Hello Fellow Foodies!

Today I'll be writing about a restaurant I recently visited in Chennai, India. It's the Lazy Leopard Italian restaurant.

The interiors of this place were very standard, nothing too fancy, but clean and comfortable. The lighting was bright giving the restaurant a lively vibe. The place was packed, which usually is an indication that the food was good. They also have a wood-fired oven, which instantly caught my attention because wood-fired pizzas have a distinct, smoky flavor. So, of course, we had to try the pizza!

Cottage Basilico Pizza – 8.5/10

We ordered a 12-inch Cottage Basilico Pizza, and it looked amazing when it arrived at our table. The base was covered in a creamy pesto sauce, which I absolutely love and that was the main reason I chose this pizza. I was excited for my friend to try it since he had never tasted pesto before. Luckily, he ended up loving it too! The mozzarella melted beautifully on top, and the herbed paneer was soft and added a nice, flavorful touch.

The pizza had toppings of slow-roasted tomatoes, olives and paprika. I'm not much of a fan of olives so I picked them off but the rest of the toppings made it for a perfect slice. But the best part? The burrata bomb sitting right in the middle. It was a big, soft ball of creamy cheese that we cut and added to our slices and it made every bite all the more delicious.The crust was thin, perfectly baked, and had just the right amount of crispness. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves pesto and creamy cheese.

This pizza was priced at 900 INR ($10.31)

Fettuccine Limone con Ricotta - 7.5/10

Next, we ordered a Fettuccine Limone con Ricotta. Since I’m a hardcore pasta fan, I was sure I’d enjoy it—I pretty much love anything pasta! This dish had house-made fresh ricotta, which was slightly grainy still creamy. It was mixed with spinach and tossed in a simple lemony sauce. The fettuccine was perfectly cooked, coated in this unique combination of flavors.

I’ve always loved ricotta, but what really caught my attention was the lemon. I’m the kind of person who adds lemon to everything if I see it on my plate, so I was curious to see how it would blend with the creamy ricotta and spinach. Turns out, it worked surprisingly well! The lemon added a different, tangy kick that balanced the richness of the cheese, making each bite refreshing yet satisfying. The pasta itself was silky and smooth, and the flavors came together beautifully. It wasn’t heavy like some creamy pastas. It felt light but still packed with flavor.

This dish costed 700 INR ($8.02)

Cranberry Sangria - 8/10

For beverages, we went with a Cranberry Sangria since out of the 7 drink options in the menu, this was something I had not tried. Or atleast did not remember trying. For our drink, we chose a Cranberry Sangria. It looked really pretty, a deep red with fruit pieces floating inside.

The first sip was cool and refreshing. It had a tangy cranberry taste, but it wasn’t too sour. There was also a little sweetness and a nice citrusy flavor. It went really well with our pizza and pasta.

The Sangria was priced at 300 INR ($3.44)

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a great experience at Lazy Leopard. The service was friendly and quick, and the food quality was impressive. The pizza was definitely the star of the meal, but the pasta and drink were also amazing.

Would I come back? Absolutely! There are still so many dishes I’d love to try, and next time, I might even explore their desserts. Until then, happy eating!