Tucked away on a cobbled street in the centre of town, Fifty-Fifty is always full (of men mostly), everyone looking jolly and jovial.
Could it be that they do the best pizza in town? Or is it a pizza-serving Swiss equivalent of a masons' lodge? We found the answer to be no on both counts, but it’s definitely worth a visit.
Our friend had what looked like penne with Chantilly cream, but turned about to be a herby, cheesy sauce that melted pleasingly into the pasta. Monsieur Gourmand and I both had pizza, his with Parma ham, buffalo mozzarella and fresh cherry tomatoes, mine with tuna and onions (a flavour I am rediscovering after an extended period of Napoletana-liking).
Mid-meal we were surprised to see the gregarious, gravel-voiced manager put on his coat and disappear through the door for a fag with the only other member of restaurant staff, leaving us and the other few customers to fend for ourselves. This would never happen in a more crime-accustomed country; we could have locked him out, stormed the kitchen and overpowered the pizzaiolo, for goodness' sake.
This must be what makes Fifty-Fifty so perennially popular; it feels more like a club than a restaurant, where newcomers are just as welcome as regulars.
After our tasty mains we shared a dessert. Masquerading as innocent lemon sorbet, it had actually been doused in vodka by the aforementioned man, a fiery finale to warm us for the wintery night outside.
Fifty-Fifty, 7 Rue Neuve du Molard, 1204 Geneva
+44 (0)22 310 2698
Could it be that they do the best pizza in town? Or is it a pizza-serving Swiss equivalent of a masons' lodge? We found the answer to be no on both counts, but it’s definitely worth a visit.
Our friend had what looked like penne with Chantilly cream, but turned about to be a herby, cheesy sauce that melted pleasingly into the pasta. Monsieur Gourmand and I both had pizza, his with Parma ham, buffalo mozzarella and fresh cherry tomatoes, mine with tuna and onions (a flavour I am rediscovering after an extended period of Napoletana-liking).Mid-meal we were surprised to see the gregarious, gravel-voiced manager put on his coat and disappear through the door for a fag with the only other member of restaurant staff, leaving us and the other few customers to fend for ourselves. This would never happen in a more crime-accustomed country; we could have locked him out, stormed the kitchen and overpowered the pizzaiolo, for goodness' sake.
This must be what makes Fifty-Fifty so perennially popular; it feels more like a club than a restaurant, where newcomers are just as welcome as regulars.
After our tasty mains we shared a dessert. Masquerading as innocent lemon sorbet, it had actually been doused in vodka by the aforementioned man, a fiery finale to warm us for the wintery night outside.
Fifty-Fifty, 7 Rue Neuve du Molard, 1204 Geneva
+44 (0)22 310 2698
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