We do seem to be having a bit of a pizza boom. Whether it’s classic Neapolitan like Rudy’s, by the slice from places like Pedro’s, pizzas as big as your head like those from Nell’s or the Detroit style in this post, there’s no doubting Manchester likes it’s pizza.
For the uninitiated, Detroit style pizza is a little softer, and thicker when compared to the Neapolitan. Where Neapolitan tends to be round(ish), and have a definite crust, Detroit is thicker and square. Something more like a focaccia in texture too (or a Sicilian pizza for the aficionados). Different, but no less delicious.
Four Side Pizza have been in the NQ in the city centre for a little while, serving the local vicinity via Deliveroo. Their pizzas are the Detroit style (as hinted by the name) and are completely vegan.
Hints started of a more local to me site (meaning not having to meet a Deliveroo driver as close to home as possible, before hopping on a bus, laden with deliciously scented pizza, whilst receiving vicious stares all the way home) started on social media. And I’ve been keeping an eye out. Sure I’m not vegan, but bloody hell their pizzas looked amazing and I love a pizza.
Finally via an Instagram story, the word was out. Their Chorlton was opening and we could order via Deliveroo from 5pm. So I did.
We ordered two pizzas, some of the garlic knots and some vegan nduja topped fries.
The knots are incredible. Soft and doughy with a good crisp outer and lots of buttery garlic flavour (still vegan, no actual butter). The fries are great, but not quite as spicy and real nduja, but still with that slightly sweet, rich, warm flavour. Given I have a couple of friends who find normal nduja too hot, this would be perfect for them. I may have already given them a heads up.
Onto the main events. First up, the Marg – described as ‘tomato sauce, basil, mozza, parm’, and not to be confused with the Rita (tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, mozza, garlic oil, rocket, parm).
Getting vegan mozzarella right is a challenge, and this was up to it. Sure you didn’t quite have that stringiness, but flavour and texture was there, highlighted by the rich but sweet tomato sauce. The basil punching the tomato flavour up a notch.
Our second choice is the ‘Pepperoni’, with house made ‘Pepperoni’ slices, red onion, olive crumb, and mozzarella.
This one divided us. The husband wasn’t a fan of the ‘pepperoni’ and missed that distinctive slightly crisp, slightly chewy texture the real thing gives you. I didn’t miss it. I was blown away by the flavour, and the olive crumb added a whole new level. I will happily order this baby all to myself, and he can have something else.
Overall, I absolutely loved it, whilst he enjoyed it, but not on such and enthusiastic level.
Oh well. No more garlic knots for him. I want them all, please, thank you.
You can order from both their sites via Deliveroo, and to see more of their delicious pizza offerings, head to their Instagram, or Facebook page.