| Pizza If there were something that I could choose to eat everyday, that thing would be pizza. Pizza, the perfect food! It has all the food groups in one convenient hand held serving! Children love it! Adults love it! My dog loves it! I love it! I have been eating pizza for 40 plus years and am not even close to being tired of it. Yes, I’ve had brief flirtations with French fries, naughty clandestine affairs with tacos; wild flings with flavored tortilla and potato chips and scandalous dalliances with hamburgers. Yet, I always come back to my one true love. Pizza In all that time I have enjoyed many a succulent slice of saucy scrumptiousness served by many a talented pizza gourmet. Here are samplings, in no particular order; of some pizzas I have had the pleasure to consume over the years. For identification purposes please consider that all pies have been reviewed as pepperoni. and of course, this is all my opinion. Fresh Pizza Restaurants Carbone’s (651) 429-7609 1350 Hwy 96, White Bear Lake Ah! I love this pie! It doesn’t matter which chain you choose this pie is always good. I have a soft spot for the one that I live by because the pie has that something special. Plus, I know the owners (Steve and Liz Boleen) and the guys who work there are always pleasant and accommodating. Of all the pizzas on this list, I have this one most often. My son loves to come pick it up with me as he gets to be the “pizza sneak” and steal a piece or two from the box on the drive home. Great sauce, thin crust and just the right amount of cheese. Quite possibly my favorite. Did I mention I love this pie? I want one now! Shakey’s Pizza During the 1970’s and the 1980’s Shakey’s pizza was my favorite. Unfortunately the company was sold in the late ‘80’s and its franchises dwindled. There are only 63 Shakey’s pizza parlors still in operation in the U.S. of A. Of those there are 55 in California. The chain is actually bigger in the Philippines than in America! Shakey’s had a wonderful pie sliced in traditional pie shape with a unique crisp crust that I remember having possibly a corn meal crunch to it. The sauce was sweet spicy and the pepperoni was roughly the size of a smallish quarter. I was feverish for Shakey’s at the time and could consume a large pie by myself. Of course I was younger and my metabolism could handle that at the time. When Shakey’s started to disappear from the region it was briefly replaced by the name Paesano’s. It was still the same pie and I was able to enjoy many a buffet lunch there. When those stores closed I recall actually driving to Rochester from St. Paul just to have lunch at one of the remaining stores. Oh Shakey’s please come back! Davani’s 1905 Perimeter Road Saint Paul, MN My first experience at Davanni’s was with my old friend Brad Laudert. We would meet at the Franklin Ave. shop and share a pie at lunch. These days I usually get the pizza hoagie. I always get a kick out of that the workers ask for your first name so they can call it out when your order is ready. Davanni’s pizza has a nice medium thick crust and a healthy serving of cheese cut in pie shape. Not a bad pie, just not an outstanding pie. Good value for the price. Little Oven (Italian Oven/Ronallys) (651) 735-4944 1786 Minnehaha Avenue, East Saint Paul, MN I don’t usually eat here although the price is very reasonable as is the portions! The usual special is ‘buy one get one free’ deal. I always thought that the cut into squares pizza was bland and soggy. That said the restaurant is generally packed and many people rave about it. Maybe I’ll have to give it another try. Papa Mike’s 1048 Rice Street Saint Paul, MN I have not eaten here since I was in high school during the late 1970’s. I don’t recall the pie anything special. That must be why I have not been there for 28 years. Another in the ‘better try it again’ column. Cosetta’s (651) 222-3476 211 7th St W, St Paul, MN I was introduced to Cossetta’s in the early 80’s when there was not a large amount of pizza restaurants open before 4:00 in the afternoon. It's a large sliced, thin crust, New York style pizza. It’s a rather bland soggy crust pie that’s fairly faithful to the New York slice style. The do a significant lunchtime business and is a good value for the money. Romolo’s 1409 Arcade Street Saint Paul, MN I only consumed it once and I can’t remember if I liked it. How’s that for a review? Mama’s Pizza (651) 489-2005 961 Rice Street Saint Paul, MN Arguably the finest Italian American restaurant joint in town. You can watch the pizza being made up front and the staff treats you like family. Still family owned although Peachie is no longer with us in person. Her spirit is continued in her children and relatives that continue to successfully run the shop today! The pizza is spicy and perfect! The mostaccioli is to die for! Save room for the ice cream cone! It’s like going to your family’s house to eat! Highly recommended! Check my links page for Mama’s website. Stop reading now and go visit Tony! Tell him I say ‘Howdy”! Molto Bene! Hearthside Pizza (651) 488-0549 1641 Rice St, St Paul, MN Hearthside’s pie has thick cheese with creamy sauce, and they put their toppings under the cheese. The White Knight of Rock and Roll (Chris Nelson) swears by this pie! Village Pizza 2565 7th Avenue East North Saint Paul, MN Nice pie, saucy and spicy with just the right amount of cheese. Very close to Mama’s. If you like French fries, they are fabulous and the portion is large! Kind of a ‘hole in the wall’ place but it has plenty of atmosphere. Recommended! Pino’s Pizzeria 55 5th Street East Saint Paul, MN If you work Downtown Saint Paul you too could have a slice of this pie. Open for lunch they offer a good value for product. However I find the homemade sauce is lacking. It’s another of the “New York slice “ style. What I mean is big piece, floppy crust with cardboard edge, bland sauce and not much cheese. Other than that, it’s great…..*ahem* Godfather’s Pizza Never liked Godfather’s. I do remember it has a buffet (or had a buffet). Never impressed by it and rarely ate there. I’m not altogether certain that they still are around in the Twin Cities. I’m not even motivated to look it up either. Eat there if you must. Don’t wait for me. Pizza Shack (612) 729-7325 1623 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN Have not eaten there since the 1980’s when I would go there after my band got done working. It wasn’t nearly as rough a place then as it is now. Had some good times and the pizza wasn’t too bad. Just not memorable. Red’s Savoy Pizza 421 7th St E, St Paul, MN (651) 227-1437 Ooooh! Savoy! Very tasty pie! Almost as good pizza as Mama’s but Savoy doesn’t have the same homey atmosphere. I have not eaten at all the outlets, but of the 7th Street and the 3rd Street, I’d take a pie at the 7th Street address every time. There is a difference. The pie is generous with a fabulous spicy sauce and plentiful cheese. The sausage pie is wonderfully spicy and I enjoy burping it up (yeah, I’m nuts) afterwards. One of the few pies that I will drive out of my way for as there is nothing like it. In fact there still is one piece in my ‘fridge waiting for me when I get home. Delizioso! Donatelli’s (651) 777-9199 2692 County Road E East Saint Paul, MN Thin crisp crust, tangy sauce, and terrific sausage. Another pizza joint that has not changed too much over the years. I don’t go there much, but it is good. Arby’s/Sbarro (651) 451-1097 1657 Robert St S, St Paul, MN Fast food pizza. Not really that good and not particularly memorable. Only eaten it when I don’t want a roast beef sandwich. Bread sticks are awful! Wildwood Bowl Pizza and Eatery (651) 429-1141 310 Stillwater Rd, Willernie, MN Brian Bell makes a very fine pie! I was turned on to this pizza from my friend Terry Jenister. Although he has moved to Ohio, when we talk he tells me he still craves Wildwood. I agree. I always get the jumbo pie. It’s very reasonable. Nice sauce and the crust has an addicting corn meal texture that I love. Brian’s tacos are also highly addicting and I would strongly suggest that you get over to Mahtomedi and try this place! Highly recommended! UPDATE: Wildwood will be reopening march 2010 just a few blocks away from their old location! Pizza Factory (651) 487-1454 370 Maryland Avenue West Saint Paul, MN Discovered this pie early 1980’s. Nice thin crust with a great spicy sauce. Good bet for dinner! Rocco’s Pizza 2018 County Road F East Saint Paul, MN Initially when I moved to the area this company was going door-to-door selling pizza certificates. Well to me those suckers are like puppies or those big eye children paintings. How could you refuse a pizza coupon? I can’t!!! It’s a decent pie in the Davanni’s family. Not too thick but decent cheese. Doesn’t stand out too much but you could do worse. Domino’s 107 Wildwood Avenue Saint Paul, MN The legendary Domino’s! For a period of years this was the only restaurant pizza my kids would eat. I could get a Carbone’s and they would have two little squares each, but bring a Domino’s! They would eat two whole pies! Domino’s is the pizza I always think about when we’re at a hotel. It’s not good pizza but it is pizza. It’s bland and soggy. On the up side you can get it quickly and they always have some kind of decent specials going on. Pizza Hut Speaking of doing worse. I hate Pizza Hut. There’s no two ways around it. The pizza is greasy, now that’s not necessarily bad as Savoy pizza is greasy, but in a good way. Pizza Hut upsets my stomach. And I have an iron stomach! My suggestion? Eat Domino’s. Little Caesars Kinda like a bad Dominos. Although the kids like it. The plus is that you can walk in and without ordering ahead, just pick up a large pepperoni for $5.00!! That brings it up a notch in my book. Green Mill People used to rave over this pie. I could never understand the canonization. I’ve had many Green Mill pizzas in the past, mainly as the Green Mill truck would come and sell them at lunchtime. I found them to be nothing special and on the doughy-greasy side. Chuck E Cheese (651) 453-1066 1422 Robert St S, West St Paul, MN Terrible pie, but that’s not the point of this restaurant. The kids want to go so they can play games that they already have at home. Bland, uninteresting and tasteless. If you don’t have children, do yourself a favor and don’t go… As much as I love going or eating fresh made pizza, sometimes that’s just not possible. I have learned that my craving for a pizza pie at 9:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning makes it difficult to call my favorite proprietor. That’s when frozen pizza comes to the rescue! Frozen Pizza Tombstone I do love Tombstone. Although I think it has changed ever so slightly, this is the go-to pie at my home. The children have voiced that they prefer this pizza to most frozen pies. It has a robust sauce and a decent crust with a good portion of cheese. The pepperoni, depending on how you cook it, is standard size and flavorful. An advantage is once unwrapped, you have the opportunity to rearrange the pepperoni to suit your needs. This came in handy when the children were younger and would only eat cheese pizza. All in all, still my long time favorite frozen. Totino’s Party Pizza Another kid favorite. I know that the cheese is not real cheese so one may argue that it’s not a real pizza. All I can say is that the children like these pies and on occasion I’ve been know to eat one all by myself. That is if no other pizza is in the house… Totino’s Pizza Rolls Not surprisingly, the children at my home love this one too. I find the pizza rolls much more palatable than the Totino’s pizza. I’m certain that it’s the same thing. It goes to show that sometimes presentation is everything. Tony’s It’s bee a while since I’ve had a Tony’s. I believe that these were the pies that my friend Tim had when his family had pizza night! Growing up my family did not have a designated ‘pizza night’ much to my disappointment. Tim would have pizza every Sunday! Curse you pizza night!!! Digiorno Currently my frozen pizza of choice! It has a thicker than normal crust and a flavorful sauce. The kids have warmed up to this pie although they still request Tombstone. I want a Digiorno now! Freshetta I hate to say that I don’t think I’ve ever had one. I can tell you I wouldn’t turn it away if someone sent me one. Write me for my address… Stouffer's French bread Pizza Have not had them for a while but I recall eating the whole order even thought it was purchased to be shared…oops! Sorry! Papa Murphy’s Technically not ‘frozen’, but fresh made and then you take them home. What i had initially thought was a bland pie ,my opinion has grown on me and I have grown to enjoy it!. I believe the price is reasonable. Some crazy specialty pies. Jacks’ I burned out on these pies as they were usually cheap or on special. Bernatello’s I cheap pie that for some reason I like. Really thin crust makes it easy to eat the whole pie by myself. Cheap pricing doesn’t make me feel bad if I throw some away. Decent sauce. So I imagine that you have gathered that I like pizza. That is an understatement. I love pizza. In fact just writing this has whetted my appetite for a slice right now. I’ll write later, the oven is heating up…. |
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