Spicy pizzas want something sour and cold. Creamy ones want fizz. A short guide to sides, drinks and desserts that match.
A pizza on its own is a fine dinner. A pizza with the right drink and one well-chosen side is a better one. You do not need a sommelier for this. A few simple rules cover nearly every order on our menu.
Rule one: match heat with sour and cold
Chilli heat builds with every bite. Sugar alone does not calm it, but acidity and cold do. That is why a Fresh Lemon Soda is the best partner for our hot pizzas: Tandoori Paneer Blaze, Chicken Tikka Tornado, Peri-Peri Chicken Rush and Fiery Mexicana. Ask for it salted or mixed rather than sweet. Lemon Iced Tea does the same job a little more gently.
Rule two: cut richness with fizz
Creamy, buttery pizzas coat the mouth. Carbonation scrubs it clean so the next bite tastes as good as the first. Order a Classic Cola with Paneer Makhani Melt, Butter Chicken Supreme, Double Cheese Meltdown or any deep dish.
Rule three: do not double up
If the pizza is heavy, keep the side light. A Chicago Chicken Deep Dish does not need Cheese Burst Garlic Bread next to it; Garlic Herb Potato Wedges or nothing at all is the better call. If the pizza is light, such as a thin crust Margherita Mode or Herb Garden Supreme, that is the moment for the cheesy sides and Mozzarella Melt Sticks.
Good combinations to copy
For one person: Margherita Mode, Classic Garlic Bread and a cola. That is exactly the Solo Slice Meal, and it is priced lower than the three items separately.
For two: one spicy pizza and one mild one, shared. Tandoori Paneer Blaze with Corn and Cheese Crush works well, as does Chicken Tikka Tornado with Chicken Golden Delight. Add one Arrabbiata Penne if you are hungry.
For a family: two Medium pizzas, wedges for the children, wings or nachos for the adults and a large cola in the middle of the table.
Dessert
After a spicy pizza, something cold and creamy is best: Tiramisu Cup or Blueberry Cheesecake. After a mild, cheesy one, go for chocolate: the Choco Lava Cake, eaten while the centre is still molten, or a Fudge Brownie. A Chocolate Thickshake counts as both a drink and a dessert, and nobody will judge you.
The dips
Finally, do not waste your crusts. A Cheesy Dip or Peri-Peri Dip costs less than a cola and turns the rim of every slice into a second course.
