Josh O.
Yelp
Ply's a great little place, whether you want a drink with friends, a quick lunch, or a 'proper' pizza. Always packed on the traditionally busy nights of the week, I like to drop in on a weekday.
The bar is well-stocked with an excellent rotating range of guest beers. I've never seen such a hipster name as 'Flat White' for a beer, mind you. There's an inventive cocktail menu, which combines the short and strong with the tall and quaffable. Chilli, bourbon, apple and vermouth is a great mix; if you've got a very sweet tooth (think Love Hearts), you'll enjoy the Kid in a Sweetshop, if you can bring yourself to order it.
The starters work well for nibbling and sharing, with quality ingredients. The recent addition of an octopus, caper and potato starter is one I definitely refuse to share anyone else, and is a delight for a seafood fan.
The main event, of course, is pizza. There are a lot of giant wood-fired pizza ovens knocking about now, but the team at Ply make the most of it with some lovely flavour combinations. Bianca and rosso pizzas (solely mozzarella or tomato-based respectively) are worth trying, if you haven't. Fennel sausage and broccoli is a great pairing; onion, courgette and flowers really stand out well on top of a great mozzarella.
The staff are always charming, and even when once I visited to find a missed delivery had left them short on stock, they papered over the cracks with endearing wit. Ply is among the best pizza places in a city that's fast becoming a pizza-lover's paradise. Put it on your list.