Just when you thought Shanghai couldn’t get any more pizzerias and Italian eateries, Gemma goes and opens up shop on Donghu Lu, occupying a prime (and no doubt heinously expensive) spot of real estate on this leafy, perennially popular street. And while Shanghai might already have a number of decent pizza places, we have to say it - Gemma’s pizzas are good. Very good.
One of the reasons behind the quality is the fact the guys behind the operation are also the owners of Finigate. For those not in the know, Finigate just happens to be a major importer of fine ingredients into Chinese mainland, supplying a number of Shanghai’s best restaurants with premium quality supplies, many of them from Italy.
Evidence of this is present all over the restaurant, which boasts an array of imported Italian ingredients, extending even to utensils, like the high-stemmed steel gelato dishes, a fire-breathing pizza oven and a beast of a coffee machine - a La Marzocco, to be precise – which, according to owner Yuri Valazza, cost them in excess of RMB150, 000.
While not on the cheap side, pizzas are sizeable to say the least. Coming in at 320g, they’re big enough for two people to share alongside a couple of antipasti. Pizza at Gemma is kept simple with three distinct categories under ‘red,’ ‘green’ and ‘white.’ Our undoubted favorite was the eponymously named ‘Gemma’ (RMB178), featuring a happy, delicious mix of roasted cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, stracciatella, arugula, prosciutto crudo and olives.
Pizza Gemma, RMB178
We also tried the ‘Bianca’ (RMB148), which supplants the usual tomato base for one of crème fraîche, along with arugula and more of the delicious stracciatella cheese; and also a ‘Pesto’ (RMB158), with a rich Genovese house pesto base, and an abundant serving of prosciutto on top.
Pizza Bianchi RMB148
To accompany their pizza, Gemma offers a range of simple salads and antipasti ranging from RMB50 for a mixed leaves salad or a selection of sott’olio antipasti (sundried tomatoes, grilled artichokes, pepperoni, anchovies and olives), up to RMB135 for a generous portion of 5 Italian coldcuts (salami, coppa, speck, prosciuttos crudo and cotto).
Coldcuts of salami, coppa, speck, prosciuttos crudo and cotto, RMB135
Gemma also does a mean homemade gelato in a range of classic flavors for around RMB35 per serving; we tried a delicious scoop each of basil and fior di latte to go along with our espresso.
Basil and Fior di Latte Gelato RMB35-50
As it is, the place is well worth a look in next time you’re hankering for pizza. But in the near future, the team will be opening up the second floor especially for fresh pasta dishes to compliment the specialization of pizza on the first. A sort of Italian food department store of a restaurant, if you will.
Joking aside, Gemma is a fantastic addition to Donghu Lu, which is bound to win over Shanghai’s Italian food enthusiasts with its authenticity.
Price: Approx. RMB350-400 for 2 people.
Who’s going: Trendy Italian expats, Italian enthusiasts
Good for: People watching, big groups, casual dining, families.
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