What makes pizza taste so good? Is it the crust, the sauce, the
toppings? It’s all of these things — and sometimes it’s none of
them. But pizza just tastes better in a place with a good vibe or funky
atmosphere.
Don’t take my word for it — go see for yourself.
A Slice of … Egypt
New York Pizza & Sub is located to the right of the Lowe’s
parking lot on Perkins near Summer in a small, nondescript building
with a few picnic tables out front. Inside, the tiny dining area is
sparsely furnished with patio furniture, a large TV, and a stereo.
Salah, the owner and sole employee of New York Pizza & Sub, can
be found in the kitchen. His lively personality more than makes up for
the lack of décor. A native of Egypt, Salah has been making
pizzas for 18 years, the first seven of which were in New York.
Walking into New York Pizza & Sub can be a bit disorienting. It
feels more like a friend’s house — a friend who really likes to
talk and makes great pizza.
And what about the pizza? Expect the standard New York style: thin
and chewy with a nice crusty handle, light tomato sauce, gooey cheese,
and sold by the slice.
New York Pizza & Sub, 4523 Summer (761-7771)
Nautical
The Cove is the perfect place to enjoy an old-fashioned cocktail,
suck down a few oysters, watch a movie you’ve never heard of, and smoke
’em if you got ’em. The nautical interior that once filled Anderton’s
definitely sets the Cove apart from other late-night bars. It’s cozy,
cool, and full of surprises.
In addition to oysters and other light fare, the Cove has a small
selection of pizzas on the menu. The most notable is Jim’s Ultimate
Oyster Pizza. Yes, oyster pizza. The crisp crust is
topped with a spinach Rockefeller sauce, marinated artichokes, goat
cheese, bacon, and half a dozen freshly shucked oysters. Like the bar
itself, this pizza offers a new twist on an old favorite. Best of all,
you can enjoy your pizza with a shot of absinthe or a can of Pabst Blue
Ribbon.
The Cove, 2559 Broad (730-0719)
Elvis-style
Broadway Pizza has two dining rooms, a jukebox, a few big TVs, a Ms.
Pac-Man, a racing-car game, a stuffed-animal-grabber game, a ’70s-style
candy vending machine, and a couple hundred pictures of Elvis. Minus
the flat-screen TVs, it feels like 1977 inside. (I consider this a
plus.)
The menu offers many pizzas with unique toppings for people
interested in taking a walk on the wild side (e.g., the chili and taco
pizzas) as well as the standard fare for those who like to keep things
simple. Whether you go crazy or play it safe, you can rest assured that
each pizza is going to taste pretty damn good, arrive cut in squares,
and be accompanied by a bowl of pepperoncinis and green olives.
Broadway Pizza, 2581 Broad (454-7930)
R.I.P. (Rest in Pizza)
Top Five Pizza Places that Will Be Forever Missed
5) Chicago Pizza Factory — Remember when the Chicago Pizza
Factory was a bustling restaurant and not a sad, empty building?
4) Shakey’s — The perfect place to celebrate after a soccer
game. I can still hear the sound of my cleats on the floor as I run to
the front to grab a pizza.
3) Pierotti’s — The standard meeting place for my philosophy
class study group. I always scored the last piece of the group’s
communal pie. My friend swears there were Gummi Bears on the
buffet.
2) Squash Blossom — I could never convince my mom that pizza
was actually healthy, but the Squash Blossom kitchen crew changed all
that.
1) Pat’s — Getting buzzed in, wondering if Mrs. Pat was asleep
or dead, giant hunks of meat toppings, roaches, a pool table, beer,
open all night … how did this place ever go out of business?