Popular wood-fired pizza joint Zazz closing down, no plans to reopen
Casual Italian diner Zazz Pizza is shutting down on 29 October after five years of operations. The underrated restaurant opened in 2019 at Short Street in a cramped space, but relocated to its current roomier location at Cross Street Exchange in 2021 after the Singapore Land Authority took back the land for redevelopment. While the eatery is catered to the CBD crowd looks-wise with its nondescript no-frills decor and fluorescent lighting, it serves surprisingly good wood-fired pizzas and some tasty sides. Granted, not everything on the menu is excellent, but the pizzas are well-made, hearty and decent value for the quality. The style? Somewhat Neapolitan, but heftier, with Italy-imported flour, a rustic flavour and crust that’s tender, slightly bready but not too thick and attractively dappled with smoky ‘leopard spots’.
Zazz Pizza is helmed by chef and co-owner Hiran Fernando, who worked over 25 years at several Italian restaurants and was behind the now defunct HDB pizzeria, Crosta Pizza.
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Last month, Zazz took to Instagram and Facebook to announce that it would be shutting down for good at the end October, garnering disappointed reactions from several netizens. One Instagram user said the joint had the “the most delicious pizza in Singapore”, while another said it sold their “favourite vegan pizza”.
When we called the restaurant, a staff member told us that Zazz is shutting down as Cross Street Exchange will be closed for extensive renovations soon. She added that there are no plans for the Italian joint to reopen for now.
Zazz has gained a following over the years, generating a 4.6 star rating on Google and close to a thousand reviews. 8days.sg’s food editor has also dropped by occasionally and enjoys the eatery’s Bismark pizza, cheesy meatballs and lasagna (see below).
Chef-owner tight-lipped about possibility of opening another restaurant
8days.sg reached out to chef Fernando to ask about Zazz’s closure and his future plans, but he declined to comment, hinting at non-confidentiality clauses. We heard on the grapevine that the chef might be opening a non-pizza-centric eatery elsewhere, but again, he declined to confirm this.
Known for its freshly-made wood-fired pizzas
With less than a week before its closure, here are some dishes to try at Zazz. Unfortunately, at press time, we’re told that chef Fernando is currently on medical leave. Fingers crossed that he’ll be back in the kitchen before Zazz shuts down ’cos the food just ain’t the same without him.
Bismark Pizza, $31.32
The Bismark pie is a crowd-pleaser. It has softly chewy, puffy-edged dough pocked with char marks and topped with tangy tomato sauce, ham, lots of cheese and an oozy-yolked sunny side up egg. The Meatball Pizza ($30.24) is also pretty yummy, so too Zazz’s Hawaiian Pizza ($30.24) if you’re not against having pineapples on your pizza.
Meatball Pomodoro, $17.28
These unassuming orbs of minced beef and pork cradle pockets of gooey melted mozzarella when bitten into. They’re slathered with rich tomato sauce and showered with grated parmesan. Umami bomb.
Fettuccine Bolognese, $25.92
Besides pizza, Zazz also serves pasta like Fettuccine Bolognese ($25.92) — but the best offering here, in our opinion, is the gooey, juicy and savoury lasagna ($25.92).
Zazz Pizza’s last day of operations is on 29 Oct 2023. It’s located at #01-108 Cross Street Exchange, 18 Cross St, S048423. Open Tue - Thur 11.30am - 2.30pm & 5.30pm - 10.30pm; Fri 11.30am - 2.30pm & 5.30pm - 11pm; Sat 11.30am - 11pm; Sun 11.30am - 10.30pm. More info via Instagram & Facebook.
Photos: Zazz Pizza/Instagram, Zazz Pizza, Florence Fong
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