Restaurant Review: Japes, Soho

How deep is your love? Open your eyes to a whole new world of deep dish and dig into Japes’ plethora of pizzas, says Helen Wilco

Pizza. Travel around the world, and you’ll find many a foodie putting it at the top of their favourite things to eat.

It’s easy to see why – it’s simple yet delicious, and all you need is a perfectly crisp base topped with melted cheese. Then, you can add almost any ingredient you like.

This popularity has of course meant that pizza has evolved from its Italian roots and is now available in every shapeshifting form – from vegan to charcoal bases.  London offers almost every version you can think of, which means it’s time to get tasting!

The Venue

Japes is situated in the heart of Soho and has an amazing atmosphere as soon as you walk in. In summer they have a few seats outside on the pavement and open the large windows in the front which is great with the occasional heatwave we have.

That being said, it was pouring with rain when we visited and winter had really begun to set in. This didn’t seem to affect the restaurant though as it was still extremely busy.

The location definitely helps with its popularity. Being next to Soho theatre means there is a constant flow of customers looking to dine before and after theatre shows – there’s never a bad time for a slice.

The Menu

The menu (as you would expect) is focused on the iconic deep dish pizzas but also has alternative options with salads for those looking for something lighter. There’s also pasta for individuals who want a different carb option.

We began our evening with the delicious nduja and mozzarella bread (£4.95) which had a great kick of spice from the nduja balanced out by the mozzarella. The only negative was that it was extremely small, even for a starter, so I would recommend ordering two if you are hungry.

We chose to share the Chicago pizza (£10.50) topped with pepperoni mozzarella, parmesan, tomato sauce and fresh basil and the carbonara (£8.95).

We also partook in a little pasta. When you order a pasta dish you are given the choice of two types of pasta, one of which is the Japes mix that features multiple types of pasta and was a lovely alternative to the standard option.

The deep dish pizza looks amazing when it is placed on the table taking pride of place. The deep dish pizza is almost like an open pie with the cheese bubbling over the top and is a lot smaller in size than a traditional pizza. We were worried that it would be too dense and doughy but were pleasantly surprised that is was the opposite.

The pizza was definitely more filling than we first thought because we were too full to even consider dessert.

The separate menu looks very impressive and I was extremely tempted by the white chocolate pyramid (£4.95) with biscuit, white chocolate mousse, caramel cream and white chocolate icing. I spotted it being served to another table and it looked amazing.

The Wordrobe Verdict

Japes celebrates the iconic deep dish pizza and it does so extremely well. However, I’m not sure if I have been fully converted from my favourite thin base.

The front of house staff were lovely and very accommodating, giving us great recommendations of the best dishes to try.

Having the opportunity to try dishes from almost every aspect of the menu meant we know that there is a choice for everyone, regardless of their pizza preference.

How deep is your love? Open your eyes to a whole new world of deep dish and dig into Japes for a slice of deliciousness.