The Philosopher and I still had time to kill before our evening’s concert entertainment in Knoxville. So we left our disappointing pizza experience at The Tomato Head to grab a slice at a place my other son, The Kid, recommended. We were clueless about its actual name and location since The Kid’s full intel was nothing more than that there was a pizza joint in between the Tennessee and Bijou theaters. (He had been in town for the Big Ears Music Festival.) Strolling down Gay Street, we eventually found the storefront of Dazzo’s Pizzeria partially hidden by a tree.

Fitting of its position between the two venues, Dazzo’s sports a musical theme. For starters, their slogan of “Just Give Pizza a Chance” is an obvious take on the John Lennon song. Inside their walls are decorated with a classy collection of concert posters from local area shows.  But Dazzo’s open counter and oven area and stack of take-out boxes make it look very much like a classic pizza joint.

We grabbed a booth in the front seating area amongst a fairly busy dinner time crowd. My hopes lifted when I saw that they were still serving slices. I ordered a plain one for $2.50 while the young lad opted for just a beer. Looking over their menu, I saw that although they called the pizza at the top of their menu a Neapolitan, it was described as having a “New York style thin crust.”  There were two other pizza types available as slices: a Sicilian and a Grandma (a thin crust pan with roasted garlic). According to the menu, the latter was the reason why the current owner bought the place. In addition to pizzas and Calzones, they also offered some traditional Italian items.

After a short wait during which The Prof nursed his beer, my slice came on a small silver platter. There was a healthy smattering of “test cheese” on top revealing that they wanted to reheat it just right. They did just that since the slice was toasted good and crisp throughout. A nice flavorful touch of oil atop the nice thin slice started to make me forget my earlier disappointing experience a few blocks away.

Although this slice had good classic intentions, it needed some work. Dazzo’s great effort in execution was unfortunately not fully supported by precise ingredients with their cheese and sauce blend slightly off standard. I thought that it needed more tomato sauce while something about the mozzarella cheese just didn’t taste right. Finally, when I got to the end, I found the crust to be quite dry.

As the Snob rating implies, Dazzo’s slice has potential, and I’d sure give it another try if I get the chance. I’d also like to try their Grandma since I’m a sucker for unique slices on the simple side.

PIZZA SNOB RATING ***1/2 Working on a Good Thing    

Dazzo’s Pizzeria
701 South Gay Street
Knoxville, TN  37902
865-525-2105
www.dazzospizza.com

Original Review: 05/03/14

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ****½ Nearer Perfection

One of the Pizza Snob’s favorite new Bayonne pizza places, Pizza Linos, was recently featured on Spike TV’s Hungry Investors, and you can watch it online here.

Seems like times have been tough for this local joint, and they turned to the team of Jon Taffer, Tiffany Derry and John Besh for possible help. I won’t spoil the ending for you, but in the meantime please go and have a slice or two to support this great Bayonne business.

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ****½ Nearer Perfection
Pizza Linos
721 Avenue A (Between 31st and 32nd Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-455-3032
http://www.letseat.at/Pizzalinos

For the second weekend in a row, the Pizza Snob somehow found himself in Knoxville. Although this trip came with no specific pizza plans, the inevitable was sure to happen. A late Saturday afternoon stroll with Mrs. Pie through a quiet Old Town led me to a sign that stopped me in my tracks: “New Jersey style by the slice.” The storefront making this claim was DaVinci’s Pizza and Calzones.

Old Town is a small nightlife area fashioned from an old industrial district. It looked like a place we may have enjoyed in our youth, but with little shopping in sight, Mrs. Pie was ready to abandon the summer heat. I needed to make my stop at DaVinci’s a quick one.

DaVinci’s long shotgun room looked like a Jersey pizza joint with counter and oven to the left and tables and chairs to the right. Underneath the “Order Here” sign I did just that and summoned a very uninviting cheese slice out of the glass cage warmer on the counter. This contraption looked like the one that cooked those horrible-looking movie theater hot dogs that we would avoid as kids.

Well, I should have avoided this slice as well. It obviously had sat under the warming light way too long and was long past expiration. The server should have never sold me a slice like that. It was extremely overcooked and bone dry. The cheese was too dried up and disintegrated for me to taste much of anything. The dried-out crust was like cardboard. I managed however to detect that I did not like the tart-tasting tomato sauce.

The only thing to connect this slice to Jersey was that it was thin and not overindulged with its ingredients. To say that it was crisp is really not a compliment for something so burnt. Why they don’t use their oven to reheat slices is beyond me. That warming light just sucked out all of the life from that poor slice which really belonged in the trash bin. That small dismal slice (unworthy of $3.00 in the first place) was an embarrassment to the great state of New Jersey.

The next day I spotted another DaVinci’s location across town. I somehow suspect that they wouldn’t be in business if they can’t serve up a better pizza than what I had the day before. But I wasn’t ready to give them a second chance just yet.

PIZZA SNOB RATING     *1/2 Thinking About the Trashcan

DaVinci’s Pizza and Calzones (Old City)
113 South Central Street
Knoxville, TN  37902
865-637-5040
http://www.davincisknoxville.com/
 
 

Now here’s a cool combination of my two favorites loves: pizza and records!

In a promotional partnership with Nashville’s United Record Pressing, Music City Pizza (or “MCP”) is offering 1,500 random new delivery customers with a free vinyl record.

Read about it in the Nashville Business Journal.

P.S. With my luck I’d probably get a Barry Manilow record!

Original Review: 04/06/13
PIZZA SNOB RATING ****Near Perfection

On a recent trip back home, The Pizza Snob came across a locked door and handmade sign offering a pizza setup for lease. It looks like Mario’s Pizza is no more. I was glad to meet the owner last year and wish him the best in the future. He made a pretty good pie. With a pizza joint on nearly every corner, Bayonne is a tough place to survive in the pizza business—a fact that Spike TVs Hungry Investors failed to mention on their recent visit there.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING   R.I.P

Mario’s Pizza
330 Broadway (between 15^th and 16^th Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002 201-339-0191
[no website]

Addendum: Often I am unable to get historical background about the pizza places I visit. Since I left Bayonne in 1980, such was the case with Mario’s. I have now learned from my friends on the You Know You Grew Up in Bayonne When …. Facebook page that Mario’s opened in the 80’s and was sold to the recent owner about two years ago.

Original Review: 09/22/12

PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

My posting yesterday about the demise of Mario’s Pizza, brought with it the sad news from my friends on the You Know You Grew Up in Bayonne When …. Facebook page that Tony’s Pizza also closed about a month ago.

The Snob usually checks on these things whenever I can. But strangely enough, when I was home last week, there was construction on Broadway right in front of Tony’s creating a detour that kept me from driving by.

This is a hard one for the Snob to take since in the days of the twenty-five cent slice, I practically cut my teeth on Tony’s great pie. It will be missed.

It just keeps getting sadder every time I go back to Bayonne. There are just fewer and fewer reminders of the good old days, and there are way too many vacant storefronts on the once vibrant Broadway.

All around this country of ours—let’s do our best to support the local businesses that once-defined America. I pick unique and special over cheap and corporate.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P

Tony’s Pizza
250 Broadway (between 9^th and 10^th Streets) Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-792-4132
[No website]

Original Review: 08/10/14

PIZZA SNOB RATING     *1/2 Thinking About the Trashcan

The Pizza Snob is all about forgiveness and is hereby extending some mercy to Panama City Beach’s Panama Pizzeria. After receiving a heartfelt apology from its owner, I am withdrawing my previous rating.

Here is what he had to say after reading my recent “The Death of a Slice” post:

“I am truly hurt that this happened and I would love the opportunity to make up for it! I just want to make sure you do get the opportunity to see how concerned we are about this. This is very bothersome because things like this do not happen with us, as they should not, and we want to correct our mistake. We are here to make phenomenal pizzas for pizza lovers like yourself and send everyone home full and happy. The fact that your experience was the exact opposite deeply saddens us. We just want to do whatever we can to allow you to see our true potential. Please get back with us whenever you can find the time!”

With that, I look forward to giving them a second chance. It just may be awhile since we only get to the beach once a year

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     WITHDRAWN
Panama Pizzeria
17140 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL
850-249-7437
www.panamapizzeria.com

Original Review: 09/22/12

PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

My post this morning about the suspected demise of the much-loved Tony’s Pizza created a level of interest like this blog has never before seen. The amount of sadness mixed in with an overall appreciation for this Bayonne landmark was incredible.

Well, leave it to the You Know You Grew Up in Bayonne When …. Facebook page to get to the bottom of things. It seems that Tony’s is merely undergoing a renovation and will be reopening shortly. The outpour of concern eventually got to Carmine Vitale, son of founder Tony, who today runs the place with his cousin.

Here’s what Carmine had to say:

“Mike, this is not true. We are just in the midst of doing renovations to the interior of the shop. We are not going anywhere! We love Bayonne and all its citizens and definitely all our customers. As many people know, we have been there for over 40 years, and the interior hasn’t changed much in that time. So we were well overdue for a major renovation to the inside–hence the delay in the re-opening

We are revamping our pizza menu as well. We will be offering some family recipes that we have been holding out on, and I hope you come in to try them. We are going to build a display case for our new and classic pizzas. Anticipate stuffed square pies with escarole and broccoli rabe and also grandma squares, all of which I’m sure will be a tasty and big hit!

I will keep you updated. We have a very loyal following, and I can’t wait to reopen with a brand new menu. Both I and my cousin Nicholas have trained under my father Tony who was truly a pizza master and set the bar so high in many ways. I consider Bayonne the pizza capital of the world–so many pizza parlors in such a small town. Our dough recipe dates back to the old country, and me and my cousin feel ready to take it to the next level!”

Wow! This is really great news, and I for one can’t wait to visit the new Tony’s when I come back to Bayonne later this year! Thanks Carmine for checking in with us.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

Tony’s Pizza
250 Broadway (between 9^th and 10^th Streets) Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-792-4132
[No website]

Original Review: 7/25/12

Previous Rating: ***1/2 Better Than Dominos

Late one night two years ago, after rocking out at the Forecastle Festival, my son and I grabbed some not so quick slices at the busy downtown Spinelli’s Pizzeria. They weren’t bad, but were clearly not worth the effort. However, on my trips to Louisville since then, I have been intrigued by the cool-looking colorful blue building that houses their Highlands location. During our annual visit this year to Forecastle, we decided it was time to give this Spinelli’s location a try for an early Saturday lunch.

Billed for whatever reason as “Philly’s Own,” Spinelli’s has six locations in Louisville in addition to one outlier in Tempe, AZ.  All six in L-ville are late-night haunts open from 11am to 5am that deliver until 4:30am. They serve pizzas, sandwiches, Strombolis, appetizers and salads. What I discovered last time was that although their slices are pricey ($3.75 plus $0.75 each topping), they are big—almost to the point of being “double-wides.”

Starting with a rock solid “keep out if you don’t belong here” windowless entry door, this place has the feel of one of those dark and dungy rooms where punkers and skateboarders go to hear loud and angry punk music. The comic book-lined walls and graffiti-strewn bathroom further contribute to this look. The Snob respectfully crowns this Spinelli’s location as the “Punk Rock Pizzeria.”

The old vintage convertible sitting in the entry room available for seating was certainly something out of left field. But with the car already occupied, we grabbed a booth in the main dining room off to the left and ordered some plain cheese slices from our waitperson.

Getting right to the point, Spinelli’s pizza was a lot better than I remembered it to be. Like last time though, it did take quite a long time for it to arrive despite the facts that they were not very busy and that there were plenty of slices waiting on the counter.

My big plain cheese slice was constructed well—a sleek amount of cheese atop a thin crust. (A refreshing sight after seeing some horrible-looking “cheese on bread” offerings as we walked up Bardstown Road.) However, there was an imperfection to this otherwise good slice: it was not cooked evenly throughout. Some parts were hot and some were not—both on top and bottom, and overall, it could have been hotter. The front end of the crust was undercooked which made it floppy while the shiny end crust was a little too doughy and pastry-like. The blend of the tomato sauce and cheese however was quite flavorful and more than satisfying to my taste buds.

My slice just didn’t have that oven-fresh feeling of a slice that you’d get in Manhattan. I’m puzzled about what happened. Did it sit out too long before they brought it to me, or was it just not reheated properly?

Nevertheless, it was tasty and enjoyable, and I’d gladly eat it again. While probably the best slice I have had so far in Louisville, Spinelli’s slice seems to have greater potential. I came close to giving them an even bigger upgrade, however I feel that their execution still needs some work. Let’s see what happens next year when we make our annual trek to Louisville—still one of my favorite American cities.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     ***1/2 Working On A Good Thing

Spinelli’s Pizzeria
614 Baxter Avenue
Louisville, KY 40205
502-568-5665
www.spinellispizza.com

The Pizza Snob doesn’t venture much into the Southern Williamson County town of Spring Hill. The last time was to help my son, The Kid, buy a car, and this time it was to help support a friend’s efforts to restore an old fire engine called Fire Belle. It was a mere coincidence that both trips involved vehicles, but the fact that pizza found its way into both was of course not.

News had travelled north that there was a new pizza joint in Spring Hill called Nelly’s Italian Cafe with a family connection to Nashville’s best, Joey’s House of Pizza. Turning things over totally to my GPS, I arrived at the Nelly’s address surprised to find a sign outside the strip center parking lot for Samboli’s, the site of my last Spring Hill visit. I was even more astonished when I realized that Nelly’s had taken over the Samboli’s location.

With Mrs. Pie along for the ride, we placed our orders at the counter of the small familiar room. Since Nelly’s serves up slices non-stop, we ordered a trio of cheese ($2.75 each) along with a couple of salads. Given a number, we retreated to a booth to await our call. Things got off to a bad start when my mission to get some waters from the soda fountain ended in total failure. The water dispenser shared the slot with the pink lemonade resulting in a pink discoloration in any effort to get just plain clear water. Despite the help’s insistence that we wouldn’t taste it, Mrs. Pie and I chose to stay dry.

Pizza-wise, I didn’t know what to expect, and my first look at Nelly’s pie wasn’t until our number was called after a short wait. At first glance it looked to be fairly classic although it was a little on the cheesy side with a rather ginormous end crust handle. My further inspection revealed that it was cooked firm and crisp throughout.

Overall, while my slice was tasty, both the cheese and tomato sauce were nothing special although somewhat flavorful. Additional seasoning was left to the jar of oregano on the table. When it came to that big end crust handle, it was just too fluffy, doughy and airy to my liking. Mrs. Pie thought the cheese was too much, and that was all she tasted. While I didn’t necessarily disagree, I have sure had worse, and the slight touch of olive oil on top helped this one out a bit.

I think the story about Nelly’s slice is that it goes to show, that cooking a slice right can overcome some of the minor flaws. I must say that this one was cooked very well. As time went on though, I did feel rather heavy in the stomach from that filing end crust.

Looking back, I had rated Samboli’s slice higher than Nelly’s. However, in retrospect, I may have been somewhat generous back then not expecting to find much of anything in Spring Hill. Well that’s neither here nor there now with Nelly’s in and Samboli’s out. And while, Nelly’s was a fair slice to eat, it certainly is no reason yet to travel back to Spring Hill for just pizza. However, I somehow suspect that they may eventually get closer to the higher standards of their brethren at Joey’s!

PIZZA SNOB RATING     *** ½ Working on a Good Thing

Nelly’s Italian Cafe
5441 Main Street (Food Lion Shopping Center)
Spring Hill, TN 37174
931-674-2027
www.nellysitaliancafe.com

Original Review: 12/20/12
PIZZA SNOB RATING     **** Near Perfection

On a recent trip south to Spring Hill, my visit to a new pizza place, Nelly’s Italian Cafe, found that it was a takeover of the former site of Samboli’s Family Restaurant and Pizzeria. Nelly’s has a new ownership with ties to Nashville’s Joey’s House of Pizza.

Samboli’s was a pleasant surprise for a small town like Spring Hill, although it seems that Nelly’s offers a comparable substitute.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P
Samboli’s Family Restaurant and Pizzeria
5441 Main Street (Food Lion Shopping Center)
Spring Hill, TN 37174
931-486-9000
http://www.sambolis.com/

Original Review: 10/03/13
PIZZA SNOB RATING *** ½ Working on a Good Thing

Whenever the opportunity arises, the Pizza Snob will check up on the places he has reviewed to look for casualties. Recently during my annual trip to Atlanta, the drive along Piedmont Road revealed that Ray’s New York Pizza had transformed into something else. In searching for their possible new whereabouts, my calls to their telephone number went to an anonymous voice mail box.

While Ray’s pizza didn’t live up to its famous name, Mrs. Pie will sure miss their fabulous gelato!

See you at Fellini’s.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P
Ray’s New York Pizza
BUCKHEAD
3137 Piedmont Road Atlanta, GA
404-806-9957
www.raysnewyorkpizza.com

When I planned to test-drive some new pizza joints on my annual summer visit to ATL, I expected to encounter the usual local hurdles of traffic and parking. This year was no different, and the mad Friday afternoon congestion limited me to only a single stop. But imagine my surprise when I found free fifteen-minute parking in Midtown—right in front of Vinny’s N.Y. Pizza on 7th Street.

Vinny’s has the look and feel of a New York joint and offers the usual fare of pizza, calzones and salads. A chair-lined counter overlooks the oven and runs the full length of the room across from a large area of small tables. I ordered a PCS (“plain cheese slice”) at the counter for $2.50. After a short wait on this beautiful day, I decided to take my quickly reheated slice to one of their outside tables.

Despite my slice looking classically constructed and crisply cooked, it proved to be a challenge to eat. It was served way too hot and carried a bit too much cheese. I struggled to limit the burn damage to the roof of my mouth while I tried unsuccessfully to keep the cheese from slipping off the crust. Pizza just shouldn’t be this hard to eat.

Although the bottom crust had a good char to it, the middle of the slice was mushy. I was also surprised that the end crust was fluffy inside rather than crisp and crunchy. Overall Vinny’s ingredients were up to par although here was no real sparkle to the rather flat-tasting Mozzarella They also serve their slice naked leaving you with a full selection of condiments available for self-seasoning.

Despite these shortcomings, Vinny’s slice was tasty and I’d call it a decent attempt at making a classic NY slice. Looking back, I do laugh at their boast that their slice was “the kind you can fold up and take to go.” If so, why did they give me a plastic knife and fork with my slice? And although I am reluctant to ever be seen using utensils with my pizza, that fork sure did come in handy when my cheese fell off!

I am sure that Vinny’s gets great traffic at this roomy and convenient location. However, the construction flaws and underwhelming taste of their slice won’t keep me away from the reigning best New York-style pizza in ATL at Fellini’s. But I guess that Vinny’s is not too bad if you are in Midtown looking for a quick slice.

PIZZA SNOB RATING     *** ½ Working on a Good Thing

Vinny’s N.Y. Pizza
860 Peachtree St. NE (at 7^th Street)
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-872-0484
www.vinnysmidtown.com

The Pizza Snob is constantly on the prowl for new great-tasting pizza. While referrals from faithful readers are my most reliable source, I also review the numerous “Best Pizza” lists flooding the internet. One problem I have with the latter is their lack of respect for what constitutes pizza. Witness how on the top of several lists is a place in Connecticut that puts clams and white sauce on top of a crust that looks like a cracker.

My home state of New Jersey sits smack dab in the middle of “Pizza Nation” and boasts quite a few critical faves. Through reading a few “Best of Jersey” offerings, I became aware of Orange, NJ’s Star Tavern. The word “tavern” usually implies a thin-crust pizza—what I like to call a “bar” pie as compared to a “joint” pie, and such would be the case with the Star.

One Friday night, my brother and I took a drive to the city of “plain” Orange, as compared with West, East and South Oranges, (sorry no North) that is just west of Newark. Located in an otherwise residential neighborhood, the Star sits on the corner where High Street T-bones into Washington Street. Expecting a busy evening crowd, we arrived early enough to still find a spot in their adjacent side parking lot. There we were greeted by a large sign labeling the Star as a “World Famous Pizzeria.”

We entered to find a long rectangular wood-decorated baseball-themed room full of tables and a long bar to the left. The Star was full so we joined the short but continually regenerating line that was queued up along the far wall displaying a plethora of pizza accolades. My eyes walked over the room and spotted some happy-looking diners and what appeared to be a mouthwatering thin pie.

Bro and I were soon seated, and we wasted no time in ordering some salads and a pair of “Regular” (plain cheese) “one-size fits all” pizzas at $10.50 each. The opening salad was a delight, and the good-sized (14-inch, 8-slice) pies followed shortly thereafter served atop a slick double-deck silver serving tray.

The Pizza Snob’s heart was so in the right place to enjoy one of Jersey’s best bar pies, but right off the bat, the excessive shine coming off this pie was sending me a message. After my first bite it was obvious that Star’s pie was drenched in olive oil—way beyond my liking. Without a doubt, this was the oiliest pizza I have ever had in my life. Both of our pies were swimming in the stuff!

This was such a shame since the ingredients in this pie were otherwise so right. Aside from the heavy dose of oil which made my stomach unpleasant after I sloshed my way through six small slices, the Star pie was nicely built with some fine-tasting mozzarella and tomato sauce on top a thin crust. I also would have preferred the crust cooked a little crisper and without the flour remnants that messily coated my oily fingertips.

After all my expectations, this was very disappointing. I would like to hear about your experience with the Star. Did I catch them in an off moment with perhaps a heavy hand on the olive oil bottle? Or am I missing something entirely about this immensely popular place with such a great reputation?

PIZZA SNOB RATING ***1/2 Working on a Good Thing  

Star Tavern
400 High Street
City of Orange, NJ   07050
973-675-3336
www.startavern.net

It was time for the Pizza Snob to return to pizza basics on the streets of Manhattan—the epicenter of the New York slice. Earlier this year, I had a nightmarish adventure when I discovered that my passport was expired the night before I was travelling to London. Faith and perseverance however led to a happy ending with the help of the amazing folks at the National Passport Center. This stressful situation did also provide me with the unexpected surprise of discovering Rivoli Pizza II Restaurant on my walk along Hudson Street on Manhattan’s Lower West Side.

I had already experienced pizza perfection at Rivoli Pizza Restaurant on Seventh Avenue. When I checked things out on the web however, I was unable to find any connection between it and this “Rivoli the Second.” So on a pretty summer Saturday morning, my pizza-loving brother and I took the Path train into Manhattan with my new find targeted as our first destination.

Fumbling our way along, we got off at Christopher Street station with a plan to stroll along the soothing neighborly feel of Hudson Street until we found the joint. We started south and eventually realized we needed to make a U-turn back. Surprised, we found that Rivoli the Second was right under our noses when we exited the Path, albeit hidden by a façade of building renovation.

Their corner space is a tiny room with only three small tables. Nonetheless it’s a well-suited spot for a “grab and go slice.” The pizza oven is in plain view behind a glass case displaying a variety of ready-to-heat slice offerings. Bright pastel-colored signs were an odd choice, seemingly more suited for a yogurt shop than a pizza joint. They also gave the room the corporate feel of a chain rather than a Mom & Pop pizza joint.

Aside from pizza, Rivoli the Second also had a few other dishes on their menu including everyone’s favorite desert treat, Italian Ice. (For the record, the Snob’s fave flave is cherry!)

With a full day of pizza eating ahead of me, I stuck to a single slice of plain cheese while my hungry Bro craved a pair. Before I could say “mozzarella,” I had a thin extra-wide slice of foldable pizza perfection enticing my taste buds. Although there was scant char on the bottom of my slice, the crust was quite crisp and lightly cracked when I folded it.

My slice was absolutely delicious! My internal seasoning meter detected nice gentle touches of both garlic and oregano. Prior to eating, I did let my slice drain a bit, leaving just enough of the tasty olive oil to compliment the splendid tomato sauce and cheese. You really can’t do much better than this!

Through a quick chat with the man behind the counter, I learned that Rivoli the Second is under different ownership than the Rivoli on Seventh. While I’m not sure of the name connection, they both make perfect pizza. (Bro agrees.) Rivoli the Second is another must stop for the Snob, and they proudly join their namesake in the Snob Hall of Fame.

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ***** Sets the Standard
Rivoli Pizza II Restaurant
501 Hudson Street
(Between Christopher and 10^th Streets) New York, NY 10014
212-675-1933
www.rivolipizza.com

On a recent trip to New York City, I was determined to do some mop-up work and revisit some pizza joints where I had dined before officially crowning myself the Pizza Snob. My planned stop at Famous Ben’s Pizza of Soho would also hopefully clear up my confusion about the three pizzerias in Lower Manhattan named Ben’s.

In my younger days, Ben’s Pizzeria in Greenwich Village was a frequent stop due to its proximity to my fave record stores. Later, when Mrs. Pie took me shopping on the south side of Houston Street, I discovered Ben’s “of Soho” and assumed it was connected to the Ben’s on the north side. However, having since studied “Ray’s Pizza” nomenclature, I now see how linguistic tricks such as the use of “pizza versus pizzeria” and the “famous” modifier can be used to loosely disassociate pizza joints under different ownership. My stop in Soho uncovered that Famous Ben’s “Pizza” has a second location on 14th Street while Un-famous Ben’s “Pizzeria” is a lone business concern.

While walking about, some rain came upon us, so my brother and I sought refuge inside Famous Ben’s. On our way in, we were greeted by a flowing display of banners and Ben’s self-proclaimed iconic chef statue at their front door. Inside, my attention was immediately drawn to the wide assortment of slices on display in a triple-decker glass counter off to the left. Boasting a Sicilian as their specialty, their cornucopia of slices even includes a gluten-free version.

Bypassing the Sicilian this trip and having no aversion to gluten, I stuck with my usual plain cheese ($3.00) which was available although hidden so as to not waste space in the display. On the other side of the room were a few tables where we waited. Served quickly, my slice was an instant eye-opener: a tad thicker than most street slices, but with a firm solid look. The rich-looking tomato sauce and plentiful oregano also gave it a much darker look than usual.

Right off I knew that this dark solid slice was a winner. Crisp and flavorful, the crust was cooked to perfection providing for a deliciously delightful crunch. Likewise, the tasty mozzarella cheese clung tight to the crust setting me up for a classic Fold and Rip finish. And yes, the heavy dose of oregano atop the rich tomato sauce made this one of the most-satisfying slices I have ever had.

Famous Ben’s is well worthy of its name and reputation, and I am proud to welcome their slice into the Pizza Snob Hall of Fame. You may be tempted by the different offerings on display when you step inside Famous Ben’s. But, please be sure to try at least one plain cheese slice since it is the foundation for some of the best pizza you will find anywhere!

P.S. Cash-only, but there is an ATM inside.

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ***** Sets the Standard

Famous Ben’s Pizza of Soho
177 Spring Street
(Corner of Thompson Street) New York, NY 10012
212-966-4494
www.famousbenspizzaofsoho.com
 

The Pizza Snob hadn’t been to Hoboken since legendary music venue Maxwell’s went silent. Last time I was in town though, I had a wonderful “large” slice at Benny Tudino’s. Their five-star delight made me reckon that there would be more great pie to discover in the town I call “Manhattan West.”

On a recent Saturday afternoon, I took a NYC pizza jaunt with my brother. On our way back from the City, the Jersey City Path station was closed for repairs, and we had to reroute through Sinatra’s birthplace. With still room left for another slice, the hard drive in my brain reminded me of a Hoboken pizza joint on my list to visit: Basile’s Pizza.

Approaching early evening, the sun was starting to set as we made the three minute walk from Hoboken Terminal to Basile’s. The place is hard to miss with a big bright red awning surrounding their corner location on busy Washington Street. Taking advantage of the pleasant late summer weather, Basile’s was operating al fresco, and Bro and I chose an outside table.

Inside, their long counter displayed some rather large pies of differing varieties. Menu-wise, I would call Basile’s a “pizza joint” in the strictest sense of the word—pizza, calzones, rolls and knots are all they offer along with prominently-advertised Pepsi product soft drinks. I stuck to my basics with a plain cheese slice at $2.75 (cash-only) which these days is pretty much the going rate. I did notice a sign advertising a seriously sweet Monday-Friday lunch special of two plain cheesers and a drink for only a fiver!

In just a few minutes, my pizza slice was delivered looking so perfect that I nearly cried out of joy. It was a flawless exhibit of the economy of ingredients in making a pizza. Basile’s optimal use of the core fixings (cheese, sauce and crust) was a work of art. Eating this marvelous slice of pizza was a joyous as was observing its beauty.

Getting right to the heart of the matter, Basile’s slice had the absolute best pizza crust I have ever tasted in my life. It was thin, crisp and delicious. Reminiscent of Two Boot’s cornmeal crust-dusting, Basile’s bottom crust had something sprinkled in it that delightfully boosted its flavor. During my congratulatory post-slice interview with the counterperson, I learned it was just bread crumbs. A simple but incredibly masterful touch!

The top of the slice had a slight run of oil that balanced just right with the tasty cheese and tomato sauce. It was a slice so fine and light-tasting that I think I could have eaten at least a dozen!

I really, really, liked Basile’s pizza and plan on going back again and again. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Basile’s to the Pizza Snob Hall of Fame!

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ***** Sets the Standard

Basile’s Pizza
89 Washington Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
201-222-5050
http://basilespizzahoboken.com/

Brooklyn is an awfully big island. Even after all of the times I’ve been there, I still don’t have a good sense of where things are. My alter-blogger Music City Mike ventured to its Gowanus section earlier this year for some live music at the Bell House. In need of a rest stop after parking the car, I thought I hit pay dirt when I spotted a large sign painted on the side of a building that said “Table 87: Home of the Coal Oven Slice.”

Followers of this space know that despite being a New York-style slice devotee, I have found satisfaction in coal-fired pizza. While usually made in Margherita-style, if made right with good fresh ingredients, it can be a delicious treat. But, the thing about coal oven pizza joints is that I have never seen one sell it by the slice. My first reaction when seeing Table 87’s sign was “Why didn’t I think of this first!”

You can imagine my disappointment when I found that Table 87 was still under construction. So I made a note to stop back later in the year when I would be back at the Bell House. The time came, and I am excited to report that Table 87 Coal Oven Pizzeria makes a coal slice that is right up there with the best that Brooklyn has to offer.

On a beautiful late summer’s eve, there was considerable activity around Table 87 when I arrived. The few outside tables along the corner were occupied. Their front room has an elegant bistro look with a walk-up counter prominently displaying a working pie of plain cheese coal slices. While a hostess was taking names for tables in the back room, I cozied up to the counter ordering a single slice ($4.00). I got it rather quickly, and stationed myself at a comfy spot up against the front window.

On looks alone this colorful slice started racking up Snob points. It soon became love after first bite. Although reheated off the counter, it was not served especially hot, but was at a comfortable eating temperature. Their slice did seem thinner than the coal slices I’ve had extracted from whole pies. It was perhaps more akin in shape and size to its New York-style cousin.

The traditional Margherita blotchy cheese and sparse tomato sauce were covered by three bright green basil leaves that added a refreshing and flavorful touch. The crust was cooked to a slight char, but had more of a chewy feel than a crispy one. As for the coal flavor, it was tasty but perhaps not as strong as some others I have had. A nice dash of fresh olive oil topped off this light and tasty slice.  It was sadly gone before I knew it–a special few minutes that I won’t forget. It was so deliciously good!

In chatting with the help, they mentioned that they knew of no other place that offered coal oven slices. I did notice that Table 87’s web site currently points only to their other location on Atlantic Avenue (also in Brooklyn). They also said that their pie would soon be also available at the Whole Foods Market down the street in Gowanus.

Four bucks for a slice may seem steep, but I recommend giving this one a try if you ever find yourself in Gowanus. Table 87 becomes the latest addition to the Pizza Snob Hall of Fame!

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ***** Sets the Standard

Table 87 Coal Oven Pizzeria
473 3rd Ave. (at 10^th Street)
Gowanus Brooklyn, NY  11215
718-965-8400
www.table87coalovenpizza.com

Original Review: 05/03/14

PIZZA SNOB RATING ****Near Perfection

Last trip home, I was driving up Broadway and noticed that Ronny’s Pizzeria & Restaurant appeared to be closed for business. Sad news since they had not been open for long.

With so many pizza places, Bayonne has got to be a tough place to start a new one. I’m sure being only a block away from the great Brothers Pizza & Pasta didn’t help Ronny’s cause.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P

Ronny’s Pizzeria & Restaurant
637 Broadway (between 29th and 30th Streets) Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-858-5777
[No website]

Original Review: 08/25/12

Updated Review: 09/20/13

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ***** Sets the Standard

I may be slow in spreading this news, but after making my second visit to the new “slice shop” extension of Five Points Pizza, I can control myself no longer. This may just be the greatest thing to happy to pizza in Music City since Manny gave up his dream of being a songwriter and started making pies in the Arcade.

Following the lead of their Austin mentor, Home Slice Pizza, Five Points has taken over some adjacent space where they now feature a quick service pizza-only shop. It’s the place to go when you want a quick slice (or in my case two) or a whole pie to take home. There is room to sit at their counter, and you can also wash your slice down with a draft beer.

The shop serves three “Everyday” slices plus two “Today” specials as noted in their sign above. They are open until 1 a.m. during the week and until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Going to East Nashville just got even better!

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ***** Sets the Standard

Five Points Pizza
1012 Woodland Street Nashville, TN 37206
615-915-4174
www.fivepointspizza.com