'ZZA BAR-(Wood fire pizza) — Restaurant in Karnataka

The food served by 'ZZA Bar is of really good quality. They have tried their best to stay authentic while catering to the Indian palate.

Here's how I would rate the dishes I had:

Fiery cheese garlic bread - 4 on 5.

Liked the bread but the toppings were okay.

Spinach Feta cheese sandwich - 4.5 on 5

Liked the bread and the sandwich filling. Didn't expect the sandwich to be in the form that was presented. But it was good.

Mushroom Pesto sandwich - 4.5 on 5

Liked the thin crust. Bubbling cheese. Mushrooms were cooked the right way. Easy on the tummy.

No pretentious experiments of spices to cater to Indian palate. Authentic enough (for me).

Liked the chilli sauce and oil that was given as accompaniments. Not too spicy that it burns the tummy. Just spicy enough to add flavour, provided they are consumed in the right amount. Just a dash of them.

Things that could be significantly improved:

Staff needs to be trained on how to interact with customers. Some are clueless about the dishes.

Space organization/management needs to be improved. I understand that the space is small, but it can do better if they move to a better location or reorganize the space.

Overall:

I would rate this place 4 out of 5 and Manipal people should often visit this place.

I'm definitely going...

‘ZZA bar is quaint boutique pizzeria serving authentic hand-stretched brick-oven delicious pizzas as well as sandwiches and pastas in all of Manipal. Probably the only other place that come a close second is Vito’s.

The pizzas here are hand stretched, not rolled, which maintains the integrity of the grain structure giving it the classic fold, which is the quintessential test of a good pizza. All pizzas are, of course, baked in a wood fired oven.

We tried several pizzas, including the Quattro formagi and mushroom. They also have several special pizzas which are also quite good. The eggplant pizza is highly recommended.

We also tried the sandwich with the pesto sauce. Note that they also bake the bread for the sandwich, which compliments the freshness perfectly.

For the quality that this place serves, it’s pretty nondescript, though quite popular with the students. Pizzas here are definitely on par with anything they serve at fancy pizzerias in Bangalore. And prices are also quite modest!

The owner who’s also the pizzaiola, is a very humble person who’ll talk to you about everything that goes in the kitchen. There’s a sense of pride that shows in the product they put out.

Do try it out if you’re in Manipal. You won’t be disappointed. Definitely try...

The only place in Manipal where you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine. You won't find any Americanized fast food versions of pizzas and pastas here! I see one or two reviews saying it's overpriced. Are you kidding?! Other places have menus with "Pizzas starting at Rs. 99!" written in large letters. And what do you get for Rs. 99 there? A tiny, bland pizza with some cheese on it, and no other toppings. Everything else in the menu would be way overpriced. 'Zza Bar does not want to fool you with that marketing nonsense. The prices you notice first on the menu are those of the LARGE pizzas, with GREAT toppings! You get a lot LOT more for the same price than you can at those other pizza chain restaurants. Not to mention, you have the option of ordering just a few slices of pizza (different kinds, at that!) instead of a whole large one.

It's really hard to pick a favourite when you love everything the menu, but if I had to, I'd choose the veg ham pizza. Among the sides, the baked/roasted potatoes is my usual choice, but the sandwich is unique...