Fast, fresh, Neapolitan-style pizza for those in a rush
The selection at Trattoria e Dolci, the new restaurant at Solaire Resort North, is compact—just a few pizzas, calzones, and salads. There’s a display case at one end of the room filled with over two dozen flavors of gelato, but that’s basically it. And Hylton Le Roux is fine with that.
The culinary director of the Solaire outpost in Quezon City recounted how they arrived at the concept for Trattoria a little over two years ago. “We wanted something that was familiar to most people, and pizza is a popular choice for both children and adults,” Le Roux told Lifestyle, adding, “It had to be quick service so as to tie in with the whole level-one concept.”
Located on the first level of the integrated resort, Trattoria e Dolci was designed to appeal to those looking for a quick meal without having to pass through the gaming floors on the second and third levels. “It’s very accessible. We have two entrances, the main one and another off to the side. You can come in without seeing a single slot machine.”
40 seconds
Le Roux said that once the concept was approved, they put in their orders for the pizza ovens from Italy. “Our pizzas here only take 40 seconds to cook. As soon as we put it down, the heat from the stones begins cooking it. You can come in for lunch or a snack, order a pizza, and be done in about an hour.”
At the recent launch, we sampled a few of the chewy pizzas that came with a nice char. Funghi was topped with marinated mushrooms, porcini, smoked ricotta, and truffle oil; Trattoria had sliced mortadella, burrata, and pistachio; Diavola had spicy salami, mozzarella, and chili flakes; and Rossa (our favorite) was topped with Parma ham, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and shaved parmesan.
“We were aware that people have their preferences when it comes to pizza, whether it’s the one sold at S&R or the thin-crust ones. It took us a while to come up with our Neapolitan-style version that has a thicker base,” Le Roux said.
He also pointed out how the Trattoria interiors—dark and inviting, with an olive tree in the center of the room and a jukebox at the side—add to the dining experience.
Le Roux has his hands full. He oversees 15 F&B outlets—certainly more than the single one (Waterside) he used to handle at Solaire Entertainment City a few years ago.
“We have quick-service outlets at the food court where you can order and eat your meal in 20 minutes. We also have higher-end restaurants offering Chinese, Japanese, and Italian fare. In this building, from top to bottom, I think we’ve got everything covered when it comes to dining options.”
Trattoria e Dolci is at Solaire Resort North. 1 Solaire Way, Vertis North, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City.
