Amici: the new space in Miraflores created for lovers of Neapolitan pizza

Oh the pizza! Little piece of heaven on earth that conquers all of us diners, regardless of our tastes. In the varied world of this preparation, one of the best known versions is the Neapolitan pizza, characterized by a thin dough, prepared instantly and with a few burnt touches on the edge -thanks to the oven in which they are prepared-. If you are a fan of this delicacy, then Amici Pizzeria will be the restaurant you must visit on your next outing.

Provecho spoke with César Podestá, the restaurant’s chef and one of its founding partners, and he told us more about the concept and history of this new project, which has been open for almost two months.

“We started Wingman (chicken wing restaurant), together with my partners, almost nine years ago. After a long time, we wanted to launch something interesting and new, something like a brother for the brand and that is how Amici Pizzeria was born”, explains the chef.

The idea arose from the taste for pizzas of all the partners, although the plan had to be delayed due to the pandemic and other factors. “We lasted a long time doing many tests, until we decided on the Neapolitan pizza,” adds Podestá.

The opening of the premises took a long time, in addition, because they opted to build a pizza oven inside the same restaurant, which can be seen as soon as you enter through the door and, thanks to its temperature, it gives an ideal warmth to everything. space. “We ordered an oven to be made, which took 30 days to be ready because to do it you advance layer by layer,” says the Amici chef.

The most important thing when making a pizza? For Podestá it is about having quality products, a good oven and, of course, making the dough with the love that is due. The cook comments that the dough they use has a 56-hour process before it reaches the customer. In addition, they have standardized their processes using quality ingredients such as a good fior di latte mozzarella cheese or an Italian tomato sauce.

taste at the table

The Amici Pizzeria menu includes a starter section that complements the experience. You can start with a buttered garlic bread or a delicious stracciatella cheese with sun-dried tomatoes, arugula and balsamic vinegar. This time we tried the Huerto de Burgos, a pizza dough covered with candied cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers, white onion and black pudding. The explosion of flavor offered by the tomatoes together with the strength in the flavor of the black pudding is new and unforgettable.

The pizzas are not only delicious, but the waiting time to receive them is not exaggerated. The best thing is that, due to the layout of the restaurant, diners can see Lorenzo, the pizza chef, work his magic and achieve appetizing and succulent bites.

Among the more traditional versions we find the pepperoni, the Margherita -with cheese, tomato sauce, basil and olive oil-, and the veggi, which offers a small mixture of delicious vegetables as toppings.

In the special flavors section we can find everything from a Di Carne, with pepperoni, ham and salami; to a Buffalo (By Wingman), which combines Amici’s tomato and mozzarella sauce with the sister restaurant’s chicken, buffalo sauce and blue cheese. Our favorite was the Lemon Garlic Parm, which includes a garlic paste, tomato sauce, mozzarella, white onion, ham, mushrooms, Parmesan, and a truly special touch: lemon zest. Believe it or not, this last ingredient goes down very well and provides freshness and acidity at a minimum level. The pizza dough is thin but crisp, the crust is generous but airy, and the filling is substantial without being absurd.

They also have desserts of the day, among which a succulent homemade tiramisu stands out. As for drinks, in addition to the more traditional cocktails, beers and coffees, they also offer Italian appetizers like Negroni and spritz and you can even enjoy digestifs like limoncello or grappa.