When it comes to Burt & Nelly the first big decision is whether to go for a savoury or sweet pizza, or both. Overeating caution: if, like me, your eyes are bigger than your belly and you decide to go for a savoury pizza with a side of macaroni cheese, a sweet pizza and a milkshake, you will gorge yourself.

As a big lover of all things mushroom I went for the ‘magic mushroom’ pizza. It was tomato-free – this is only okay if all the free space is replenished with cheese and I can confirm it was – with a generous helping of mozzarella, dollops of ricotta and caramelised red onion. But the game changer was the wild mushrooms, gathered from woods around Leeds, and drizzled in truffle oil. If you don’t like mushrooms, the candied bacon topping was also superb. I’ve always been a strong believer that the crust is the best part of any pizza, and these crusts were thick and the addition of semolina gave them extra crunch. The general consensus was that it’s better than the famed Pitza Cano: I’ll let that sink in for a minute.

I’ve never thought that macaroni cheese works as a side — it’s filling and stogy enough to warrant its own course, but in this case I’ll eat my words (and any macaroni that goes uneaten). It worked perfectly and, again, was drizzled with more of the food of the gods; truffle oil.

So, now we’re feeling pretty full and onto pizza number two. The ‘smores’ pizza is complete excess; a decadent combination of deep pan pizza dough, Nutella, mascarpone, Oreos and toasted marshmallows. For £8 you get more than your money’s worth. With this, because obviously this isn’t enough to make you sick, came the milkshakes. Laden down with cream, topped with jam and a donut, peanut brittle, a sunken iceberg of a brownie, you name it. They also have a variety of ice-creams, including Nutella if you’re not sick of the stuff at this point.

The second decision is whether to eat in, takeaway or deliver. The interior is stripped back, with stalls for seating and exposed lightbulbs. There’s a good soundtrack so you don’t have to waste any eating time talking. Personally, I think it’s nicer being able to stuff your face as messily as you like in the privacy of your own room.

Burt & Nelly is not somewhere you’d go for a date, or with anyone who you ever want to think you’re remotely attractive. It’s where you’d go when you want to pig out and unadulteratedly overindulge.

 

 

Hannah Holmes

 

Images courtesy of Burt & Nelly