Actually in Henderson, NV…which is where a lot of my relatives live.
To keep it short, it was nothing special. Now, I can’t really compare it to the original Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn (sooo close to getting their pizza, but it was on the day pizza died). I picked up the pizza as my cousin was taking us back to the airport. It was disappointing, since the pizza looked realllly good. I guess aesthetics aren’t everything.
Vegas, you’ll have to impress me with pizza another time.
It’s been several months since I’ve last had Mandola’s pizza. Between then and now, I’ve had a vast litany of pizza, some from my recent SF and NYC trip, and slowly checking off pizzerias here in Austin. Somehow my memory back then told me their pizza was quite enjoyable. Yet today’s experience left a different taste. Perhaps I am getting spoiled, but then again food snobbery is the inveitable result of eating too much of one food item . But, I also remind myself that I still find Papa John’s and little caeser’s appetizing. Hrrmmmm… It just goes to show that you can pick up a more discerning taste after focusing on a particular item.
Parma with proscuitto and arugula. Thin and wide slivers of parmasean, almost like onion-slices. Arugula damn strong. Crust is kind of bland and the texture is just not what I’m used to (very soft and reminds me of naan). Some friends of my like the pizza, so again it goes down to personal preference.
First two photos, credit to my friend Michael.
Whole Foods is pretty awesome. They have nice outdoor seating and great lunch selections (although the brown-box pay-per-weight is kinda pricey…and I’m being nice here).
Then there’s the way they package their very-well priced pizzas. I’m talking about the golden foil that lines the bottom of the triangular-shaped cardboard box. You don’t get it all the time, but it’s such a nice kick to see it if you want to feel like Charlie getting the golden ticket. And you won’t have to buy thousands of slices to get it :)
Hit up the Red House Pizzeria with a couple friends G and S. They have a happy hour special every freakin’ day, which is ridic. Two-for-one pizzas!! And they’re good, too.
So as you see in one of the photos, there’s a lot of horse portraits inside. Dunno what the deal with that is, perhaps I’ll ask the next time. It kinda reminded me of the scene in Dodgeball when Christine Taylor invites Vince Vaughn into her place, and then you see her immaculate collection all things unicorn.
Great crust and tasty ingredients. Excellent value and excellent pizza. Highly recommended and look forward to coming again.
Born and raised in MI, folks.
Yes, I’ve had Buddy’s. Yes I’ve had Shield’s (see photo above). Yes, I’ve had Pizza Papali’s monster-thick pies. And of course Little Caesar’s and Hungry Howie’s.
Friend sent me this link from the Detroit Free Press.
I plan on heading back to MI for independence day. Might hit some of these up.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905200366
Got a sampling of locally recommended pizza spots when sifting through 18 pages of comments. Didn’t know there would be this much buzz over pizza. Had some remarks like, “This news sure helps detroit keep its title as the nations fattest city.” haha, sad but true.
———————————–
Tomatoes Apizza in Farmington Hills
The Gourmet Veggie at Luigi’s Original in Harrison Township
Buddy’s cheese pizza was 15th
The cheese pizza with feta at Niki’s in Greektown
Cloverleaf in Eastpointe
Best pizzas are at Livonia Bakery. Take ‘em home, add your own toppings and bake ‘em for 15 minutes. Goooooooood!
Antonios – there are a couple of them. I hit the one at 12 and Halsted. The best pizza anywhere.
What about Sheilds & Buscemi’s?
Jet’s or The Alibi in Rochester (and their Antipasta salad?! THE BEST!) Green Lantern in Madison Heights is still a favorite, too.
Green Lantern…. simply awesome.
Louie’s in Hazel Park
Pizza Connection in Hazel Park and Allen Park
Father & Son in Chesterfield
The Fire House @ 23 & Schoenner
Starting Gate in Northville is my favorite. No frills, great tasting sauce, and the crust is just right -not too thick and not too thin.
Villa in Eastpointe
Mama Rosa’s in Grosse Pointe
Two of the last places left over from the 50’s and 60’s that used to battle for the “best” sauce.
Both great pizza places.
Hidden treasure: B-Line Bar in Howell.
I like Bobalu’s Pizza if youre in the westland area on wayne rd they use some high quality cheese.
Taste Pizzabar in downtown Detroit is excellent as well
member a place near Center Line called Oil Can Harry’s that made a killer deep dish pizza.
The best pizza I’ve tasted in Michigan is at the Lost Creek Sky Ranch in Luzerne.
Pub 13 in Ypsi has the best pizza in my opinion
Lona’s in Dearborn Heights, with an antipasto salad and an RC coke in a styrofoam cup!
The best pizzas I have had are at hotel bars (where the executive chef oversees what they serve) and some local bars like Stan’s in Auburn Hills.
Amantea’s in Garden City has been a favorite of my family for years!
Stevie B’s Woodhaven Michigan Hot wing Pizza
Cottage Inn’s Zesty Italian pie deserves note.
I’m still a Steverino’s fan
My top three: The Alibi in Troy, Franks in downtown Wyandotte and Palermos in Canton.
Benito Italian thin crust as well (good price too)
F A M O U S P I Z Z A on Grand River a block before Joy Road is Detroit’s Best Pizza hands down.
Gino’s in Keego Harbor
Pasquale’s in Royal Oak.
Kruse & Muer in Rochester had great pizza (probably still does)
Roma’s Pizza in Flint
Interesting comment:
“I grew up near the original Little Ceasar’s Pizza Treat and we used to get pizza there in the early 60’s before they became a chain. I was just a kid at the time and didn’t have much to compare it to. Back then the pizza came on a piece of cardboard stuck in a paper bag, and the top of the bag used to stick to the pizza – no fun pulling the paper off the pizza. ….”
Ann Arbor memories: Pizza House, cottage inn…then $1.25 slices at Diag Shoppe!!! You had to wait around and get the coupon book from the dudes handing them out on the way to class.
Gracie See Pizzeria in Detroit has the best pies I’ve ever eaten.
I celebrated my 24th bday with Chuck E. And had a blast!
The location is on a stark corner lot on S. First and Ben White. Perhaps you’ve passed by multiple times. I know I do twice a day as it is on the way to work. And I, a full-grown adult, finally made it through the entrance in what would be ticket hoarding galore.
Huge seating area, almost 3x the size of the play area, which i found interesting. You could probably hold a real concert here. And there was like only a couple of other parties there, in groups of 4 or less. I felt special and definitely owned the place.
When Chuck E came out, I was all excited and jumped from my seat to start dancing with the waitress’ choreographed bday spiel. My friend Kev was even rowdier than I was, and exclaimed all sorts of stuff when Chuck E came out from the curtains. I tried to hug Chuck E, but he didn’t reciprocate. Apparently didn’t like his job, but can’t blame the dude.
So how was the Pizza? Surprisingly…bad. Defnitely not how i remembered it. Sauce almost had a overly tangy flavor, and crust was spongy and drab. I’d rather have a frozen pizza from the grocery store. Ordered two mediums each of cheese and pepperoni.
The games and arcade experience…exactly how I remembered it hehe. So much fun, and everyone pooled the tix together so I could get some sweet prizes.
Check out my Chuck E Loot!!
Big Bite Pizza & Grill
415 W 24th St
(512) 457-4992
I honestly wasn’t expecting too much from a college campus eatery. How gourmet can they get? (Actually, New York Pizza Depot in Ann Arbor, MI was ridic. Loved that place.)
But…i was pleasantly surprised by the Margherita. If it just wasn’t so soggy (the pizza had probably been out awhile and soaked up the large slices of tomato), this could have been sheer excellence. I love surprises like this, hopefully the rest of their pizzas will be just as good.
