MidiCi Neopolitan Pizza

When I first learned that the CEO of Menchie's, the national fro-yo franchise, was venturing to the world of fast, gourmet-esque pizza, I expected another Blaze, PizzaRev, Pieology, 800 Degrees or Pizza Studio [all of which, by the way, I'm not above].  Although I embrace freedom of choice, given the recently influx of create-your-own, quick fire-baked pizza joints, my expectations for MidiCi were decidedly low.

. . . until I glanced at the extensive menu that reaches beyond endless toppings and a thin burnt crust.

 From charcuterie to four different burrata combos (with beets, purple kale, artichokes, or prosciutto), pizza to eight different salads, nutella calzone to spectacular gelato and sorbetto from Leo Leo Gelato, MidiCi has so much to offer it's almost overwhelming.

But the real olive tree that's chilling in the middle of the restaurant and the stunning interior decor will probably calm you down.  I can only imagine how breathtakingly romantic the restaurant would look at night.

Wood-fired pizza oven, imported from Italia.

All natural and fresh produce and protein to meet your every insalata needs.

A line of pizza chefs, hard at work.

Vibes.

Purple Kale (Cavolo Viola) -- purple kale, baby spinach, medjool dates, ricotta cheese, shaved parmigiano-reggiano, mustard vinaigrette, lemon zest -- $7.50

A and I ordered and shared a Purple Kale salad and the Devil's Pizza (Pizza Diavola).

First, the kale salad.  The good: visually stunning, healthy portion, fresh ingredients.  The needs-work: too much cheese.  Thankfully, I asked for my dressing on the side.  Had I not, I think my salad would be drowning in cheesy vinaigrette.  I ended up not using much of the dressing at all, as the ricotta was already rich.  Could have also used some cracked black pepper.

Devil's Pizza -- crushed Italian peeled tomatoes, whole mozzarella, housemade all natural spicy sausage, spicy Italian calabrese (salami), Fresno & Italian chilis, parmigiano-reggiano, extra virgin olive oil, organic sweet basil -- $11.50

The Devil's Pizza -- yummy with a spicy kick!  Everything was great -- the flavors, the level of spice, the right balance of ingredients.  If you like your crust doughy, you'll absolutely love this.  For those who want a crispier Neopolitan crust, ask for the pizza to bake a bit longer.


My favorite part of the entire meal?  Unsurprisingly, gelato.

Hazelnut and Lemon sorbetto with fresh mint.

Vanilla & Chocolate with Nutella.

While the price point may be higher than other fast pizza places, the ambience and substance make it worthwhile a visit.  Check Midici out, especially if you find yourself on Ventura Boulevard, hungry for something quick and delicious!






cuisine: Italian
location: Sherman Oaks (San Fernando Valley)
hours:
websites: { MidiCi | yelp | facebook | twitter | instagram }
attire: Casual
parking: Street
price range: $5-$12
notes: They serve weekend brunch (breakfast pizza and mimosa) and happy hour (beer/wine) on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8pm-1am.