Vera Okay
by on 20 Nov 2009
Vera Pizza (by Tonino) has everything going for it – super location, good décor and decent service. The critical element missing, unfortunately, is good food, which at best is okay and worst is okay.
Contrary to popular belief, I thought this place would be good since I had heard tempting things about Tonino (who it’s by). From asking around, I realized most people hadn’t been here, and those who had didn’t like it. But I had a friend who didn’t want Mexican, I didn’t want Smoke House Grill and we both didn’t want Mainland China, so by default (not by Tonino) we ended up here.
The place is inviting – located right above some “night club” formerly known Kuki and now known as Pure. It is spaciously spread over two floors, well lit with no nonsense airline background music and the service is attentive – maybe slightly much since there was only one other table with two other people, on a Saturday night. There were definitely more waiters/servers/managers/bartenders/cashiers there than diners – maybe thrice as many.
Not being truly hungry, we split a bruschetta to start with and then a large Margherita pizza. To be completely honest, neither was bad, but could probably have been made by my sophomore cousin in Boston who believes Maggie is fine dining. The complimentary bread was stale and after a bite was put to rest. The bruschetta was nothing more than over-toasted milk bread topped with evenly cut tomatoes. Save for the garlic dip, it was tasteless and highly wanting. To be even more completely honest, just last week I had some amazing bruschetta so all bruschetta, now and forever, will be unjustly compared to that.
After being asked by three different waiters for our drink order (of which we ordered none) and our main course, it took a good half hour to bring out a decently tasty pizza. We got what we ordered and nothing more. The best part of the pizza was the slightly warm plate it was served on that kept the pie from getting cold through the forty five minutes it took us to eat it. Light sauce, crisp crust, bikini layer of mozzarella (it covered less of the pizza than it didn’t) and a few basil leaves. Not bad, but not brilliant.
Having been here makes me want to go to Tonino (by Tonino) to see if the tree is far from the apple. Until then I will maybe go to Smokehouse or Mainland (neither by Tonino) the next time I am around there.
Place : Vera Pizza (by Tonino)
Have your say!