I have driven past 'the best pizza place in Swindon' many times, and often wondered how it stayed open.
La Strada sits in the middle of nowhere, beside the A4361 south of Wroughton and with Broad Hinton (630 people) hidden around the corner. People must be driving there from further afield.
This was exactly what I found myself doing on a sunny afternoon, drawn, like many others, by the restaurant’s fantastic online reviews.
It has the best reviews out of any Italian restaurant selling pizza in or near Swindon, according to the Adver’s own ranking.
The drive took around 12 minutes, but I admit it felt much longer on an empty stomach with the promise of delicious food on the horizon.
I called up and ordered over the phone, with the pizzas ready in around 20 minutes. You can also order on Uber Eats.
20 minutes turned out to not be as long as I thought, and they were ready when I arrived.
La Strada sits in a sunny spot with an outdoor decking area behind the building. Inside is spacious and uncluttered.
It reminded me of the roadside restaurants you find in Mediterranean countries, helped by the fact it was a beautifully sunny day.
The weather, the warm Italian staff and smell of pizza in my nostrils made La Strada feel much further away than Broad Hinton.
We ordered a Hawaiian and a piccante, with mozzarella, mushrooms, pepperoni, pancetta and fresh chillies, coming to a total of £25.95.
For me the winner was the Hawaiian, with fresh sweet pineapple and smoky ham combining deliciously.
The pancetta stood out on the piccante, cut thinly into crispy strips, it added a variety of texture.
The best part was shared by both: the thin-rolled base. It is easy to think that the pizza dough is just a vehicle for the topping, an edible plate topped with the good bits.
This might be true at some places, but La Strada’s thin dough was flavoursome and rich. It was well seasoned, meaning it was tasted through the other ingredients and balanced with the mild cheese.
I always eat the crusts, but now i found myself eating my friend’s too. The meal left me satisfyingly full.
I was lucky enough to live in Italy for a time, and these were as good as many of the pizzas I ate there.
I now know how La Strada stays open.
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