Pizza My Mind: New Yorker Raves About Pizza+'s Taste, Gung Ho!'s Atmosphere, and Annie's Variety

With the Launch Party behind us and another few days before voting begins in the 2015 Pizza Cup, we return once again to probing the minds of pizza-loving Beijingers everywhere via our Pizza My Mind series. (Want to give us your two cents? Let us know your choices here). Today we present the pizza picks of New Yorker Nick Di Dolci, a three-year veteran of Beijing who teaches at a Chinese public school.

“If I don't cook for myself or eat local Chinese food, I'm eating pizza,” says the Dongzhimen resident. “It's obviously the perfect food for any situation, be it a casual date, late night munchies or a quick lunch.

“My dad, brother and I ran a pizza/ice cream parlor one summer, so I know what it takes to make a pizza, and what it takes to make a pizza good. Plus, I grew up on the outskirts of the New York City, which has the best pizza on earth.”

Here is Nick’s picks for some of the city’s best pies:

For home delivery when you're too lazy to make dinner
“Pizza+. Honestly, Pizza+ might be the best pizza restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of eating from. The first time I ate their margherita, I not only ate my entire round pie, but half of my friend’s pie, too. Their sauce is wonderful. Just the right mix of tangy sweet/saltiness. They use a brick oven, which is a critical step in making a good pizza, and their cheese is perfect – not smothered to the point of hiding all the sauce, but placed in such a way that the pie looks as good as it tastes, bubbling and steaming. The speed at which they deliver to my Dongzhimen apartment is almost ridiculous. The fastest I've ever ordered and received a pizza is in about nine minutes. I couldn't believe it. Unless it's a busy night, it always comes hot and fresh from the oven, with the cheese still gooey and the sauce piping hot. And at RMB 49 for a 13-inch round margherita? It's hands down the best deal in Beijing.”

When you want a pizza but your dining companion wants something else:
“Annie's. Really, you can't go wrong here if you are with one or several friends and want variety. I prefer their Quattro Stagioni. Fantastic. The amount of ingredients could possibly choke someone if they ate it over-zealously: mushroom, ham, eggplant and artichoke. To quote the all-time classic film Animal House, "Thank you sir, may I have another?" Eggplant is my favorite vegetable in China. It's always done so well, and here is no exception. Artichokes of course add that little bit of sour to accentuate the milder flavors of the mushrooms and ham. Others may enjoy their pastas or risottos, but I'll take this pizza anytime.”

For a date with a significant other
“Gung Ho!. While I don't necessarily think Gung Ho!'s pizza is the best in the city, they certainly capture a certain mood in their restaurant. They have that dark interior and the choices of spices and sauces, and the wooden tables. Their signature use of pink doesn't hurt either. The pizzas themselves aren't bad, but I always appreciate the choice of wheat or white dough. Obviously, If I wanted healthy, I wouldn't be eating a whole pizza, but at least you don't have to feel too bad about yourself. They also constantly have pizza specials, changing it up every month or so. And did I mention buy-one-get-one Tuesdays? Perfect for date night if your wallet is light. I took a friend their once, and we had such a good time that I still enjoy going back.”

Photo: Nick Di Dolci