I’d visited Croma for breakfast, previously, and having been rather impressed, I committed to coming back to try their pizza. It was good to find an opportunity to do so, so swiftly.

Exterior

I won’t linger on details of the decor and service, as I found them much the same as before. The place has less propitious people-watching potential on a rainy evening, but there’s still a good sense of spying on the world passing by, as you dine.

I was delighted to see a new spelling of melanzana parmegiana (it’s currently tied with baclava/baklava/baklawa for most variably spelled menu item, at least in my mind!) on the menu, served both for starter or main course. I momentarily contemplated ordering it for both courses, but my eye was taken by the anatra pizza, featuring the full panoply of crispy duck accoutrements as the topping, for main.

Melanzana parmegiana

The starter melanzana was really good. I can think only of Piatto Verde (flavour) and the Italian Kitchen (elegance) that serve it better, on a regular basis.

The crispy duck pizza was similarly satisfying. When it arrived, the aroma of coriander was arresting, heralding an enjoyable combination of flavours. The pizza base (as pancake substitute) was light and crisp, and the hoisin sauce worked really well in place of tomato. The crunch of cucumber and spring onions worked very nicely, too. It was an unusual gamble, but it worked most effectively.

Pizza

So overall, the evening fare at Croma was every bit as impressive as their breakfast. Cinema goers, at whatever time of day, are being incredibly well served by this varied and imaginative menu, driven by a kitchen with a clear commitment to simple and well-executed Italian dishes. It’s a place that’s definitely worth visiting.

I ate: melanzana parmegiana, pizza anatra

I drank: water, house red

I wore: travel suit

Total bill: £24.05