Pizza we have savored on high

Volante" in the Italian language literally means "flying." When asked why his restaurant is named "Pizza Volante," owner John Nassr says that he got the idea from a time he once saw a flying saucer. "It looked like a flying pizza," claims Mr. Nassr, "and this gave me an idea of my own." "Disco Volante" (Italian for flying saucer), with a few alterations from Mr. Nassr, was then transformed into the idea that germinated in his head for a couple of months, "Pizza Volante."

Pizza Volante started off as a little take-out counter on Session Road, Baguio City about a year ago. It was, and still is, located at the old Session Theatre, which is now undergoing renovation. However, due to popular demand, Pizza Volante had to expand to provide its customers with sit-down space, service, and a wider ranged menu. It is specified to serve food items which are popular in many places, but are relatively new and sometimes unavailable in Baguio. Now, it takes up the majority of the lobby of the old Session Theatre, and has morphed from the timid little take-out counter into what Mr. Nassr likes to refer to as a ristorantito. Not quite a ristorante yet, but it sure is making some mighty big waves.

Mr. Nassr’s maxim for his ristorantito is "to serve the highest-quality food at the lowest prices, in a pleasant atmosphere with service that excludes pretensions," and I believe it is from this that his ristorantito is getting excellent responses from its customers. The food that is prepared in the kitchen at Pizza Volante is also prepared with a little more personal care. "The food that I serve here (at Pizza Volante) is the food that I would eat myself or would serve without hesitation to my closest friends and my family," says Mr. Nassr. Pizza Volante is inclined towards the complete satisfaction of its customers; therefore much care has been put into the facilities and the ingredients being used in this ristorantito. The facilities inside the kitchen are new and are well-maintained, and only the highest quality ingredients available on the market are put into the food which made Pizza Volante what it is today.

Sitting in Pizza Volante somewhat reminds me of the many outdoor cafés at the Champs Elysee. The open air that circulates freely inside the ristorantito is reminiscent of gay Paris, and in effect, removes the stuffiness and staleness unlike some other restaurants which fail to even notice this in their own establishments. The cozy atmosphere inside the old moviehouse lobby brings back memories of late-night movie viewing with the family and sometimes with friends. It’s a good combination of both worlds because from inside, comfy and cozy, enjoying your waffles and fruit juice, you can see the hustle and bustle going on outside because it is only a pane of glass that separates you from the "outside world."

Another great thing about Pizza Volante is that it attracts people of all shapes and sizes. From the youngsters taking time off from the reality that is school during lunch break, to middle-aged people managing their businesses over a cold drink and a quick bite, and even to older people who just like to sit around the whole day, sipping coffee and talking about anything, from current events, to who they believe are corrupt in the local government! I think it is the coziness Pizza Volante exudes that draws its customers back for more. Also, it is situated at a very convenient location, because it is in the center of everything.

After your meal, you can get up and get going to wherever it is you need to go to with ease, and along with Baguio’s "get-anywhere-in-the-city-in-one-to-15-minutes," the word EASE is emphasized even more.

Pizza Volante’s ultimate goal is to see satisfied customers. According to Mr. Nassr, by doing this, he makes his own little contribution to a greater world happiness because the people who enter may be in irritable moods, but by the time they leave the ristorantito, they would have already cooled they’re jets, and would leave the stick they had up they’re backsides behind.

I think Pizza Volante and Mr. Nassr have succeeded in their goals because when I compare people when they first enter the restaurant and when they finally leave, the weight of the world seems lighter to these individuals. What a nice way to relieve the stress this world can bring upon its inhabitants, don’t you think?