[PHNOM PENH POST]
Pizza. It’s a contentious issue here in Siem Reap. Everyone has their
favourite joint. Thin crust or deep pan, New York or Rome, marinara or
calzone – and that’s before we even get to the cheese.
So amid the rivalry and pizza toppings, a new kid on the block is vying
for the title of your fave. Pizza Hand is a franchise that’s big in
Korea, and Jaesoon Kim is hoping it will take off in the Kingdom.
The
new Siem Reap branch, on Samdech Tep Vong Street at the Central Market,
is the second in Kim’s mini empire, with his first endeavour opening in
Battambang last year.
Despite describing itself as an “Italian
Family Restaurant,” the menu has a decidedly Asian flair. Alongside
pepperoni and Hawaiian pizza toppings are bulgogi (a Korean marinated
meat dish) and shrimp.
Sweet potato also features heavily on the
menu, as a topping and a crust with the "Sweet Potato Byte"
(potato-stuffed crusts) coming recommended.
Speaking of the
crusts, Pizza Hand’s are rather creative, and divert massively from
anything you might see in Rome or Venice. One is stuffed with sausages
while another is crammed with gooey cheese.
Burgers and chicken
wings are also on the menu, while carbonara, seafood spaghetti and
bolognaise add a little more to the Italian element.
For those
dining in, the restaurant, while basic, is clean and comfortable, with a
couple of tables outside and more within. The staff members are
incredibly friendly and eager to please. Though slightly off the
tourist dinnertime stomping ground, staff from the children’s hospital
and businesses nearby will make for a busy lunchtime trade and perhaps
some Hotel de la Paix guests looking for a break from the fine dining
will opt for a cheeky room service. Of course, Pizza Hand delivers, but
will it just be Temple Town’s Asian contingent ordering or will western
Reapers give it a try?
While more along lines of the Pizza
Company than Il Forno, it won’t suit a pizza purist’s palette. But if
you like dinner on a plate of crusty bread (with a bit of yam and
sausage stuffed inside for good measure), then you may just be adding a
new number to your speed dial.
Hi friends,
ReplyDeletePizza Hand is creative when it comes to crusts, stuffing it with sausages or gooey cheese. While simple, the restaurant is comfortable and clean with tables inside and outside to cater for those who want to dine in. Thanks a lot.....