Liberty Pizza: Does Banani’s New York-style pizzeria live up to the hype?
Liberty Pizza’s New York-style offering has generated plenty of buzz, but its tiny Banani setup comes with its own quirks. We sampled all five pizzas to see which slices deliver on the promise
The new pizza place in Banani that claims to have brought authentic New York-style pizza, freshly baked in Bangladesh, has stirred up quite an uproar. It could be the social media storm, the classic gingham prints on the pizza menu, the promise of New York-style pizza, or perhaps the open-air setup featured on its social media. Whatever the reason, the TBS Food team decided to drop by and see what all the excitement was about.
At the end of a wide lane in Banani 15, we came upon the front yard of a two-storey villa. As we entered through the gate, Liberty Pizza's white makeshift cart came into view on the right-hand side.
Pizzas are displayed in clear boxes, allowing customers to choose from the available options, while the servers remain busy handling the steady stream of customers.
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Large ovens are installed inside the white cart, and right beside it is the seating arrangement, which can accommodate a maximum of five people.
A first-time visitor might wonder whether the actual seating area is inside the building. They might look around the entire yard for more chairs and eventually try to enter the building, only to be stopped by the guard.
If you plan to dine in and happen to be the sixth person, you have no choice but to stand in a corner and eat your pizza.
Usually, open-air pizzerias have table fans to counter the heat produced by the ovens. Here, however, things are a little different. Customers are left to embrace the elements and deal with whatever the weather has in store.
The Menu
They have five different types of pizza, available in slices or in 14-inch and 21-inch sizes, along with one appetiser.
The only appetiser on the menu, garlic knots, was unavailable. Staff said the serving consisted of six garlic knots generously coated in butter and seasoning. When asked why it was unavailable, one of the staff members replied, "Production has been temporarily stopped for research and development purposes."
The menu also lists two dips: Parmesan mayo and sriracha. The former, however, was no longer available. When we enquired about it, a staff member told us, "It has been discontinued for good."
Thankfully, all five pizza options were available, so we ordered one of each and dug in right there. The slices are generously sized, and customers can also order whole 14-inch or 21-inch pizzas.
NYC Margherita Pizza
The NYC Margherita is made with a double layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Basil leaves are garnished on top, along with a subtle brush of butter.
With the first bite, the flavours of the marinara sauce burst into your mouth. The mozzarella follows, accompanied by the strong aroma and flavour of Parmesan, making for a well-rounded combination. Occasional bites of basil add another layer to the flavour profile, giving the pizza a distinctive character.
Pizzas are displayed in clear boxes, allowing customers to choose from the available options, while the servers remain busy handling the steady stream of customers. Large ovens are installed inside the white cart, and right beside it is the seating arrangement, which can accommodate a maximum of five people.
The crust, however, was remarkably thin and required quite a bit of effort to chew. Whether this particular crust is representative of an authentic New York-style pizza is debatable.
Overall, it was a good experience.
Price:Tk 250
Spicy Chicken Supreme
The Spicy Chicken Supreme uses the same marinara sauce and double blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. A generous amount of chicken is placed on top, with the meat tasting somewhat like the grilled chicken marinade commonly prepared at home — but with a much spicier kick.
For the most part, mozzarella dominates the bite, although the Parmesan makes its presence felt in certain sections. The generous amount of chicken makes the slice filling enough to satisfy your appetite and arguably makes it worth the price.
Price:Tk 290
Classic Peppe
With the same base, the topping changes to pepperoni, with a little jalapeño added for some extra heat. That is essentially the only major departure from the marinara, mozzarella and Parmesan combination.
However, you can rarely go wrong with pepperoni. It is a classic for a reason and remains one of the safest choices on any pizza menu.
We had it, enjoyed it, and appreciated it even more after already becoming familiar with the base flavours from the previous two pizzas.
Price: Tk260
Loaded Beef
Finally, a change in flavour — and a change in taste.
The Loaded Beef comes with the familiar marinara sauce but takes a decidedly creamier route, with Parmesan adding richness and depth. Succulently cooked, spicy ground beef brings another layer of flavour, while jalapeño adds a subtle kick that comes through in almost every bite.
If we had to pick one slice that stood out from the rest, this would be it.
Price: Tk370
White Pie
When the spicy flavours of pizza begin to overwhelm your palate, you might want something creamy to cool things down. The White Pie can come to the rescue.
It has cheddar, mozzarella and Parmesan, while butter-smothered chicken serves as the topping. And what is a creamy pizza without mushrooms? Generous portions of mushroom feature in every bite, completing the experience.
However, the savoury, salty creaminess that the cheddar is expected to deliver somehow falls short of expectations. The overall combination works, but the flavour does not quite reach the level the ingredients promise.
Price: Tk310
