While we at The Nanjinger acknowledge that there are those with, shall we say, some “eclectic” (?) tastes in pizza, suppose you just want the hands-down best in Nanjing? That’s why we head to No.9 Pizzeria in Xianlin.
By design or by accident, this is a pizza joint that screams Italy, one which would not be out of place along the less-trendy lanes surrounding Bologna’s Piazza Santo Stefano. That’s on account of being small, the red-and-white checkerboard tablecloths, the hand-written large scroll of an English menu posted on the wall, an extended-Chinese version occupying an improvised blackboard above the minuscule open kitchen and a touch of higglety pigglety here and there for good measure (there’s nowhere else to put it all).
And when we say small, we mean it. With seating for a whole 12 people, it’s just as well four more rickety chairs, suitable for Asian-size posteriors, stand by at the ready outside.
No.9 Pizzeria, named so on account of its street number, was opened in 2018 by a boyfriend/girlfriend outfit, and that latter fact in itself makes it deserving of our support. Not that the couple need it. His dedication to the art of real pizza and hers to genuine friendly service with a smile has made No.9 a hit with locals and foreigners alike.
And happily, the prices at No.9 are also less Santo Stefano. The Nanjinger partook of a pepperoni pizza (¥45) and a shrimp salad with avocado (¥40).
It also took away some pizza dough (¥10 and ultra-feather light; however they do it, that’s definitely the secret) in order to make its own at home, but received a little bit of a roasting at the suggestion that we just fling it in the freezer. “No, no”, chastised the co-owner. “Will not be good. Will not be good”. (It was in fact, like perfect good, but whatever).
As for what else there is to love, how about Quiche Lorraine with Camembert and bacon (¥32), or beef-fillet steak with pepper sauce (¥115)? And back on the pizza front, among the numerous other options are prosciutto pizza (¥48) and salmon pizza (¥48).
But when all is said and done, the true magic at No.9 Pizzeria is a combination of factors.
For if there is really a more nondescript place to put a pizza joint, we’ve yet to see it. And with the open but tiny kitchen, the delightful menu on the wall and of course the delightful tastes that affords, at the end of the day, sitting either inside or outside No.9 is all a bit Alice in Wonderland.
Which is why The Nanjinger awards tiny No.9 Pizzeria its “Best in Class” award, in the category of pizza. And the big boys can just go put that in their pipe and smoke it.
