When Apartment Group food goes wrong…
Youād better seriously deliver on a basic pizza when branding yourself a āpizza houseā – unfortunately, I think Apartment Groupās latest venture would be better off leaving that off their title.
Being fond of the other groupās other ventures (As You Like It, Mr. Lynchās, etc.) we had to try out the recently opened Sunderland location. An Apartment Group venture selling pizzas as well as itās famous cocktails – count us in!
At first glance of the menu – it is exactly the same food, albeit at a lower price, than the other restaurants. The classic fish and chips, burger, gammon steak, itās all there, as well as the multitude of mojitos. Drinks prices are much cheaper than AYLI et al.
The food coming out of the kitchen looked to the exact same standard and presentation as itās sister restaurants, so see our review of As You Like It for that, but the pizza unfortunately falls flat.
We went for a classic cheese and tomato (pictured above, Ā£5.95) which arrived snappy enough, a good sign, but this was, however, on second time of asking (we got someone elseās pizzas first time round). While we can appreciate they are only recently opened, there seemed to be tons of plates going back to the kitchen, and some unhappy customers. We were, however, given free drinks for the mixup.
At first glance, it looks like a takeaway pizza that you can get from any high street at 2AM – not massively inspiring. Upon closer inspection, itās a thick, rubbery doughy base, a little too perfectly round. Tomato sauce doesnāt have either the sweet or tangy hit that you look for.Ā Cheese burns and melts over the top nicely enough but doesnāt give the creamy ooze of a good mozzarella. Also, the menu says this is a cheese, tomato and basil pizza – here at least, itās herb is conspicuous in itās absence. Itās entirely edible, just a massive disappointment for a place branding itself as a āpizza houseā.
Verdict: Give the pizzas a miss and stick with the pub classics. Gains points for drinks prices being much cheaper than its sister restaurants, but youāre probably best off staying in Newcastle. If you want a good pizza, did you see The Waterline?
