It's early 2026, and you know, I foresee myself eating much more of Saizeriya in the months to come.
Yes, it might seem like a bit of a surprise, like, what's the big deal about it, but see, Saizeriya is one place that I have come to appreciate, not so much for the quantity or quality, but more for the value, the bang for the buck, the variety, and the understanding of financial equality.
At Saizeriya, you're not paying (only) for the food.
You're paying for the concept.
If you're looking for good quality, restaurant-standard type of food, this place is not going to cut it for you. But if you're keen on experiencing what Japanese convenience-store, quick-cooked meals are like, this is the place for you.
Don't come expecting handmade pasta with fresh cream.
Also don't come expecting your pizza to have premium ingredients of heirloom tomatoes, truffle mushrooms and mozzarella cheese.
There are good ingredients- no doubt about that- just not the kind that will make a $10~ pizza profitable.
But that is what makes a meal here at Saizeriya fun.
There's no need to think about whether or not the bill will be exorbitant, whether it will cost you too much, whether you will be overwhelmed if you should decide to order an appetizer or two.
It is really up to one to decide.
My meal this evening I kept simple.
Not because there wasn't much to be had on the menu- there was more than enough in the form of appetizers, salad, mains, and desserts- but I didn't feel like eating too much, so only two dishes we ordered my friend and I, and drinks for each.
I had the pasta.
My friend had the pizza- the Prosciutto.
It was a hard choice, he said, trying to make up his mind between the Margherita, the Black Truffle Mushroom, the Caponata Bacon, and this one- he thought the Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese looked interesting- but in the end the craving for Parma Ham hit hard, and so the Prosciutto he got.
It's nice that the ham slices are substantial, really.
Me too had a bit of a difficult time choosing.
See, I tend to be a bit particular when it comes to my pasta.
I like other kinds of pasta besides spaghetti, even though I like my Carbonara and any kind of pasta that's got pesto sauce. So it was a bit of a decision trying to make up my mind between the Pesto Genovese, the Spinach Chicken Gratin, the Scallop Cream Gratin, and the Bacon Mushroom Risotto.
On one had I wanted the pesto sauce.
On the other hand, I was very much attracted by the penne and the risotto.
Took me a while to deliberate, but in the end I chose the Bacon Mushroom Risotto.
Maybe I felt like having a bit of rice, or cream, or bacon, or all three.
I don't know.
It seemed like a wise choice, and indeed it was.
But two plates of food, and a self-serve free flow of drinks don't quite make the vibe of the meal here feel that good.
Don't misunderstand.
I love the free flow of drinks.
There's something liberating about being able to have as much coffee as you want, hot or iced. There's also something liberating about being able to have a Coke, or a Sprite, or a glass of Milo from the self-serve machines, as much as you want, however you want.
I've come to appreciate the balance between having a glass of Coke, as well as an iced coffee during the course of a meal.
But what I want- and perhaps one day I might just do- is to come in here and order all the foods that I've wanted to try but never really have.
Like the Calamari, the Chicken Wings, the Escargots, the Scallop Cream Gratin with Salmon, maybe the Cheese Ravioli, and maybe the BBQ Pork Ribs.
For dessert, I wouldn't mind trying the the Apple Strudel with Gelato, the Italian Milk Gelato, the Tiramisu, the Hazelnut Semifreddo, the Chocolate Lava Cake and the Oreo Cheesecake.
That would make a most perfect, very full, and very satisfying meal.