Pizzaiolos continue to remain at the very heart of its “beautifully simple” menu, but beyond pizzas, UK’s No. 1 Pizzeria and a global Britalian icon ‘PizzaExpress’ now has a complete all-day dining offering: its world-famous dough balls, rice bowls, fresh salads, lasagne, risottos, hand-made pastas, Italian sandwiches (Piadina), handcrafted desserts such as tiramisu, sticky toffee pudding, mango cheesecake, and gelato, and not to forget a child-friendly Piccolo Menu with activity packs.
A refreshed beverage programme, featuring cocktails, mocktails, sangrias, a carefully selected range of coffees, and a curated wine list round out the menu.
After guests in Mohali (CP-67 mall) from a year and a half ago, and more recently in Ludhiana (Downtown Market, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar) popularly embraced the brand’s “blend of authenticity, freshness, and flair”, PizzaExpress has made a triumphant entry into Chandigarh, on the third floor of the city’s hottest melting pot, Nexus Elante Mall.
This opening marks Pizza Express’ 37th restaurant in India and extends the brand’s 60-year legacy to the country’s most iconic architectural marvel of a city and North India’s most discerning and well-travelled markets. Amritsar and Jalandhar are “next chapters” in the brand’s North India growth story as it stays on track to reach a milestone of 50 restaurants by FY 2026–27. Locations are also being scouted for future entry into Panchkula and Zirakpur.
The brand has been brought to India by Gourmet Investments Private Limited (GIPL), the food and beverage vertical of Bharti Family Office, which is also the India partners for other renowned international restaurant brands like Chili’s and PF Chang’s.
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In his media message at the opening of the Chandigarh restaurant, Ramit Bharti Mittal, Chairman and Director, GIPL, said: “PizzaExpress has grown into a globally loved dining experience across 13 countries, and we’re delighted to bring this heritage to Chandigarh. The city values authenticity and craft, which is exactly what PizzaExpress stands for. Our Britalian identity, iconic menu, and commitment to quality align beautifully with the way Chandigarh dines. This launch is also a key step in our strategic North India expansion.”
Speaking to your own news portal LifeInChandigarh.com at a select media preview on Wednesday (Dec 3, 2025), Jerry Thomas, Culinary Head – Restaurants, GIPL, shared: “Our cuisine philosophy has always been beautifully simple. With our Pizzaiolos at the heart of everything, the dough remains the hero. Fresh ingredients, treated with respect, create flavours that stay consistent around the world.
“While our core never changes, innovation is part of the PizzaExpress DNA. That’s why international favourites like the Leggera, a lighter, under-600-calorie innovation endorsed by the Weight Watchers Society, perfect for fitness enthusiasts, sit comfortably alongside local adaptations. For Chandigarh, we’ve crafted dishes such as the Spicy American Hottest, Padrino, and Chicken & Paneer Coriander Pesto, developed to suit the flavour preferences of Indian guests.”
Kumar Asit, India CEO, PizzaExpress, felt that “Chandigarh’s love for good food, modern design, and elevated dining fits seamlessly with the PizzaExpress ethos. The opening of our 2nd restaurant in the tricity signals strong appetite here for premium casual dining. After Mohali, Ludhiana and Chandigarh, Amritsar and Jalandhar will be the next chapters in our North India growth story and with this, we are firmly on track to reach a milestone of 50 restaurants by FY 2026–27.”
Sharing further details, Jerry Thomas said: “The Chandigarh menu stays rooted in PizzaExpress’ heritage while embracing flavours that suit the Indian palate. At its heart are the three signature bases: Classic, Romana and newly launched Naples; carrying global favourites such as the Romana, Queen Margherita, Lava, American Hot and the Michelin-star-created Calabrese, a bold rectangular pizza born from the brand’s culinary collaboration with chef Francesco Mazzei. The Romana brings that iconic thin, stretched, crisp base PizzaExpress is loved for, while the new Naples base offers a softer, fuller, more indulgent bite inspired by the pizzerias of southern Italy.”
At the heart of these signatures is the brand’s iconic tomato passata, claimed to be made exclusively for PizzaExpress by the Greci family in Italy, using San Marzano tomatoes crushed within 12 hours of harvest and finished with a basil leaf for the unmistakable flavour the brand is known for worldwide.
Alongside these icons are local adaptations crafted specially for India, including the Spicy Grilled Chicken Pizza, Chicken Coriander Pesto Pizza and Tandoori Chicken Pizza, each designed to “echo the region’s love for bold, vibrant flavours”. And because Punjab loves its chicken, the menu also features wings in four styles: crispy fried wings, smoky BBQ wings, classic hot wings and creamy red jalapeño hot wings.
Bringing the brand’s story to life is the signature open kitchen, where guests can watch the striped-uniformed Pizzaiolos hand craft every base with flair, tossing them up with precision and theatre.
