The pizza served up at Homeslice is about as far from the likes of Domino’s that it is possible to imagine. Beyond being tasty, the pizzas are massive – coming in at 20 inches – but very comforting. Even better, you don’t feel full after.
From humble roots as a pop-up in London Fields to operating at music festivals and the like, Homeslice now has three branches; the original in Covent Garden, one in the City and a Marylebone outlet. It was the latter we visited on a recent weekday lunchtime. The restaurant only accepts walk-ins, but our group of six was easily accommodated. The fast turnaround between ordering and receiving pizza ensures that guests are rarely kept waiting. Part of the genius of the place, however, is that the venue remains buzzy with diners not feeling as if they are being rushed at all. Having friendly staff helps as well.
Sure, serving 20 inch pizzas is a talking point in itself, but what really sets Homeslice apart is two things: the dough and the toppings. This is thin crust to the extreme, with the bread matter being light and airy rather than densely heavy. When it comes to options, sure there is a Margherita for the more conservative, but the team at Homeslice really go to town when it comes to originality. Obviously with the pizzas coming in the size they are, the intention is for sharing and the venue will accommodate by doing half-and-half 20 inchers, allowing for even more variety. Our group polished off three pizzas with little trouble. From the options we sampled, air-dried wagyu beef, truffle crème fraiche, cipollini onions and salsa verde was the stand out. White pizzas (i.e. with no tomato) still haven’t lost their novelty for me and the ingredients took topping innovation to a new level. Plaudits too for a mushroom, ricotta, pumpkin seed and chilli offering, which was finished with a divine soy truffle glaze. Chorizo and corn was another firm favourite among the group. Don’t be put off by the price. Pizzas cost towards £30 each, but when divided by two, this is in-line (or even good value) compared to other venues. If only Homeslice could become my home!