Address: 61 Bouzludzha Street
Tel:  8527050, 0888558620
Opening times: 11 am to 11 pm
Bulgarian credit cards accepted

THERE is a popular adage that suggests that pizza is like sex - even when it's bad, it's still good. One need not worry about such things when dining on the culinary nectar that is the pizza served at the Pizza West restaurant. The restaurant, located across from the National Palace of Culture, makes a refreshing change from the numerous other pizzerias that can be found in Sofia. Upon entry, one first notices the friendly and inviting atmosphere. The brightly painted yellow walls, together with tea lights atop dark wooden tables, give the place a warm feeling. The menu at Pizza West, written in both Bulgarian and English, offers a wide array of dishes, with everything from traditional Bulgarian fare such as shopska salad, tarator (chilled yoghurt soup), kufte and kebapche (grilled meats), to more adventurous dishes such as the pileshki drobcheta po lovdzhiski (chicken lungs-hunting style) and veal fondue. In addition to the diverse menu, the budget-conscious diner will find solace in knowing that none of the food items on the menu surpasses the 11 leva mark.

Having had the misfortune of working in the hospitality industry for several years, I am often hypercritical of the service I receive when dining out. While the service was not that of a five-star restaurant, I was not at all displeased, especially considering the level of development of the service industry in Bulgaria.  Our beers arrived promptly and were both cold and large, which is always a good thing.  For starters my dining companions and I agreed to share fried broccoli, 3.09 leva, and bruschetta, 1.40 leva.  The bruschetta, chosen more out of intrigue than an inherent desire for it, consisted of toasted bread topped with tomato, olives and spices.  While it was far different to that which I am accustomed to, it was nonetheless tasty.  Perhaps more enjoyable was the sizeable order of fried broccoli, which when coupled with the garlic chili mustard sauce, will undoubtedly satisfy even the most stubborn of fried broccoli connoisseurs. 

For the main course, I chose to go with the Piccantina pizza, 5.29 leva.  I understand that this is by no means a radical choice but I am not one to go to a sushi restaurant and order a burrito. Topped with yellow cheese, smoked cheese, mushrooms and luti chushki (hot peppers) I can honestly say that the pizza choice was a wise one. I was hoping the pizza would have been a little spicier however this problem was quickly remedied by an additional order of peppers.  My dining companions - my wife and her grandmother - were more adventurous than myself, choosing the chicken curry, 5.99 leva, and the pork fondue, 7.99 leva, respectively.  The verdict from my wife on the chicken curry was that while it was not necessarily as flavoursome as she had hoped for, it was not so bad that she would not order it again. In all fairness, this is to be expected when ordering curry from a pizza restaurant in Bulgaria. The pork fondue was chosen in an attempt to broaden the gastronomic horizons of a 75-year-old woman from Popovo. The plate consisted of a pork fillet and mushrooms in a creamy cheese and wine sauce; quite different to the hoo-ha normally associated with fondue.  While the sauce was quite tasty, the pork was tough and a bit chewy. Again this is to be expected when ordering fondue from a pizza restaurant in Bulgaria.    

Reservations at Pizza West are not imperative but are advised, as the place was almost completely full on a Wednesday night. As well, make sure to bring cash with you.  Credit cards from Bulgarian banks are accepted however there was some uncertainty regarding the acceptance of international credit cards. To make a long story short, I can say that my experience at Pizza West was definitely a good one and I would not hesitate to return.  The place was clean and relatively quiet, the atmosphere was comfortable, the service was good, the pizza was delicious, the portions were large, and the prices were cheap.  I would recommend it to others without hesitation.