Alta Pizza, Italian-ish Pizzeria, Bangser
Words: Karen Santosuosso
Photos: Rich Callahan
Along the Jalan Kemuja cluster of restaurants and cafes in Bangsar, you can find an Italian-ish spot with creative takes on traditional Neapolitan-style pizza and other delicious dishes. The idea for Alta Pizza was conceived in 2019 after an inspirational journey to Naples, where the team underwent intensive training at a Michelin-star pizzeria. However, as fate would have it, the onset of the pandemic delayed their plans for opening in KL until late 2023. The long anticipated wait to open was well worth it – Alta Pizza provides a bright and inviting atmosphere with a solid offering of delicious pizzas, snacks and drinks.
Alta Pizza Bangsar
“The team, helmed by Chef-Owner Christian Recomio, lauds itself on Neo Neapolitan-style pizzas. Simplicity is paramount with this style of pizza—toppings are minimalist, and ingredients are centred on the best in-season, local produce. Fresh cheese is made in-house daily, resulting in an idyllic balance of tang, slight saltiness, and creamy curves.” Now, who isn’t attracted to a bit of carbs and homemade cheese?
Aperitivo Kuala Lumpur at Alta Pizza
We begin our visit with a glass of bubbly from Architects of Wine (RM 300/bottle). It’s a Pét-Nat produced by the natural ‘ancestral method’ of fermenting in the bottle. This is clean, crisp, and not too cloudy, unlike many natural wines. It’s pretty easy to drink on this Tuesday afternoon. Alta Pizza rotates low-intervention wine offerings by the glass weekly with specials during an Aperitivo Happy Hour, including 30% off all alcoholic drinks.
We also indulge in some cocktails – delightful libations to pair with our pizza. The Raspberry Campari (RM 32) is a juicy mixture of raspberries, Campari, and soda. The result is not too sweet as the Campari brings a bitterness to it. The Ap Rosso (RM 40) is my favourite, though, with a mixture of Italian bitters, house lemonade, soda and gin. Also featuring the housemade lemonade is the Limoncello Lemonade (RM 28), with limoncello made in-house, too, using bittersweet Amalfi lemons. If you are a non-drinker, then you can go for the House Lemonade (RM 15) on its own, which is refreshingly tart.
Next, come a couple of classic cocktails, which are available for the Aperitivo Hour—a Vodka Martini (RM 20) and Mon’s favourite Negroni (RM 22). Equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth are presented in a dainty glass, pairing quite well with cheese or anything savoury, in Mon’s opinion.
Budget-friendly Lunch Deals
Alta Pizza offers lunch deals, which are truly a steal. We try the Risotto (RM 25 a la carte, or RM 50 for the set, including garlic bread, lemonade and dessert). The risotto is prepared with Italian arborio rice, mushrooms and herb butter. Topped with a fried variety of mushrooms, it gives a perfect umami taste with a bit of crunch. The garlic bread is anything but boring, too. A fresh, bright green garlicky spread atop spongy focaccia makes for the perfect side. Our dessert today is a Panna Cotta with berries – chef’s choice. The lunch special’s dessert depends on the week; sometimes, you may get a tiramisu or housemade gelato instead.
The Margarita Pizza (RM 30, including a lemonade) features soft fior di latte cheese, San Marzano tomato sauce, and fresh basil. The crust from the Stefano Ferrara oven has excellent char, resulting in the satisfying “leopard spotting” generally associated with a dough fermented at cooler temperatures. It’s a classic done right here at Alta Pizza.
Italian Snacks & Plates
If you are not in the mood for pizza, there are quite a few options for small plates and snacks to go around, too. The House Cured Sardines (RM 30) are served with a San Marzano spread atop fresh focaccia. The flavours actually bring me back to Barcelona as they are akin to a Spanish pan con tomate with the added layer of deliciously cured fish.
I wouldn’t usually order the Honeycomb Tripe (RM 34) on my own, but I am so glad I tried it. Its chewy, ribbony texture is actually not so bad, served alongside cubed potatoes and a garlic chive sauce topped with crispy breadcrumbs.
Some satisfying veggie options include the Mushroom Fritti (RM 28) and Local Greens (RM 34). The fried mushrooms are crispy and well seasoned, presented with a beautiful orange saffron aioli on the side. It ends up being one of my favourite dishes. The greens are fresh and bright broccolini and asparagus tonight, pairing well with their anchovy vinaigrette for some acidity.
Hand-made Pasta & Pizza
All pasta is handmade daily in-house at Alta Pizza. The Spaghetti (RM 44) is a wonderful al dente served with fresh gremolata, chilli crisp, and chunks of succulent octopus on top. Lemon zest gives it an added zing, too. The Gnocchi (RM 44) features crunchy hazelnuts and chicken butter, with a nice crisp on the potato dough from being pan-fried.
The star of the show really is the pizza, though, and what I would argue to be some of the best pizza one can find in Kuala Lumpur. Flour is flown in from Italy, and the classic red sauce is made using a mixture of milled Italian San Marzano and Japanese Momotaro tomatoes for extra flavour and sweetness. The House Chorizo Pizza (RM 48) has chunks of Mexican-style chorizo made in-house with beef and chilli, adorable baby figs locally sourced from Janda Baik, and sharp pecorino cheese. The result is a delicate balance of salty, spicy and a little sweet.
The Four Cheese Pizza (RM 48) features Alta’s homemade fior di latte, sharp pecorino, fresh thyme oil, walnuts and burnt grapes. It’s a first for me to have burnt grapes as a pizza topping, and I’d say they work really well with the creamy and nutty cheeses. Rich goes back for more of the crust to dip in a side of hot honey with chilli (RM 5). We’d recommend dishing out the extra 5 ringgit for the hot honey and/or ranch dip for an extra layer of yum!
Desserts
We round out the meal with more dairy, of course. The Buffalo Milk Gelato (RM 24) uses locally sourced buffalo milk, which results in extra fat and creaminess. It comes with a sinful dulce de leche caramel sauce and crunchy pecans. After everyone’s tried a bite, I quickly make sure to finish it off as it’s too good to go to waste.
Alta Pizza Review
The bright and airy atmosphere, delicious aperitivo and tantalizing pizza all make for the perfect haven to sit back, relax and enjoy. We are well taken care of by Chef Ashton and our server, Nahid. The menu items are at a great price point for the quality of ingredients and care taken in each dish. I’ll be back with more friends and fellow pizza lovers to share the joy of dipping the light and airy pizza crust in hot honey. I’d like to try the housemade Italian fennel sausage next time, too. Buon Appetito.
Reasons to visit Alta Pizza Bangsar: Neapolitan-style pizza with both classic and creative toppings; friendly service; budget-friendly lunch options; aperitivo happy hour deals on all alcoholic drinks from 5-7 p.m.; and if you’re too tired to visit in person, you can order Alta Pizza on Beepit, too! We also hear there’s a new Supper Menu coming soon with deals on small plates and drinks in the later evening.
Alta Pizza
38 Jalan Kemuja, Bukit Bangsar
59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+60 10 260 3832
@alta_pizza_
Alta Pizza Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday, 12 pm – 11 pm
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