JAPES Review

We were lucky enough to be invited to sample the menu at the new Pizzeria in town, Japes. As a self proclaimed pizza lover, I was lured in with the promise of pizza with a twist, and was extremely excited to see if it would deliver.

Stepping off the bustling streets of Soho and into the warm, buzzing and comfy atmosphere of the new eatery, we were greeted by one of the owners who warmly welcomed us to our table. We were immediately struck by the ceiling centre piece adorned with greenery offset by the soft glow of low hanging lights. This was not your average pizza joint.
Japes has the feel of a relaxed trendy bar and we were quick to embrace this vibe sampling the sweet and smoky tequila-based Paloma and the refreshing Lemon and Mint cocktails. So good we couldn’t stop at just the two.

If, like me, your past experience of Chicago style pizzas has been very much microwave friendly (hangs head in shame) then you are in for an education. Japes offers authentic Chicago style pizzas in both the ‘deep dish’ and ‘pot pie’ variety.

We kept it classic, sampling the trademark ‘Chicago’ – tomato, basil, pepperoni, mozzarella and parmesan – and, unlike other deep dish pizzas, the pastry was incredibly light. It’s not just about the crust though, the pizza topping was very rich in flavour; the tangy tomato had a slight kick and was covered with generous lashings of cheese and pepperoni. Absolutely delicious.

The pot pie option was a daring twist on pizza unlike anything I’d seen or tasted before. Encased in a pastry crust, the pie was served topless with all its cheesy goodness on display. The ‘Chickenati’ – chicken, prosciutto, mozzarella, gorgonzola, broccoli, mushrooms – was brimming with toppings and looked unbelievably appetising, and it tasted even better. If a chicken and mushroom pie made love to a pizza, this would be their beautiful offspring. 

With tummies bursting at the seams, we decided to check out the desserts on offer too, and Japes didn’t disappoint. With another American specialty on the menu, the waffle, we opted for the White Nuter and the Stachiola. The White Nuter is for those with a sweet tooth, sugary, sweet, light and soft with a white chocolate drizzle served with homemade ice cream.

The Stachiola, is a light fluffy waffle topped with pistachio ice cream, sweet grapes and ground pistachio for that all important crunch. We couldn’t decide which one we preferred and would definitely opt for both again on our next visit.

Reassuringly well priced and with nothing quite like it anywhere else in the capital, Japes is a pizzeria like no other. With cocktails aplenty and the food on point, we’re already planning our next trip.

Website: https://japes.uk

Address: 22-25 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 3RY

Written by Simran Maini-Hoskins