Chicago Pizza Review: Humboldt Pie

Humboldt Pie
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

Humboldt Pie is a cafe that has the good sense to include pizza on the menu. Its pies are pretty thin and square-cut, with above average sauce. The biggest problem with Humboldt Pie's pizza is its overuse of herbs. When applied selectively, herbs and spices are a great way to enhance the flavor of a pizza. Carpet-bombing the pie with clusters of herbs, however, overwhelms the palate and prevents the other great pizza flavors from emerging, ruining the entire eating experience. Including an excess of herbs is an easy way to mask poor ingredients in a pizza. Humboldt Pie's sauce, crust and cheese are all satisfactory, though, so it's a shame they bombard their pies with a glut of herbs. Three Stars

See more pictures of Humboldt Pie pizza here.

HUMBOLDT PIE
(773) 342-4743
1001 N California Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Providence Pizza Review: LaSalle Pizzeria

LaSalle Pizzeria
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

LaSalle Pizzeria is located on Smith Street near Elmhurst. They claim to be the official pizza of Rhode Island College, and sometimes it seems RIC -- not the food -- is the main focus at LaSalle. The pizza is fairly run-of-the-mill. While nothing wows or offends, there were a few too many air bubbles in the pie. By far the weirdest part of LaSalle Pizzeria was that they cut the pizza into ten slices. Not only is the 36° slice a bizarre angle, but it is difficult to make the five cuts even enough to ensure roughly uniform slices. Another quirk: rather than dispensing Coke or Pepsi, LaSalle's vending machine serves the mysteriously labeled "Cola." Perhaps a reader can shed light on this. In any event, LaSalle is a fine option for tasty, if ordinary, pizza. Three Stars

See more pictures of LaSalle Pizzeria here.

LASALLE PIZZERIA
(401) 228-3004
1005 Smith Street
Providence, RI 02908

Stadium Pizza Review: Palermo's Pizza at Miller Park

Palermo's Pizza at Miller Park
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

We recently stopped by Milwaukee to see a Brewers game at Miller Park. In addition to seeing an exciting game, we were given a natural opportunity to try some ballpark pizza. The Brewers are exclusively served by Palermo's Pizza, an unusual arrangement since most stadium pizza comes from Domino's, Papa John's or Pizza Hut. Early in the game, a few fans in the row ahead of us returned to their seats with Palermo's. At first glance, the pizza appeared to be highly promising, given ballpark standards. Those hopes were dashed, however, when we got our own pies and actually tasted the atrocity. While the cheese and crust were nothing special, the sauce is the real culprit. It tasted so unappetizingly sweet that it rivaled low-grade bake-at-home pizza. Even for stadium pizza, this was an embarrassing performance. Upon returning home and conducting a bit of internet research, everything started to make sense: Palermo's is bake-at-home pizza! Oh well. Brewers fans are advised to stick with peanuts when attending games, or fulfill their pizza hunger before arriving at Miller Park. One Star

See more pictures of Palermo's Pizza at Miller Park here.

MILLER PARK
1 Brewers Way
Milwaukee, WI 53214

Chicago Pizza Review: The Art of Pizza

The Art of Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

The Art of Pizza is one of Chicago's most renowned pizza establishments. Newsweek hailed it as the best deep dish pizza in the country, and the Chicago Tribune named its pizza Chicago's best in 2001. We tried a variety of slices, focusing primarily on their signature deep dish offerings. The spinach and mushroom slice was enjoyable, featuring quality ingredients and a tasty combination of flavors. Another positive aspect was that the pies consistently displayed a superior sauce and top-caliber cheese.

There were a few problems, however. First, we don't really see the wisdom of deep dish pizza. It's a fun way to mix things up now and then, but unlike lighter pizza fare, it is simply unsustainable as a frequent meal option. Who needs 12 cubic inches of cheese in every slice? Pizza should be -- and usually is -- a fun and delicious experience, but eating a couple of deep dish slices can feel like trying to shove a Dodge Ram into your stomach. Of course, this complaint is not specific to the Art of Pizza, so it is not a complete deal-breaker. Unfortunately, the Art of Pizza includes a healthy dose of butter in their dough, which results in disaster. Navigating Titanic deep dish slices is a task in and of itself, but adding a stick of butter to the mix pushes us over the edge. The butter crust is certainly the worst part of their pizzas. And finally, a quick negative aside: when ordering a salad, one expects to receive at least a few greens. Apparently the Art of Pizza is unaware of this principle.

The Art of Pizza charges $2.75 for each slice, a good deal considering the quality of ingredients and heftiness of their pies. If you're a fan of deep dish pizza and the thought of a truly buttery crust sounds appealing, then this is the spot for you. If not, you may be in for a disappointment. Three Stars

See more pictures of the Art of Pizza here.

THE ART OF PIZZA
(773) 327-5600
3033 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL

Portland Pizza Review: The Mississippi Pizza Pub

The Mississippi Pizza Pub
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

Sam writes in from the West Coast...

Hi all... I just started a full U.S. tour with my band, so I'll be bringing you guys reviews from this fine country of ours along the way. After we woke up today everyone wanted to get breakfast, but when we pulled up to the breakfast spot I remembered that a) Mississippi Pizza was a couple blocks away and b) the breakfast place we were going to was breakfast only... ie eggs... I hate eggs. Anyway, I walked down to Mississippi Pizza and picked up a cheese slice and a pepperoni, sausage and bacon slice. Because it was Tuesday I scored the Tuesday lunch special: two slices and a soda for $5. The slice style was typical for a West coast "NYC" styled pie. The crust was great. It had cornmeal on the bottom of the slice, which gave it some nice additional flavor without being overwhelming. The sauce and cheese were pretty good too. I guess my only complaint was that crust was a little thin and a touch overcooked. Four Stars

See more pictures of The Mississippi Pizza Pub here.

THE MISSISSIPPI PIZZA PUB
(503) 288-3231
3552 N Mississippi Ave
Portland, OR 97227

Chain Pizza Review: Dunkin' Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

Dunkin' Donuts has been heavily promoting their (new, as far as we can tell) pizza line, so we decided to give it a try. The pie is on the smaller side even for personal pizzas, and it is a tad bit overspiced. Unlike eating a personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut, for instance, the Dunkin' Donuts variety is less likely to do a number on the digestive system. It's less greasy and less filling, which may be a positive aspect for some. On the other hand, if you're aiming for classy pizza, Dunkin' Donuts is probably not the best place to start. If fast food pizza is your goal, the Pizza Hut personal pie better embodies the form. In the end, perhaps the best part about Dunkin' Donuts pizzas is their price. In Seekonk, Massachusetts, a cheese pizza cost just $2.61. This could be a temporary promotional price for a new product, but take advantage while it lasts. Three Stars

Austin Pizza Review: East Side Pies

East Side Pies
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

So when you think of killer pizza you do not really think of Austin, Texas. Yeah, I know it's the home of "Austin City Limits" and Stevie Ray Vaughn, but I went there a little while back and I wanted to eat some pizza. I was there with some pals who were pretty not stoked on eating pizza in Austin. I managed to eat at some pizza vendor outside of a show at Beerland, and at East Side Pies. First of all, as a bonus, East Side Pies is next to a slamming record store that just opened (I don't know what it's called) where I scored some killer records (this does not affect my review). I guess East Side Pies is new too, and I was feeling it. First of all the pizza is a variant on the New York style flat pie, basically it's a little thinner. It has cornmeal on the bottom, which I normally am not feeling, but they managed to get a perfect amount on there, and combined with the thinner crust it adds a nice crunch to the pie. The sauce was average, the cheese good, and the price right. It had a solid vibe and they were jamming some good tunes inside. Dudes were nice, and the place delivers. For you toppings freaks out there East Side Pies has some bizzaro toppings/sauces that looked good (and I normally don't like that bullshit). Overall solid Texas flom, maybe next time I'll have more to report from down south. Four Stars

EAST SIDE PIES
(512) 524-0933
1401 Rosewood Avenue
Austin, TX

Providence Pizza Review: Saki's Pizza

Saki's Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

At just $1.25 a slice, Saki's Pizza is certainly affordable. Keep in mind, however, that affordability is pretty much all you're going to get. Eating Saki's pie is indeed a challenge, and each additional slice pollutes your digestive system even more than the previous one. The sauce is difficult to describe, but "really bad" is an accurate (and lazy) label. The crust carries an unfortunate flavor and lacks consistent form. The cheese is also a culprit, but its crimes are minor compared to the rest of this atrocity. We appreciate inexpensive pie and are willing to overlook certain shortcomings if the pizza is cheap enough, but Saki's is simply a disaster. Pizza Queen, by no means a hub for luxury pie, is about a block away; unless price is the sole determinant of your pizza decisions, choose the Queen over Saki's. One Star

See more pictures of Saki's Pizza here.

SAKI'S PIZZA
(401) 831-1299
199 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI 02903

Providence Pizza Review: Pizza Queen

Pizza Queen
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

While getting a haircut last year, the barber mentioned that he previously worked at Pizza Queen, earning it a spot on our "To Try" list. We recently ate a couple of the Queen's pizzas with him in mind. Pizza Queen offers inexpensive pies that could fairly be described as independent Domino's. Many pizza loyalists dismiss this variety of low-quality pies, but the fact of the matter is that these pizzas have a rightful place in the pizza pantheon. Nobody would want to resort to Domino's-esque selections every time they desired a pie, but sometimes it's just what the doctor ordered. From this perspective, Pizza Queen is satisfactory: they make the most of subpar ingredients and keep prices low. Their coupons are particularly enticing. If you only enjoy high-end pizzas, be sure to steer clear of Pizza Queen. But for those of you who recognize the virtue of (occasionally) indulging in greasy, lowly pizza, Pizza Queen is a worthy option. Three Stars

See more pictures of Pizza Queen here.

PIZZA QUEEN
(401) 351-2500
215 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI 02903

Providence Pizza Review: Fellini Pizzeria

Fellini Pizzeria
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

Fellini Pizzeria, located just off I-195 on Providence's East Side, specializes in gourmet pizzas, much like its neighbor on Wickenden, Pizza Pie-er. The two are just blocks apart, but their pizzas are quite different. Fellini's expansive slices have a thin crust with limited cheese and sauce, in the form of New York-Neapolitan. The pizzeria features high quality crust, sauce and cheese, all of which contribute to its fairly high prices. A basic pie will cost you $15, but their specialty pizzas are $20. Fortunately, a $2 coupon is often available from the restaurant's web site. Like Pie-er, Fellini slices survive refrigeration with ease, maintaining their flavor and consistency. (Their white pie, in fact, tastes better cold than warm.) Those who enjoy a typical pizza-eating atmosphere may scoff at Fellini's environment, which feels slightly upscale, but you can't find a better thin crust pizza in the area. Four Stars

See more pictures of Fellini Pizzeria here.

FELLINI PIZZERIA
(401) 751-6737
166 Wickenden Street
Providence, RI 02906

Toronto Pizza Review: Papa Ceo Pizza

Papa Ceo Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

*** Final Toronto review ***

After a solid couple of slices I headed next door to Papa Ceo’s. Once again a cheese slice was “garlic,” but at this point I had “gotten on the trolley” as they say. One bite in to this poorly re-heated slice and I knew that Canadian pizza-heads must be crazy. The sauce was gross, the cheese oily, and the crust had the consistency of a saltine. Furthermore, when we walked into the store Blazing Saddles was on TV and the guy working changed the channel to a Soccer game (while this does not affect my review of the pizza I had to throw it in). The slice was acceptable -- and if Pizza Cora wasn’t right there I might hit it for a lazy lunch -- but why bother when a better option is right next door. Two Stars

Click here for more pictures of Papa Ceo pizza.

PAPA CEO FINE ITALIAN FOODS & PIZZA
(416) 916-2222
654 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, ON M5S 2H7

Toronto Pizza Review: Cora Pizza

Cora Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

The only non-chain local pizza that I ate during my time in Toronto was on Spadina Ave in between Glen Morris and Harbord. PaPa Ceo’s Pizza, and Cora Pizza are two tiny little pizza shops sitting right next to each are supposedly both some of the best in the Toronto area. In part because of their location -- and partly probably for press -- these two spots are supposedly arch-rivals. So for a pizza-head or a Torontonian a decision seemed necessary. Despite previous attempts, I felt that another opinion was necessary.

Cora Pizza is a solid slice. It's not perfect but by far the best I had in Toronto. One weird thing about both of these places is that neither sells cheese slices but rather “garlic” slices. I guess this concept makes the food feel more interesting and appeals to the topping propensity of the Canadian Pizza scene. Basically it was a solid slice, nice cheese, solid sauce, and a nice crust that fold properly without being a floppy mess. As is common in Toronto, one slice is cut into two, to make two smaller slices and price is about on par with most pizza spots. Overall a nice spot, with a great slice for a fair price. Four Stars

Click here to see more pictures of Cora Pizza.

CORA PIZZA
(416) 922-1188
656A Spadina Avenue
Toronto, ON M5S 2H7

Providence Pizza Review: Antonio's Pizza

Antonio's Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

Antonio's Pizza is located on Thayer Street near the Brown campus. They are known for their unusual slice offerings, such as black bean taco, avocado quesadilla and chicken pesto tortellini. Unfortunately, their basic pie offerings leave much to be desired. The cheese is shoddy, the sauce is lousy and the crust is unacceptably chewy. Anybody in search of high quality conventional pizza should walk the extra block to Via Via IV, which is just around the corner on Meeting Street. Indeed, comparing each restaurant's white slice is particularly instructive. The Via Via slice is a marvel, beautifully crafted and uncommonly delicious. The Antonio's variety, on the other hand, tastes cheap and unfulfilling by comparison. If you prefer pizza topped (tarnished, in this writer's opinion) with tortilla chips or avocado, Antonio's may be what you're looking for. And to its credit, the restaurant offers the increasingly rare Sicilian slice. But at the end of the day, the quality of its pie fails to impress. Three Stars

Click here fore more pictures of Antonio's pizza.

Slices: extensive selection, but they often taste like they've been sitting out all day.
Delivery: no.
Large cheese: $9

ANTONIO'S PIZZA
(401) 455-3600
258 Thayer Street
Providence, RI

Toronto Pizza Review: 2-4-1 Pizza

2 4 1 Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

2-4-1 is another large Toronto pizza chain. First of all, the spot I hit did not have any cheese slices on deck. Now, I don’t want to make any generalizations here but when I asked the guy for a cheese he said they “only made them during the lunch rush”. NO CHEESE?! What is wrong with this place? I guess when you leave the "beer store" and you're about to put your tuque back on, cheese just won’t due. Maybe the prime-minister can set the whole mess straight for this yankee. I settled for a pep slice, that was truly "2-4-1." Taking up a full quarter of the pie, I was stoked. This pizza was pretty average for chain pizza, but it was cheap. The crust was puffy, the sauce negligible, and the cheese stringy. It was fine for late night eating, and all the better considering the price. Three Stars

Click here to see more pictures of 2-4-1 pizza.

Toronto Pizza Review: Mrs. Vanelli's Pizza

Mrs. Vanelli's Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

*** Another Toronto dispatch from Sam ***

Mall pizza was a staple of my pizza diet for a solid decade in my early suburban life (what’s flomin' Sbarro?) and for this reason I tried out my girlfriend’s mall pizza history with Mrs. Vanelli’s at the Eaton Centre (why the misplaced “e,” Canadians?). This pizza was terrible. It seriously was worse than a Red Baron pie that I could bake at home. The ingredients were deplorable, service shitty (it took me 5 minutes for my slice to be re-cooked) and the cost high. Furthermore when you get used to getting a big slice cut in half, you feel slighted when it doesn't happen. I got this slice with some fries which were even worse than the pizza. I know mall pizza is usually substandard, but this was truly awful. One Star

See more pictures of Mrs. Vanelli's pizza here.

MRS. VANELLI'S PIZZA
(416) 599-7922
1 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON

Toronto Pizza Review: Pizza Pizza

Pizza Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

*** Pizza reviewer Sam reports from Toronto ***

So I just visited my girlfriend in Toronto, and as a true blooded
American pizza dogg I had to see what the great snowy north offered in the way of pizza. To keep things on the level I decided to hit the few famous spots in town as well as the local chains. It's worth mentioning the Toronto pizza community’s conception of a slice. If you order a slice in Toronto you get one huge slice that amounts to 1/3 to 1/4 of the pie. This monster slice is cut in half and you essentially get two slices for the price of one. In terms of economics, it usually turns out that each "slice" costs as much as two regular slices in the states. It’s a weird deal, and it becomes frustrating when you’re trying to just grab a single slice snack during mid-day.

My first stop was local chain Pizza Pizza. Overall I found that the pizza was pretty average, which, considering the number of locations, gives Pizza Pizza a bump. As far as large chain pizza goes in Toronto, this might be it. It is more typical in Canada to get your slice served with wings, salad or french fries. I didn’t really try any of these options, and just opted for a standard cheese slice and a C+ (a Canadian orange soda with extra vitamin C). The slice was smaller than most I encountered in Toronto. Overall, it was nothing to write home about. The crust was a little crackery, the sauce a little plain, but the was cheese pretty good. This is sort of all glazed over when you realize that no matter where you are in Toronto, you can grab one of these slices and be happier than if you had hit a smaller competitor. Toronto’s pizza scene is pretty weak in terms of quality, and with this in mind I give Pizza Pizza three stars for its availability and consistently decent quality. Three Stars

See more pictures of Pizza Pizza here.

PIZZA PIZZA
(416) 967-1111
580 Jarvis Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 2H9

Providence Pizza Review: Olympic Pizza

Olympic Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

Olympic Pizza may or may not be in Providence. Some maps place it a few blocks into Cranston, but we're going to count it as a Providence pizza review. Located on Broad Street in South Elmwood, Olympic Pizza offers grinders, egg grinders, salads, spaghetti, steaks, seafood and chicken items in addition to their pizza. The pie suffers from subpar cheese and sauce, while the crust is slightly crunchy and carries a noticeable flavor. Despite the inferior ingredient quality, the pizza itself is decent. A major advantage is Olympic Pizza's prices -- the menu says $9.75 for a large cheese, but in our experience it costs even less than that. If you're near the South Side and want inexpensive pizza, consider giving Olympic Pizza a try. Three Stars

See more pictures of Olympic Pizza here.

Slices: no.
Delivery: yes.
Large cheese: $9.75

OLYMPIC PIZZA
(401) 781-1250 or 781-5999
1323 Broad Street
Providence, RI 02905

Providence Pizza Review: Pizza Pie-er

Pizza Pie-er
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

Pizza Pie-er is an upscale pizzeria located in Providence's East Side. They focus on specialty pizzas, offering an extraordinary array of crusts, sauces and toppings. (Check out the full menu to see all of the options, but be warned -- it's a 3 MB PDF and the prices are out of date.) Pizza Pie-er's pesto sauce (pictured) is superb, and garlic lovers will appreciate the white sauce. There is something for everyone, including thin crust pizzas, dessert pies and pizza sandwiches. As an added bonus, Pizza Pie-er's food endures the toll of refrigeration better than most.

Unfortunately, despite the quality of their ingredients, we can only recommend Pizza Pie-er in the presence of two significant caveats. First, their specialty pies may not be what one has in mind when considering pizza; they fail to achieve a top-notch plain cheese pizza. Second, their prices may be prohibitively expensive. Because of their terrific ingredients and craftsmanship, Pizza Pie-er has always charged a premium, but recent price increases may be a deal-breaker for some. The cheapest pie on the menu is $14, but most options will cost you close to $20. Moreover, they impose a $1.50 delivery charge. Still, we commend Pizza Pie-er for their exceptional quality and seemingly limitless varieties. Four Stars

See more pictures of Pizza Pie-er pizza here.

Slices: minimal selection.
Delivery: $1.50 charge.
Large cheese: $14.

PIZZA PIE-ER
(401) 351-3663
374 Wickenden Street
Providence, RI 02903

Providence Pizza Review: Via Via IV

Via Via IV, originally uploaded by The Pizza Review.

Via Via IV is the gold standard of Providence pizza. All of Via Via's pies are baked in a wood-fired oven, resulting in a crust that is crisp yet also chewy. The crust is complemented by delicious sauce and top notch cheeses. The basic cheese pizza (pictured here and here) is some of the best we've ever had, but there's much more to explore. Their all-white slice (pictured above), which contains mozzarella, parmigiano, ricotta and fontina, is exquisite. For the best slice on the menu, however, go with four-cheese (pictured here), a masterpiece covered in fontina, mozzarella, mascarpone and parmigianio and speckled with marinara. As an added bonus, Via Via IV offers 18" extra large pies, an option that is particularly enticing with such delicious pizzas. The menu includes a range of salads, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and a new line of seafood dishes. If you're near Providence, make sure you visit Via Via IV. Five Stars

See more pictures of Via Via IV pizza here.

VIA VIA IV
(401) 831-8668
205 Meeting Street
Providence, RI 02906

Providence Pizza Review: Giovanni's Pizza

Giovanni's Pizza
Originally uploaded by The Pizza Review

Giovanni's Pizza is not worth reviewing. The pizza is terrible. The prices are too high. The atmosphere is nauseating. Don't punish yourself; avoid Giovanni's at all costs. One Star

See more pictures of Giovanni's pizza here.

GIOVANNI'S PIZZA
(401) 621-8500
85 Richmond Street
Providence, RI 02903