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Take the make-it-yourself concept behind chains like Chopp’d and Tossed and apply it to pizza. That’s PizzaBuzz. The idea is to build your own, though the less decisive can order pre-designed pies.
Prices start low: margherita base from £4.95, tomato from £4.25. But toppings are hard to resist – and they quickly add up. Tomato base with mozzarella, aubergine, courgette and mushrooms came to £10.25. Another including chicken and prosciutto ended up at £13.20. But the pizzas are both sizeable (I couldn’t finish mine) and delicious.
There are also salads, wine on tap (£4.25), craft beers (£3.50-£5), and a soda machine with free refills. Dessert is ice cream, including almond and goat’s milk varieties.
Playing on the Shoreditch vibe, PizzaBuzz is a slightly trendier version of eat-in café chains, with speedy, helpful counter service and a seat-yourself policy in the restaurant. The dining space has a relaxed cafeteria vibe with bright lighting and decorative graffiti.
But it doesn’t have quite enough character to create a distinct atmosphere: it feels more like a funky self-service café than a restaurant. With all the choice on offer in Shoreditch, PizzaBuzz seems better suited for a lunchtime bite, family meal or takeaway night than a restaurant experience to linger over.