I don’t usually go to a restaurant when it’s brand new but since Project Pie was about artisan pizza, an important food group for me, and it was nearby I went there for lunch yesterday.
I haven’t read anything about Project Pie’s opening but I happened to pass by Shaw Boulevard and saw it last week. Project Pie is an American pizza chain with branches in Las Vegas and San Diego with new ones opening in Boulder and DC. I’m amazed that with only two branches a franchise has already opened in Manila. Kudos to the owners who move fast. 
The interiors were casual and fun specially with all the interesting text all around the restaurant. 
You will not get bored lining up to order your pizza since this board filled with quotations will keep you amused. One that we liked was “Everyone is entitle to their own opinion. It’s just that yours is stupid.” 
As the sign says “Design. Build. Eat.” After securing a table fall in line and construct your pizza. 
You can choose from any of their 7 pre-designed red or white pizzas. Those cost P245 for a 12″ pizza which was sliced into 4 pieces. If you want to share pizzas I suggest you have the pizza sliced into 8 pieces.
We chose a pizza number that we liked and added additional toppings making it our own creation. First step was informing the staff which sauce you wanted – signature red sauce or white (no sauce). 
A ball of dough was then placed into this machine to press it into a round pizza crust. 
Cornmeal was sprinkled on the board then the pizza dough was placed on top. 
Next step was to choose you cheeses. Yes you can choose as many combinations of cheese for the same price. Same goes for the toppings. 
The last part was the hardest. You have to choose which toppings you like. You can actually choose all if that’s you want. I wanted chorizo but they didn’t have it.
Give your name and your creation goes into the really, really hot oven. 
They had small bottles of white and red wine as well as an assortment of beers and chi-chi waters. The soda fountain had free refills up to 3x according to the staff.
Pay for your meal and wait for your name to be called. You have to listen for it since the acoustics in the restaurant wasn’t so good. I pity the staff who had to keep yelling several times. 
Most of us had beer with our pizza.
I based my pizza on the #5 but without ricotta cheese and double the gorgonzola. The staff warned me that the cheese would be strong but I went ahead. What I didn’t expect was it being too salty. I guess a single portion of gorgonzola would have been just right. I should have listened to her. Anyway I loved the presence of fresh rosemary which I’ve never had in a pizza. It added a flavor kick to my simple pizza.
The crust was thin and charred just the way I like it but I found the crust to be a little hard and chewy when the pizza cooled. It’s not a deal breaker but I wish it were crispier.
Here were my friends’ creations.
Elisa chose the #7 pizza as her base and added walnuts, Canadian bacon, garlic, mushroom and fresh basil.
Pat and Rochelle went crazy with their pizza. I loved the addition of candied walnuts and dried cranberries which added a nice touch of sweetness and crunch but it clashed with the anchovies.
Fred was the only one who ordered a red pizza but I didn’t try it because it was very spicy! I think he did it on purpose so no one will share with his pizza. (joke only Fred :D)
We shared 6 pizzas among 7 people and most of us were sufficiently stuffed. 
Deb claimed her pizza was the best. Well we each claimed ours was the best.
Kit’s pizza never appeared and they think someone got it by mistake. They made him a new one and surprised him with a free banana Nutella pizza for dessert. I just love American training. The dessert pizza was quite good. I had my eye on peanut butter Nutella pizza.
I love the clear light bulbs they used. You can see the spiral filament inside. The oval office – cheeky! 
At Project Pie you can be your own chef. Use your imagination and come up with your best pizza. After trying several combinations I have what I think will be a great pizza. My next creation will be a white pizza with olive oil, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, rosemary, basil, walnuts and prosciutto. If fresh mushrooms were used I would add it but since it’s the canned variety I’ll skip it. Feel free to try this combination and let me know how it tastes.
Project Pie
1555 Laurel St. cor. Shaw Blvd., Brgy. Wack Wack,
Mandaluyong Metro Manila, Philippines (across former Cherry Foodarama and next to Starbucks)
telephone: (+63 2) 650-0925
Open Daily: 10:00am to 10:00pm
They don’t accept reservations and your party has to be complete before you can get a table.
Shoot First Eat Later 