At Pizza Hills, thankfully, diners will never be forced into such tough situations.
This popular eatery, nestled in a quiet corner atop the verdant Langkawi uplands, offers Napoli-style pizza omakase-style, with its chef choosing what he will make and serve to you.
The element of surprise thus becomes a major ingredient of your meal: customers are encouraged to prepare for the unexpected, often discovering pleasant surprises in the process!
True to its name, this restaurant serves mostly pizzas, all lovingly crafted by resident chef Lance U’Ren, mostly from ingredients grown on the island.
This KL-born cooking maestro is no stranger to fine cuisine, having trained at a Michelin-starred restaurant in southern France, and previously serving as the Executive Chef of Macalister Mansion Penang.
Upon arrival at Pizza Hills, guests are welcomed to sit down at an alfresco dining area, lush and abundant with greenery.
They are greeted by a cheerful host, restaurant co-founder Amira Yusuff, who checks what allergies you might have, as well as anything you do not eat.
Chef U’Ren takes these factors into account, alongside your choice of drink, when deciding what to make for you.
One of their most popular pizzas is the Quattro Formaggi. Four luscious varieties of cheese unite on a sourdough base for a simple yet satisfying treat, enhanced by the sweet sensations of added honeycomb.
The Smoked Duck pizza meanwhile combines the rugged taste of poultry with buffalo mozzarella, grilled bell peppers and caramelised onions for a flavourful explosion that lingers on the tastebuds long after the meal.
Dessert pizzas are another highlight here, in particular the kaya butter toast pizza, which Amira describes as “creamy, rich and full of flavour”.
The omakase format is usually associated with Japanese cuisine, making Pizza Hills a particularly unique brand of restaurant.
Amazingly, it did not start like this. According to Amira, their restaurant originally featured a generic menu, as well as a ‘Chef’s Special of the Day’. This latter option surged in popularity, overshadowing the menu and eventually becoming their main attraction.
“A lot of our customers enjoy the fact that they don’t have to decide what they want to eat. This style is also more convenient for us as the supply chains on this island can be totally unpredictable,” said Amira.
Neither of Pizza Hills’ co-founders originally planned to go into the restaurant business. U’ren first came to Langkawi with the hopes of starting a farm.
He met Amira, a trained veterinary nurse, after sending one of his dogs to a clinic for check-ups. Fascinated by his agricultural mission, she decided to join him on his efforts.
Unfortunately, farming in the lush Langkawi landscape proved harder than expected. After a troupe of monkeys and a lone wild boar decimated their crops they had worked so hard to cultivate, the duo ditched the idea of farming altogether.
The drive up to Pizza Hills can be quite steep, and its space is small but cosy, allowing about 17 guests at full capacity. Making reservations is therefore a must, to avoid a wasted journey here.
While some may consider this small space a limitation, Amira relishes it. She believes this allows each guest more personalised service, and helps her better remember their dietary restrictions.
She and U’ren aim to keep Pizza Hills at its current intimate size, but do have plans for future expansion.
“We did struggle when we first started, but it is getting much better. We decided to focus on those who raved and enjoyed our uniqueness and just moved forward in the direction we’re already headed,” concluded Amira.
“We’re a chill place where you can enjoy an intimate dining experience with flavours you can never imagine will work. As we have no menu, you’ll be forced to try something out of your comfort zone. And most of our customers have raved about this,” Amira concluded.
Pizza Hills
6 Kampung Buluh Penyumpit
07000 Langkawi, Kedah
Business Hours: 4pm-10pm (closed on Mondays)
Contact: 017-5288539 or email [email protected].