Bay Meadows

Neapolitan Pizza fanatics will race to this new Hillsdale spot to devour favorites like the melon prosciutto, meatballs, Margherita and Nutella Calzone! MidiCi wood-fired pizza brings Italy’s original Neapolitan pizza recipe to Hillsdale Shopping Mall and only 1 mile from your life at Bay Meadows. We reached out to Owner Imad Hammoud for the inside scoop on MidiCi, including the perfect pairings from start to finish and a special room you must visit.

“YOU HAVEN’T HAD PIZZA UNTIL YOU’VE HAD NEAPOLITAN PIZZA!” – Imad Hammoud, Owner

Ok, so what is Neapolitan Pizza?

Neapolitan Pizza is the Original pizza. Italians invented it 300 years ago. Every bite distributes an array of flavors, and celebrates the senses. Our dough has 5 simple ingredients: Non-GMO double zero Neapolitan flour, water, sea salt, yeast and passion! Our cheeses are fine Italian cheeses made from high quality milks, and the mozzarella is also known as “white gold”, for its premium quality and taste. The crust releases the flavor of well-baked bread. The sauce delivers the characteristic aroma of a fresh and fragrant Mediterranean plate. 90 seconds in our wood fired ovens at close to 1000 degrees bake it to perfection. Neapolitan Pizza is simply magic. 

Let’s dig into the menu! What is the perfect MidiCi meal pairing from start to finish?
To get the full MidiCi culinary experience we recommend starting with either our House Made Meatballs or our Burrata with Melon and Prosciutto Small Bites. Both are served with our fresh baked wood fired bread topped with Balsamic reduction. The meatballs pair nicely with an IPA or Cabernet and for the Burrata with Melon and Prosciutto we suggest a Crisp beer or a glass Merlot.

Next, we recommend one of our wonderful salads such as our Italian salad which has mixed greens, Kalamata olives, cucumbers, mixed bell peppers, red onion mixed with our homemade Italian Vinaigrette then topped with Neapolitan salami, fresh crushed croutons and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Our classic Margherita pizza is always a wonderful choice and pairs well with a nice Amber beer or glass of Merlot or Pinot Grigio. Our Specialty Pizzas are a wonderful choice such as our Margherita Prosciutto and Devil’s pizza for those who like spicy options. For our Vegetarian Friends, our Vegetable Truffle is a popular pick and pairs nicely with an Amber beer or glass of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.

In addition, we offer Vegan cheese and freshly made Gluten Free pizza crust. The response from our gluten free lover guests has been simply overwhelming. They tell us it is the best gluten free crust they have ever tried.

To finish off the meal we recommend our Signature Nutella Calzone paired with espresso or port wine. Be prepared to lick the plate clean as you experience this culinary dessert that stimulates all your visual sense and taste buds!

Other great options include our fresh Italian Gelatos. We always have Double Chocolate, Vanilla, a featured flavor such as Salted Caramel and finally a featured Sorbet such a Mango. If you enjoy coffee, you must try our special coffee created just for MidiCi which features a wonderful blend of wood-fired coffee beans. Add a scoop of our Vanilla Gelato into a fresh brewed Espresso and enjoy our Affogato.

What are the most popular MidiCi menu items ordered?
Our bestselling menu items include the House Made Meatballs and Burrata with Melon and prosciutto both served with fresh wood-fired Neapolitan bread and balsamic reduction. Our two most popular Salads are the MidiCi House and Italian. The classic Queen Margherita, Double Pepperoni, Devil’s and Ortolana (From the Garden) are our bestselling pizzas.

For dessert it is our Signature Nutella Calzone by far. Our Signature Nutella Calzone is an experience in itself. It is made with our fresh made Neapolitan dough. On the inside it is filled with Nutella and mixed berries (Strawberries, Blackberries Blueberries). We then bake it in our wood-fired ovens between 800-900 degrees for about 90 seconds. When it comes out of the oven, it is steaming hot with the fragrance of the fresh baked dough, Nutella and mixed berries. It is then topped off with more Nutella in the shape of an M for MidiCi, more mixed berries, powdered sugar and balsamic reduction. We also have a Gluten Free Signature Nutella Calzone with our fresh homemade Gluten Free dough. A real treat for our Gluten Free guest friends.

The food sounds amazing, how would you describe the vibe of MidiCi?
MidiCi was created to provide a wowing experience that combines ambiance, food, service, and value. The vibe is Chic and elegant, yet it is traditional and casual with a positive welcoming vibe. We wanted a place for people to meet up, sit back and be social without the media. Because we believe it is moments we remember, not days, not posts, not pictures.

We have an open heart kitchen which is the central structure that houses our ovens, kitchen and bar. It was designed with a heart in mind because it feeds the space and holds all the vital functions. Neapolitan pizza is art and so are the ovens that bake it. The wood-fired oven is a key element in the baking of Neapolitan Pizza. Our ovens are unique because they’re made exclusively by hand, from raw materials like sand and stone harvested in Naples. They burn at the dome at about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature needed to bake Neapolitan Pizza to perfection in just 90 seconds.

Here at MidiCi, we value tradition and cherish the stories behind them. Our olive tree is here to take in new times and new stories. Looking at our tree gives a feeling of serenity, peace and tranquility. It provides a great sense of escape from the humdrum and makes us more in tune with our surroundings and the people around us. Naturally, it brings friends together.

“…one of my neighbors grabbed a group of us to walk there for dinner together about three weeks ago.  It was so fun and yummy that we’ve all been back several times since. It’s a short walk via the train station and will be even shorter when the underpass opens on 31st Avenue in 2020! This is the kind of place that our neighborhood has been waiting for – it has a grownup atmosphere, but will work for families – and it has healthy food, a modern vibe, and is very close by.” – Kelly M., Bay Meadows Resident

What sets MidiCi apart from others?
When you and your loved ones decide to make the choice to have pizza for dinner you would normally dine at a cookie cutter pizza place. When you finish your Pie your hands are usually greasy and you feel a food coma coming on. At MidiCi we offer so much more. When you walk in and see our beautiful open heart kitchen, gold tiled wood-fired ovens, our live Olive tree, large open heated patio, our specially designed chandeliers and most importantly you see on the wall PEOPLE ARE THE BEST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, you know you have walked into a whole new pizza experience.

As strange as this may sound, we always suggest our guest friends to check out our beautiful bathrooms. They usually look at you a little strange but when they come out they are blown away by their elegance and beauty. If you look up MidiCi on Yelp you will see lots of bathroom selfies. We are Fast Fine. When you enter the door the ambiance is one of a fine dine restaurant however it is served quickly. You will receive the highest quality of food with best value. Our food is mostly non-GMO and will not make you feel heavy at the end of the meal and your hands won’t be greasy because we use a minimal about of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on our pizzas. We want to make sure from the moment you walk in our doors that you feel right at home and well taken care. We truly love to serve others and go the extra mile to make sure our guests have the ultimate MidiCi experience that they deserve.

San Mateo is known for its deep culinary culture and openness to new restaurant concepts. It is also known for its diverse culture and people. The City of San Mateo is also business-friendly and has been very supportive to get our business started. The Hillsdale Mall is a wonderful destination for shopping and entertainment for the surrounding community. MidiCi is a good addition to the Hillsdale project and community. It is an ideal place to bring friends and family together to share food and create wonderful memories.

“Reception of our Neapolitan cuisine has been amazing because the community appreciates real authentic Italian experience. We see families coming to celebrate wedding receptions, birthdays, anniversaries, in addition to business events and meetings.” – MidiCi

What are you waiting for? Grab your neighbors and head to MidiCi for the new happy hour from 3-6pm! They have outdoor seating that promises to be fun – and overlooks Hillsdale’s new courtyard and fountain lit with multicolor lights at night. The airy window-filled second-story indoor space looks out toward Bay Meadows. They are the first business to open in Hillsdale’s new North Block.

 

Conveniently located between San Francisco and Palo Alto in San Mateo, Bay Meadows offers new homes for sale and for rent within walking distance of Caltrain. Ease of transportation is only one reason you’ll fall in love with Bay Meadows. Smartly-designed, high-quality new homes sit among 18 acres of open space, which includes parks, a community garden, public art, ball fields, bocce and basketball courts and a new playground. All this just a walk from Whole Foods, Blue Bottle Coffee, Fieldwork Brewing Co., LIFT Fitness, Tin Pot Creamery, Hillsdale Shopping Center and more. Learn more about what Midurban life offers by following our Facebook page.