Well, it’s been a long time coming but, finally there are signs of better food options near Paddington station. Tonight we are heading to Heist Bank which describes itself as ‘a new playground for adults’ serving coffee, wood-oven pizzas, local craft beers and cocktails.
Heist Bank is set in the gradually transforming Paddington Basin and the place is buzzing when we arrive. The interior has a trendy industrial design, walls are adorned with interesting modern art and the menu has at least 10 craft ales and ciders on tap – I’m happy already. In the corner there is a hubbub of activity next to the pizza oven as the pizzas are built, cooked and served.
Beer is important in order to help us study the menu. Actually the drinks menu is as long as the food menu with many bottled beers and ciders plus an array of modern and classic cocktails. Rock has a Bibble, a pale ale brewed by the Wild Beer Company using Mosaic & Amarillo hops. It is light, slightly bitter with some fruity notes. I go for the Hepcat from the Gypsy Hill Brewing Company. It is an IPA made from a blend of five different hops which deliver quite intense citrus and tropical flavours. Now I really need a pizza!
There are a variety of other dishes on the menu but it is the pizza made with 48 hour fermented sourdough that drew us here in the first place. We decide to share the one with courgette, sundried tomatoes, walnut pesto, basil and Talagani cheese. Talagani is a Greek sheep’s milk cheese, similar to halloumi – quite salty and marinated in mint. The pizza is huge – easily enough for the two of us after a heavy lunch. On other tables, however, I notice people eating a whole pizza with side dishes without any difficulty.
The pizza is great, the ale is great, the atmosphere and service is friendly. We will definitely come back here!
I love a great pizza crust! So hard to find a place that makes it on site!
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