14 Grani Pizza Experience

“14 Grani Pizza & Experience” brings the “gourmet” pizza experience to the east of the Milanese suburbs, more precisely to Cernusco sul Naviglio. From the classic margherita to the more elaborate and whimsical pizzas, via Maffei hides a mix of flavors waiting to be discovered.  

The name – ça va sans dire – already suggests the ambitious mission of the restaurant: to raise one of the symbols of Italian cuisine, notoriously simple and genuine, to a signature dish, searching for top quality ingredients and combining them with each other to create sensational, never before seen combinations. In short, the use of excellent fresh ingredients is not the end result, but the starting point.

As soon as you enter, thanks to the decor, you’ll feel like you’ve been catapulted into a place typical of Marzamemi. The dominant color is in fact blue, which when combined with white, evokes maritime nostalgia and relaxed atmospheres of the Sicilian village. The menu is well constructed, and suggests for each type of pizza the correct combination with one of the various wine or beer labels on the list, a tip that we have greatly appreciated and that allows you to have a perfect balance of flavors. 

The cellar is well-stocked and cyclically presents really interesting goodies, such as the beer of the award – winning Collesi Brewery , which we got to know better during one of their usual themed tasting evenings (editor’s note: they are open to all, but by reservation), where alongside more or less well-known labels, you will also find some limited edition pizzas for the occasion.

The pizza is presented as a classic gourmet: already sliced, with the topping perfectly divided between each slice, to create the perfect bite. The result is a golden, light and crunchy base thanks to the hydration of the dough and high cooking temperatures, on which the ingredients are placed “cold,” so as not to alter their characteristics. The choice of pizzas is greatly varied, not only for the attention to the seasonality of the products and the selection of the best fresh ingredients, but also for the creativity of Renzo, the pizza maker, who, thanks to continuous research and experimentation, creates truly unique pizzas.

As a “first timer,” however, I recommend the Cetara (cuttlefish ink mixture, Cetara anchovies, puntarelle and burrata), the Margherita (the tomato and mozzarella are enhanced by the semi wholemeal dough and a hint of fried basil) and the reinterpretation of the classic Tuna and onions, spatial! Who said that Fassona fish or tartare cannot be on pizza, after all?

If you have room for dessert, know that they are also no joke. The desserts are all Sal de Riso, directly from the Amalfi coast, which speaks to their quality. We were also pleasantly surprised by the service. The staff are friendly and well prepared.

The balance at “14 Grani Pizza & Experience” is therefore positive. The strong points are certainly the relaxed atmosphere, the courtesy of the staff and the promise of a new and quality gastronomic experience. If you are ready for a fresh take on a pizzeria and long to leave the hustle and bustle of the Big City behind you, we highly recommend it.