It’s high time that we, being such a diverse group, create the definitive local pizza guide. Lord know I’ve been stuck in Spooner Wisconsin, Bath England or Geelong Australia and had to judge a pizza joint’s street-cred by how greasy the phone book’s advert was.
To start things off: If you find yourself in scenic Livermore, California, you just can’t get any better than Russ’ on 186 Maple (just off first street, by the produce stand) (925) 447-6369.
The dough is yeasty – none of that baking powder taste. The sauce is tangy with a hint of red wine, and they don’t overdo the sugar. The turnaround is longer than the bigger places, but worth it. My favorite is the Hawaiian with extra pinapple. If you eat-in the Pac-Man machine is way overclocked in your favour.
If you’re ever in Formby, small village in England, don’t go to Pancho’s pizza shop (at Freshfield level crossing, it’s on your right). Sure, the pizzas taste fantastic, and they’re not in the slightest bit expensive, and they’ll give you whatever toppings you like, within reason, but that place has exploded twice in the last six months.
Something to do with a whacked-out gas supply… they had to rebuild it from the inside both times…
Well, heck Loneraven, that sounds like an endorsement so long as your going take-out (and doing so rapidly and cautiously). Only blown-up twice? I know bars in Ireland more risky than that.
Amici’s man, Amici’s! There’s one in San Mateo, Mountain View… and maybe San Jose? I know for sure San Mateo and Mountain View though - San Mateo was always my favorite, but Mountain View was quite good as well. Be sure to get extra roasted garlic on your pizza!
In Sheboygan Wisconsin it’s Il Ritrovo on 515 S 8th St. I had their Salmon and argula pizza (under duress, I’m a cheese and pepperoni sort of guy) and it was FANTASTIC!!!
And yes, they have more traditional toppings too. But it’s all good, from their wood-burning ovens.
An italian deli is attached, with great olive oils, balsamic vinegars, etc.
There are quite a few good pizza places in Schenectady, NY, but I’d go with Joe’s Pizza Place, 2780 Hamburg St, Schenectady, NY 12303. Pizza is great (as is everything else – the chicken parm is the ultimate in that dish). It’s primarily take out, but there is a dining room and dinners come with the world’s greatest Italian bread. And they have the best slogan of any pizza place on Earth:
“Watch your pizza being made by imported hands.”
Second choice would be Shoporama Pizza & Deli, 1122 Altamont Avenue, Schenectady.
Ok, I don’t think I went into enough detail because I was in a hurry at the time. But here are the specifics (I’m no longer in Sili Valley, so forgive me if I can’t remember the exact locations):
The San Mateo Amici’s is at the end of 3rd Ave., just a block or so up from El Camino Real. Go there.
Wood burning ovens, GREAT crusts. Just the right thickness, good tasting.
My two faves of theirs were actually just the plain cheese, and the veggie one. Absolutely the best *!@#ing pizza ever. And if you eat in, they have terrific service.
They give you the option of having roasted or fresh garlic added to your pizza. It makes it that much better. And if you are eating there, get a side salad with their caesar dressing, you will be glad you did.
Well in Colorado, I would suggest everybody try Beau Jo’s at least once. It’s kind of unique, and it’s a real love or hate kind of thing, but I’d say the loves are in the lead. It’s called Colorado Style, or mining camp style pizza. The crust is really thick and doughy. I had heard that they had to make new styles of bread at the high altitudes to get things to rise, and it was the result. Plus they give you honey to dump over the crusts to give you a sopapilla(sp?) style desert after you are done eating the meal. if you are drving down 1-70 try to time mealtime for about 40 miles past denver in Idaho springs, as it is the main restaurant.
As for the best normal style pizza I’d have to think about it.
Eagles Pizza in New Albany, OH. I was raised on the stuff! A thin and tasty crust, and a salad made with past that’s divine! Ye Gods! Am I craving them now! Pity I’m 450 miles away! (Much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth!)
Loneraven Do Pancho’s deliver? Sounds like the safest way to enjoy their pizzas!
My preferences in Greenwich, CT are for Pizza Post (thinner crust, very good, but no delivery) or Arcuri’s (almost as good taste, plus they deliver!) Medium ham and mushroom, please…
Now, over where I teach, in Valhalla, NY, the choice has to be between Gianfrancos for their tuna pizza (crust with a skim of red sauce, then tuna salad, topped with tomato slices, shredded lettuce, and a bit of vinagrette, served cold…tastes a whole lot better than it sounds!) or baked ziti pizza, Silvios, who make a great white spinach pizza, or Allesandros, with great pizza and a very nice place to eat.
Stillwater, Oklahoma is the home ofHideaway Pizza, though they’ve expanded to several locations around Oklahoma since I moved here.
The pizzas are great, genersous, fresh toppings, hand tossed crusts. They offer 6 different souces and over thirty different toppings. Their salads are [huge. Anything more than the Just-A-Beginner and you don’t need anything else to eat.
The atmosphere is wonderful, you never have to wait for your waitperson to refill your glass and you can spend hours looking at the wall mural and still not find everything.
You always know their delivery drivers, at least in Stillwater. They have a fleet of VW Beetles, all with custom paint jobs. I like the zebra and the “Peter Max” style ones that are roaming around here.
Unfortunately, we lack a great deal of quality pizza here in Los Angeles. Mulberry Street Pizza in Beverly Hills is pretty decent, but for the absolute best pizza in L.A., you have to go way the hell out to Eagle Rock and visit Casa Bianca. Phoenominal pizza in a classic, Italian, old-neighborhood style restaurant. The pizza might not rival the very best of Chicago or New York, but it’s damn good and certainly worth the long drive here in L.A.
And while you’re already out there enjoying pizza, you might as well hit the near-by Galco’s Soda Pop Stop, a grocery store that sells almost nothing but different brands of soda. Over 400 different types!
In Toronto, Amato’s is quite good. I especially like their Yukon gold potato and onion with cream sauce pizza. And in Ottawa, I’d say Pavarazzi’s. Ask for the herb crust.
If you ever come to Gloucester, NJ (though God only knows why you would) any of them except for Pat’s is good. In any case you have about 13 to choose from (not bad for a town of 3 sq. miles )
If you ever come to Brisbane, Australia- meander your way to the campus of The University of Queensland, and in the Student Union precinct, you will find the Schonell Pizza Caffe.
It has an alphabet of great handmade fresh pizza (you can watch them do the dough… not too thin, not too thick) and amazing gourmet (yet very traditional, or so i’m told) toppings. The pizzas are named after famous italian movie stars/directors/films and the cafe is next door to one of Brisbane’s best (and cheapest) arthouse/classics cinemas.
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