The top line: Peckham pizza restaurant Connie’s Pizza has headed to Brighton for its second location. The brand has signed a 15-year lease on the former Gourmet Burger Kitchen site within Komedia, the Gardner Street entertainment venue famed for its comedy nights that also houses the Duke’s at Komedia cinema. Connie’s launched earlier this year in the Peckham railway arch previously home to Little Kudu. It is the creation of Italian pizza specialist Andrea Asciuti, who is also behind the two-strong 081 Pizzeria group. Initially billed as a ‘Britalian’ concept serving London-style pizza, Connie’s now describes its offer as New York-inspired, combining Italian techniques with British ingredients. Its high-hydration dough is fermented for 36–48 hours and made using American flour, then baked at 370°C for about seven minutes to achieve a crisp base. “The category is becoming increasingly competitive, but Connie’s has a clear point of difference: we bring Italian technique, discipline and ingredient knowledge to a style of pizza that is more relaxed, easy to eat and share, and the perfect comfort food,” he says.
On the menu: Connie’s offers a tight menu of 10 pizzas, ranging from classics such as margherita and funghi to less conventional options including the Chori Piz (chorizo, chimichurri, Grana Padano and basil) and Brighton-exclusive Clam Pie features (clams, aged mozzarella, pecorino romano, oregano, garlic oil and parsley). Supporting dishes include deep-fried mac ’n’ cheese with Stilton cheese sauce; deep-fried mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce; and cheese-stuffed dough balls. Pizza is also available by the slice to take away from a counter at the front of the restaurant, cut from much larger pizzas. The drinks offer is similarly brief, with a handful of beers, one white and one red wine, and a few simple cocktails.
The vibe: The restaurant has 130 covers across indoor and outdoor seating. The bright, casual space is divided into two zones, with design details including pendant lighting, whitewashed timber-clad walls, stainless steel ceiling panels and brown banquettes.
And another thing: Heading out of London for restaurant number two is an unusually early regional move: brands typically build a stronger foothold in the capital before venturing further afield. And Connie’s has hardly chosen an easy place to test the waters. Brighton’s North Laine is crowded with pizza restaurants, with Franco Manca, Rudy’s, Pizza Express and Fatto a Mano all a short walk away. Alongside these larger outfits are Jack’s Pizza and Tony’s, two new players on Brighton’s pizza scene which serve Detroit and New York style pizza respectively. Connie’s therefore enters a neighbourhood where diners already have plenty of choice, including alternatives to the dominant Neapolitan style. Its USP might well be the size of the bill: an £8 margherita and no pizza above £12 make it an accessible addition to this fiercely competitive market.
44 Gardner Street, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1UN