each phase.

As with all esteemed pizzerias, high-quality, seasonal ingredients are essential at Napoli on the Road, procured from Italy via Natoora. The menu includes favorites such as We’re On Fire, garnished with ‘nduja and Stracciatella, and the Nerano, which features courgette chips, provolone, and fior di latte. The specials include the Ricordi d’Infanzia, awarded Pizza of the Year by 50 Top Pizza, featuring a topping of beef ragu. This is Pascarella's preferred choice. ‘Ricordi d’Infanzia possesses a profound significance. It is connected to nostalgic childhood memories, evoking pleasant flavors and aromas that transport you to simpler times. It transcends mere sustenance; it embodies an emotion, a moment, a link to the past that continues to evoke warmth in the heart today.

The new Soho restaurant will utilize the identical dough, ingredients, and cooking methods as his previous establishments, and Pascarella has explicitly stated that this will be the definitive location. “We do not aspire to become a franchise,” he states. “There will be no further instances after this due to a decline in quality.”

The launch date has not yet been disclosed, but the restaurant's location will be on Wardour Street. Barcelona-based designer Serra has been engaged to design the interiors, establishing a minimalist aesthetic characterized by whitewashed walls and chrome pizza ovens.

In the meanwhile, you may sample Pascarella’s pizzas located in Chiswick and Richmond.

Explore more at napoliontheroad.co.uk