Visited by: Heather Peter
NaROMA PIZZA BAR
215 Locke St S,
Hamilton, ON
L8P 4B6
http://naroma.ca/
I’ll let you in on a little secret that only my closest friends know…I don’t like pizza. STOP THE PRESSES, HOLD THE PHONE. Did she just say what I think she said?
It’s true, guys. I don’t like it.
That’s not to say I hate it or even dislike it. I just don’t enjoy it and find that every time I eat it, I feel like a hunk of junk afterwards. I’m probably losing followers with each new word I type, aren’t I? Will you ever forgive me?
But, I came to an exciting revelation with NaRoma pizza. It doesn’t give me that ‘chubby monster’ aftermath feeling. I visited, I ate like 10 pieces of pizza to myself, and I felt great afterwards. I liked it! Read more about my visit below:
Logo
I’m a fan of their logo. It’s classic with the use of a serif font, and not too much frills and fanciness to distract the eye. Right down to the point, just like their restaurant. It’s all about the classic pizza. Good, honest pizza.
Food Reviews
NaROMA had invited me, and some foodie friends, along for a complimentary tasting and we got crazy amounts of food. (Which is good, because us food bloggers tend to eat a lot!)
We tried:
Chickpea Soup – Vegetarians, this one is for y’all! Seriously doe, chickpeas are my arch-enemy, but I was pleasantly surprised with this! It was a creamy soup (none of that nasty chickpea texture that makes me cringe), with a good amount of flavour.
Straciatella Soup – Most of my friends growing up were Italian, so I have eaten a TON of Straciatella. I’d definitely put this near the top of my ‘best of’ straciatellas.
Quinoa Salad – This was not my fave thing of the tasting, but if you’re looking for some fresh flavour (before you eat ALL the pizzas, of course) try this.
Last, but definitely not least…Pizzas:
BRIE E PROSCIUTTO: mozzarella, triple cream brie cheese, prosciutto, fig jam, caramelized onions, arugula, reduced balsamic — The sweet fig jam and caramelized onions partnered with the salty proscuitto and bitter arugula made this one a memorable one. When I send friends to NaROMA, this one will be my suggestion for their order.
MEDITTERANEO: spring mix, red peppers, red onions, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, goat cheese, homemade balsamic dressing — I couldn’t eat too much of this one, because it’s a lot of stronger flavours…but if you’re craving a saltier sort of pizza (not overly salty), try this.
HAWAIANO: tomato sauce, mozzarella, ricotta, pineapple, hot pepper oil, cured ham — Pineapple on everything, please. This one was thick with toppings. Perfect if you want a heartier pizza.
MELANZANE ALLA PARM: tomato sauce, mozzarella, eggplant, parmigiano cheese, garlic — The eggplant was an interesting addition to this one!
MARGHERITA: tomato sauce, mozzarella, bocconcini, basil, cherry tomatoes — Classic and delicious. Often when I actually do go for pizza, I go for margherita. This one did not disappoint.
CALABRESE: tomato sauce, mozzarella, cacciatore sausage, hot pepper oil — My personal favourite of the night, because I love spice and meat. Perfect balance of both without being too overwhelming with the spice factor.
Atmosphere
You have two options with NaRoma, visit their location on Locke Street in Hamilton OR their Burlington location.
The Locke Street is the original and the location with the most character. I prefer the Hamilton location (but of course, that’s why I’m HAMILTON Small Fries). Downside: it’s a bit smaller and parking can be slightly more difficult to find – but it’s worth it.
Burlington location: you’ll have more space, probably a quieter restaurant and there’s lots of parking!
Brand
Talking to Chef Mario Spina was the best part of this tasting. He has such passion for pizza (so much passion that he brings in the best pans from France, proofs his dough for ages, and spends tons of time creating the perfect pizza recipe) that it makes YOU feel passionate about pizza.
The NaROMA brand is based around Chef Mario’s passion. They do offer other foods, but you know when you visit…it’s ALL about the pizza. Chef Mario is about making pizza right.
Social Media Campaign
Website – http://naroma.ca/
Facebook – NaRoma Pizza Bar
Twitter – @NaRomaPizzaBar
Instagram – @naromapizzabar
Their social media campaign is on point. I’m a fan of the fact that they’re actually interacting with others on Twitter rather than just talking about the restaurant.
I’d love to see more on the Facebook side – pics I can share to my Facebook page please! 🙂
Suggestions
Honestly, this is rare…but I don’t really have any suggestions for NaRoma. They’re doing it all right, imo!
Been to Na Roma? What’s your favourite pizza there? Review it with us in the comments below!
(This visit was comped by NaRoma. Opinions are my own.)