Tag: pizza

  • PizzaRev (A Review)

    PizzaRev (A Review)

    Good pizza has always been hard to come by in Miami.  And, even pizza places that are great when they first open start to decline after a while sometimes, so the hunt for a good pie is a perpetual one.  I don’t consider myself an expert on pizza, but I know what I like in my pies.  I like fresh cheese, a tomato sauce that is not overpowering, and meat that doesn’t taste like it came out of drug store bag.  On all of these counts, PizzaRev delivered.

    PizzaRev’s menu style is not a new concept.  I typically refer to these kinds of places as “Chipotles for Pizza,” which seems like an accurate estimation.  You’ve got an assembly line setup where you can build your perfect pie, then take it back to your table piping hot.  What really makes or breaks these types of pizza joints is the quality of their ingredients.

    You can pick from four different types of sauces and an assortment of cheeses, including vegan cheese.  They also have baskets of breadsticks, but I didn’t try those.  Their tomato sauce is made with organic tomato.

    The next section is where you add the “heavy” toppings like meats.

    The last section is where you add the “lighter” toppings, like sprinklings of herbs or vegetables.  I like my pizzas simple, so I got pepperoni, basil, and garlic on mine.

    The end-product was an absolute beauty.  The crust is thin enough to let the flavors of the toppings shine through, but not so thin that your pizza just collapses if you try to pick up a slice.  The cheese at PizzaRev had that stretch that comes with any good pizza, and the sauce didn’t overpower the rest of the toppings.

    The counter service was nice, and the place is kept very clean.  I would definitely go back!

    For more information on PizzaRev, visit their web site at https://pizzarev.com/

  • The Parlor Pizzeria (A Review)

    The Parlor Pizzeria (A Review)

    I must admit that it came as a shock to me to find out that Phoenix, Arizona is kind of “on the map” as one of the go-to cities in the US for pizza lovers.  I expected it to shine in Southwestern food, but my few visits to my sister over there have left me a little underwhelmed in that regard.  So, when a pizza place in Phoenix made it on a Food Network list, I used the next visit to my sister and her family as an excuse to give them a try.  We made our way to The Parlor Pizzeria in a caravan of half adults and half kids.

    The walkway towards the entrance is decorated with a small garden.  According to the hostess, they try to get as much of their pizza ingredients from their outdoor garden.  That is one thing that stood out about this place.

    We started with a fritto misto (fried calamari and shrimp) and an order of arancini (fried saffron risotto balls).  We enjoyed both.  The fritto misto had a very light batter and was tender, not rubbery.  None of us were fans of romesco sauce, but discovered that it was fanastic when dipped in the pomodoro sauce that arancini were served with.  I expected the arancini to be cheesier, but it was a little bit dry and crumbly on the inside.  This probably helped the saffron stand out, but I’m used to risotto being creamy and cheesy.

    Unlike most pizza joints, The Parlor Pizzeria doesn’t have a “build your own pizza” option where you pick your size and toppings.  Instead, they have a fixed menu of available pizzas with pre-selected toppings.  I played it safe and ordered a Pepperoni.  It came with giant slices of pepperoni, house-made mozzarella cheese, and basil.  I can’t begin to describe how amazing it smelled when it was brought to the table.  Then I tasted it.  I think I finally understand why restaurants boast about local ingredients on their menus.  This pizza was unlike any mass-produced pie that I have ever eaten in my life.  Even the grease pooling up on top of the pizza was flavorful.  It tasted of all of the love and passion that was used to make every single ingredient.  It tasted like heaven.  Cheesy, greasy heaven.

    For the kids, they also had plain cheese pizza, as well as pepperoni pizza without the fancy cheese and basil.  The kids, picky as they are, all loved their pizza and were excited to come back when their aunt from Miami asked if there was time for a quick lunch before dropping her off at the airport on the day that she was scheduled to leave.  And, I definitely plan on visiting them again the next time that I’m in Phoenix.

    For more information on The Parlor Pizzeria, visit their web site at https://theparlor.us/

  • Pizza Johny’s (A Review)

    Pizza Johny’s (A Review)

    Pizza is one of those foods that I am pretty much always in the mood for.  Unless I am writhing in agony, then chances are that I won’t turn down the offer of a good slice of pizza.  Unfortunately, good pizza is hard to come by in Miami, especially if you’re looking for a traditional NY Style pie.  Your standard delivery chains are okay for when a sudden craving hits when you’re pressed for money or time, but sometimes you need more.  Sometimes, “decent” is just not enough.  You can’t settle.  You WON’T settle.

    That’s where Pizza Johny’s comes in… (more…)