It is easy to be complacent about the options for western food delivery in Nanjing. The much applauded Sherpa’s in Shanghai, Beijing and Suzhou do not dare come near us (largely, I suspect, on account that many a local restaurant claims to “今天没有”) while local effort callmehungry.com didn’t last long.
Most of the decent names in western cuisine either cannot be bothered to deliver, are still in bed, or will only do so if you pay the taxi. It leaves the average Nanjing Expat that does not live or work in Xianlin, Xinjiekou or along Shanghai Lu feeling, well, pretty hungry.
Imagine therefore, the joy at stumbling across Prandi Pizza one lunchtime in Hexi’s New City Mall. Representing, as the name suggests, a fashionable statement in food, Prandi is indeed an eat-in establishment, but one that truly shines when it comes to its delivery service.
The cynical old Nanjinger was not won over immediately; we initially ordered only a pizza, then a week or two later, just to be sure of the quality witnessed prior, a larger set that was almost enough to fill four office-bound comrades (some did sneak out for noodles afterwards). Nevertheless, for ¥101, delivery included, we feasted on Omurice, a pork Cordon Bleu fillet, mushroom soup and a 12 inch BBQ pizza.
The quality of all items, was excellent. When it came to the acid test of the pizza; we’re talking a thin-crust, genuine article that absolutely knocks the socks off two certain American pizza chains and comes only a hair’s breadth shy from pizza’s alma matter in Nanjing (it would be unfair to stir up a fuss by naming them here; saving that for another day, but trust us on this one).
Away from the aforementioned, Prandi’s menu is rounded out with chicken wings and nuggets, calamari rings, fried mozzarella fingers, pasta items, French fries, salad, soups, steak (the only suspicious items on the menu), dessert and much more. That it is all comfort food is not a coincidence, or so we believe.
Comforting, it needs to be, as one need second guess one’s stomach’s intentions; Prandi needed an hour on both ocassions to deliver to us, and we are not much more than just around the corner. The point is almost moot; one needs to be ordering from less than 3km distant anyway. We propose a revolt. Inundate Prandi Pizza with calls for deliveries outwith their miniscule frame of reference. We figure they’ll cave, if they know what’s good for business. Long live the revolution. Quality pizza for all.
Find Prandi on 1F in New City Mall, 99 Caochangmen Dajie, tel: 86660718, or follow them on WeChat to browse the menu, order and pay; WeChat ID: PRANDIPIZZA.
