The Kro’s Nest

Those looking to grab a slice of the biggest and best pizza in Beijing no longer have to head all the way to Haidian to get it. The Kro’s Nest’s new Gongti location features the same rustic stone walls, dark wood furnishings and table-sized pizzas as the original, yet it’s much bigger, set over two floors and even with outside seating. Unlike the Kro’s Haidian hangout, there are no sandwiches on the menu, just salads, starters and 24 types of pizza with top quality toppings plus the option to create your own, have it made into a Calzone or Chicago style.

When they eventually arrive (the service is good but a little slow during peak times) the 10 barbecue chicken wings (30RMB) served with ranch dressing and giant celery sticks, are succulent and tasty, if a little skinny. The Greek salad (50RMB) is commendably fresh, drizzled in a tasty homemade vinaigrette and, true to the Kro serving policy, is generous enough for two or three people to share.

However there’s really only one thing people come to Kro’s for, and that’s the pizzas. Available in three sizes, the small comes as a generous single slice, the medium as one that would usually be called large, and the large quite literally beating all records in size. Outrageously huge is the only way to describe it. Still, it’s perfect for sharing and a novelty to say the least.

The vegetarian (17/ 75/ 95RMB small/ medium/ large) sports mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, fresh garlic and extra cheese – as well as black olives that weren’t mentioned on the menu – and is fresh, juicy and delicious; as is the Kro’s Special loaded with pepperoni, meatballs, peppers, and vegetables. Though the option to have the pizza’s crust brushed with olive oil and dusted with parmesan cheese and oregano is a nice idea, it by no means justifies paying an extra 10RMB, so ignore that option unless you’re feeling frivolous.

Diners are also offered the option of an original or thin crust, but be warned, when it comes to the large pizzas, the thin crust option doesn’t work quite as well as one might hope because the pizza is too big to be crispy and the middle becomes soggy. But more commonly, and as with the pepperoni, mushrooms and black olives (PMB) pizza in a small or medium (18/ 80RMB) the dough is beautifully chewy, super-fresh and not heavy or greasy at all. A great place to go with a group of friends or before a big night out, Kro’s looks set to be busy most nights and is a welcome addition to the area. Sadly a delivery service hasn’t started up yet, but Mr Kro himself reassures us it won’t be long before bikes laden with metre-large pizza boxes are a common sight on Gongti Bei Lu.