Naples, Chicago, and a bit of mango: Exploring Nomad Pizza in Bengaluru

Nomad Pizza in Bengaluru offers a world tour on a plate, featuring pizzas inspired by global styles from Naples to Chicago

On a mild afternoon, we stepped into Nomad Pizza in Indiranagar. The atmosphere struck a balance between cosmopolitan and rustic. The colour scheme was earthy, with walls that had a rough texture, creating a warm and inviting space. The cosmopolitan touch came from the artworks— big, bold illustrations of skylines from Georgia, Turkey, Spain, Korea, and more adorned the walls.

A quick glance at the menu confirmed the inspiration behind Nomad Pizza. Each section offered a glimpse into a different culinary tradition. From the classic flavours of Naples to the age-old rivalry between the thin crust of New York and the deep-dish delights of Chicago, Nomad Pizza promised an exploration of flavours on a plate. Ankit Verma, the founder, says, “The idea for Nomad Pizza came from our travels around the world. Like a nomad who travels from place to place, our menu takes you to different pizza destinations.“

What truly piqued our interest was a seasonal mango-special menu featuring smoothies, salads, pizzas, and desserts. Nomad Pizza boldly throws mangoes into the ring in a world still debating the merits of pineapple on pizza.

“It’s mango season, and we’re excited to showcase this fruit’s versatility,” says Sundar Ram, Nomad Pizza’s head chef. “Mangoes pair surprisingly well with pizza, especially our Neapolitan pizzas with thin, light crusts.”

But before diving into the avante-garde side of the menu — the mango pizzas — we opted for a safer bet: the mango smoothie. (Nomad Pizza also has an extensive bar menu, but we wanted an alcohol-free lunch.) It was refreshingly cold and packed with mango flavour. However, the sweetness might be a touch overpowering for some.

Next, we opted for the grilled chicken, mushroom, and leek pizza with a sourdough base. The pizza itself was a visual delight - fresh cheese adorned the top, and the grilled chicken looked perfectly cooked, promising juicy tenderness. While the flavours of the mushrooms and leeks were a bit subtle, the sourdough base truly shone.

Now came the moment of truth: the mango and ham pizza. This was, without a doubt, our most adventurous choice. We approached it with the same caution one might feel while bungee jumping – a mix of excitement and the fear of face-planting. But what a pleasant surprise! The sweetness of the cubed mango chunks played beautifully against the savoury smokiness of the ham, and the red sauce provided a welcome tang that brought the whole flavour profile together. The mozzarella cheese, a familiar comfort, tied everything in perfectly. It was probably the most exciting dish of our high-calorie lunch.