Lockdown had many casualties. One was Apotheca and sister food site, Dough.
Dough was one of those places, before we had so much variation in vegan offerings, where I could take friends who had dairy issues, but who also offered plenty of gluten free options too. Though I admit, I wasn’t a fan of the Christmas do I went to where the pizza was a Christmas dinner pizza. The cranberry sauce was a step too far for me.
But what would 2021 and the release of lockdown bring? Well, more pizza, this time in the form or Purezza, a small chain vegan pizzeria, opening it’s first site in the north.
And I’ve been in for a nosey, and a good feed. Let’s start at the beginning.
Inside, it’s spacious with lots of mixed size tables and banquet seating. The bordering on teal green makes the space feel warm and welcoming, as do the staff. Our only qualm with the seating on the night, was that we did feel a little close to our neighbours – maybe that was the noise levels overall, or our own expectations of social distancing, but maybe removing one more table might have made us feel a bit more comfortable.
Onto the menu, as you’d expect there’s lots of pizza, with a few non pizza options if you fancy something else, like a salad or lasagne. There’s variation in bases too, with the options of hemp, wholegrain or freedom – meaning that with the vegan element too, the site has retained it’s accessibility tolerance wise.
There are nibbles (olives or spicy corn nuts), and sides, which you could also enjoy as a starter if you so wished. We had them as a side, rosemary roast potatoes, and doughballs. The doughballs were absolutely divine. The vegan cheese was oozy and rich, meaning you didn’t feel like you were missing out at all. The roasties were great, but I must admit, to wanting gravy to drizzle on top. Maybe that’s just the northern bird in me.
Onto mains themselves, and Keeley opted for the vegan nduja pizza, whilst I opted for the Philadelphia cheesesteak calzone, and we also decided to try each of the sauces on the menu too, garlic, sriracha and basil.
Keeley enjoyed her nduja, but felt the spice she’d expect was missing. I didn’t sample it directly, and looking back wish I had, so I could mentally compare it to the vegan nduja from Four Side Vegan. Next time.
The calzone was huge, and filled with the same oozy rich cheese as the dough balls. Whilst the steak component are limited, and more like a salami than steak, I didn’t mind. There was enough rich oozy cheese to make up for it.
A special mention must go to the sauces. If you love dunking your crusts in a sauce, the basil is rich with basil, no skimping here. The garlic sauce is nice and punchy (maybe not one for date night, unless you’re both indulging), and the chilli gives you a bit of spice. Definitely add them to your order.
Onto desserts, and given the size of our mains we skipped the idea of the chocolate pizza with vanilla ice cream (though the table next to us dove into it happily).
The chocolate brownie is particularly squidgy and rich, so perhaps we didn’t judge that option so well. But the lemon cheesecake with mango sauce was much lighter, a great end to a big carb heavy feed.
Overall? We love the revamp of the site, and that it’s kept that accessibility – meaning I can still take friends with intolerances to the site and know there’ll be something available for them to enjoy. As you’d expect, being a pizza place, it’s pretty carb heavy, but the toppings are delicious and even a confirmed meat eater like me didn’t feel like I was missing out. And for the selfie lovers out there, head downstairs with your phone, there are plenty of selfie opportunities to be found.
Personally? I’ll be back for the doughballs alone.