319398 Mon Aug 21 14:34:46 -0700 2006 196 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 1822012 Let me reveal my ulterior motives up front. If I were to ask for the best pizza in the Baltimore area, we'd probably get a lot of responses citing the same small group of places. By asking for your top five, I'm hoping to do two things. First, I hope to get some mentions of places I've not tried, rather than a series of "me too" accolades for the top places. Second, I hope to find out something about how you rank the top handful, which will give me some insight into how your preferences map to mine, which will come in handy if you mention someplace I haven't tried. That said, I'd also like to request that if you have a particular set of toppings that you use as your benchmark, please mention what it is. If instead, you like a place particularly for the variety of toppings available, mention that, too. To kick things off, my top five at the moment are 1. Matthew's 2. Joe Squared 3. Cafe Amore (Glen Burnie) 4. Iggie's 5. B.O.P. Close-but-no-cigar - Uno's (yeah, I know - it's a chain), if only because it's the closet thing to Chicago deep dish in the area, though the Uno's chain has badly degraded their "deep dish" from the original. In my case, my usual benchmark pizza is sausage and onion, at least for thin crust pizzas. Mon Aug 21 14:34:46 -0700 2006 11647 Warthog 1 1822046 My top 5...well, 5 would be stretching it unfortunately. I'll say: 1. Chef Paolino's (Catonsville) - Great pizza by the slice 2. Matthews - I love the Great White 3. Cafe Amore - Plus great pastas and sandwiches at lunch And I can't think of any other Pizza that I've been happy with in all of Maryland! However, I haven't gotten to Joe2 yet. My list of disappointments is pretty big, however. Iggie's (good toppings, terrible rolled-out crust), and in Ellicott City Serafino's and Luna Bella (now Della Notte), both with wood-buring ovens and terrible pizza, Egyptian Pizza/Al Pacino, BOP all have been disappointing. Actually, the chains Bertucci's and Three Brothers can put out decent pizza, but I'll still reserve my list for pizza that I really like. Mon Aug 21 14:52:26 -0700 2006 1822012 13808 Jason1 2 1822153 RE: Chains I feel your pain. I, too find some of the better chain pizzas to be above the average for pizza in this area. I guess Baltimore just isn't a pizza town. But it could be worse. At least we have a few independent places that rise above the mundane and beat the best of the chains - perhaps this thread will turn us on to more. I've seen some localities where the more run-of-the-mill national chains were "as good as it gets" when it came to pizza. Now THAT is scary for a pizza lover! Mon Aug 21 15:40:53 -0700 2006 1822046 11647 Warthog 2 2605031 TutTI Gusti in Canton is very good...the cheese is good without too much tomato sauce Sat May 26 18:13:46 -0700 2007 1822046 98261 baltosteve 1 1822070 The takeout/delivery pizza from the Jay's/Viccino restaurant group. Although the crust/sauce isn't the best I've ever had, their wide selection of free! veggie toppings makes up for it. Most of their veggies (zucchini, broccoli, spinach, tomato, garlic, eggplant, etc) can be added for no additional cost. Also, Al Pachino Cafe has some interesting topping combinations. The crust is often too sweet/doughy, but the tandoori chicken and summer squash pizza is addicting. Mon Aug 21 15:04:12 -0700 2006 1822012 15137 becs 1 1822135 I actually love Maria D's pizza in Fells Point! Mon Aug 21 15:35:00 -0700 2006 1822012 12234 hon 1 1822202 Have you ever been to Pizza John's in Essex? I think it's THE best pizza in Baltimore, hands down. It also has to be the cleanest restaurant I have ever seen. 1. Pizza John's 2. Matthew's 3. Fortunato 4. Iggy's 5. Egyptian Pizza (moved from Fells Point to Belvedere square). Specifically, tandoori chicken pizza. I just realized I left off Fortunato in York Rd (and added it to my list). Mon Aug 21 15:57:57 -0700 2006 1822012 22081 mgarland 2 1837488 Thanks for the tip on Pizza John's! I went last night, and it's a good pie - the sort of "community favorite" independent pizza place that is very common back home in Chicagoland, and seems like an alien concept around here. I got my usual large sausage and onion, and I was impressed. It may not be the best pizza I've ever had, but it's a product they can be rightly proud of. I was particularly intrigued by the sauce - it looked like the sort of dark, slow cooked, herb-laden sauce some Italian granny would make to put on pasta. Some will like it, some won't, but that's the idea. I'd much rather go to a place that strives to achieve the owner's idea of the perfect pizza, with whatever quirks or unique aspects that might imply, than to go to a place that is content to churn out yet another "OK" pie that's no different than that being produced by any of the other places in the area. I grew up in an area where pizza was taken seriously. You were an Aurelio's guy, or a Sanfratello's guy, or possibly a Geneo's guy, if you played softball (16", slow pitch, bare hands - Chicago style!)and liked pizza with your beer, rather than the other way around. And you were willing to argue the merits of your favorite over the other at the drop of a hat. That's been one of the biggest cultural adjustments to living out here. Not only are there very few such "community flagship" pizza places, but "pizza" is deemed a commodity food. Around here, with few exceptions, one goes for "pizza", not a *particular* pizza. I see some of the same sort of loyalty to particular crab shacks, but even there, it just doesn't seem the same. Maybe it's not so much the location, as a change in the culture. Few people back home play Chicago Style softball anymore, and maybe the old loyalties and passion about pizza is also dying. Maybe we're all being programmed to the "chaining" of America, where you can get off a plane anywhere in the continental U.S. and be largely unable to tell where exactly you are, because the same stores and the same restaurants are in the same commercial developments everywhere. Forgive me ranting. I weep for future generations. Or should I say "Generic-ations"? Mon Aug 28 12:50:39 -0700 2006 1822202 11647 Warthog 3 1840649 I'm so glad you tried it! I think that either very few people outside of Essex know or even care about Pizza John's. I have told about a billion of my friends but none of them have even bothered to go outside of the city to try it. My family drives out there almost every weekend. I read on their web site that the family (3 brothers, I believe) originally came from Abruzzo (sp?) in Italy, so maybe it (the sauce) is a recipe that came from that region of Italy. Tue Aug 29 16:45:04 -0700 2006 1837488 22081 mgarland 3 2099441 what does the 16" refer to in softball?? Thu Dec 14 16:37:20 -0800 2006 1837488 10167 Jamie D 4 2099532 Circumference, I believe. It's about the size of a grapefruit. Most other places in the known universe use a 12" ball and gloves, whether playing slow pitch or fast pitch. Those of us in the Chicago area historically played 16", bare hands, "no guts, no glory". You can tell a softball player in Chicago by looking at his hands - most serious players have fingers that are no longer anything close to straight, thanks to multiple jams, dislocations, and breaks over the years. Tying back to food, the pizza and bar culture of the Chicago area is strongly tied to softball, though 16" softball is sadly dying out. Many of the local leagues have teams sponsored by pizza places and bars, and so loyalty to a particular pizza place is in some circles tied to loyalty to one's team. Thu Dec 14 17:01:31 -0800 2006 2099441 11647 Warthog 3 3010107 The Papa John's family (Coruzzi) are indeed from the small village of Collevecchio near Teramo in the Abruzzo Region of Italia. Good chow! Casale in Abruzzo http://villacasale.net Sat Oct 06 06:36:04 -0700 2007 1837488 132634 stefanaccio 3 3010108 The family is from the small town of Collevecchio near Teramo in the Abruzzo Region of Italy. Their pizza is highly recommended. Casale in Abuzzo http://villacasale.net Sat Oct 06 06:37:16 -0700 2007 1837488 132634 stefanaccio 2 2689035 Based on the recs here, I just tried fortunato's for the first time. Great slice with a thin crispy crust. Now one of my faves. Thanks, hounds. Sun Jun 24 10:16:05 -0700 2007 1822202 12059 ko1 2 3350562 Fortunatos!!!! We used to go there all the time...try the chicken and broccoli pizza! I also like Egyptian Pizza. Wed Jan 30 19:47:47 -0800 2008 1822202 141334 Goldielocks1225 1 1822225 Do you have an address, directions, or perhaps a description of where Pizza John's is located, for those of us who don't know the Essex area well? Thanks! Mon Aug 21 16:08:34 -0700 2006 1822012 11647 Warthog 2 1822270 http://www.pizzajohns.com/location.html Mon Aug 21 16:24:24 -0700 2006 1822225 22081 mgarland 1 1822265 I always wince a bit when pizza topics come up. We all know what we like and yet we argue about what is "real" pizza (NY vs Chicago vs St. Louis vs Baltimore vs whatever) My favorite place is BOP for a slice. Is it the best in the world? No. But it is a good slice. Matthew's is good as well I just don't like their prices. Now I buy fresh dough at DiPasqaules in Highlandtown and make my own that is much better than the rest. But I do still swing by BOP for a slice when I need a quick fix. Mon Aug 21 16:23:15 -0700 2006 1822012 14730 Tugboat 1 1822292 I can't come close to five, but when I have a craving for pizza it's usually for BOP's. I haven't been to Uno's in probably six years, but I used to like their deep-dish. Come to think of it, there used to be a place in Owings Mills Mall (is that what it's called) that had great deep-dish pizza. Haven't been there is probably ten years. Does anyone else remember this? I'll have to try Matthew's (I live about two miles from there and never knew about it). Mon Aug 21 16:30:09 -0700 2006 1822012 20273 asiege2 1 1822667 The only one I can add is Speranza's in the food court in the 300 block of N. Charles St. Nice thin crust pizza, good veggie toppings. Mon Aug 21 18:23:22 -0700 2006 1822012 12059 ko1 1 1822701 What about the pizzas at that place accross the street form towsontown mall, for some reason the name eludes me but i remember it was great NY style pizza. also amazing chicken parm subs. Mon Aug 21 18:32:49 -0700 2006 1822012 13010 cleveland park 2 1822769 Villa Pizza and Pasta Mista are both on Dulaney near the mall (I think Villa is on the same side of the street, though). I don't think there are any on Joppa or Fairmount, so... Pasta Mista? Mon Aug 21 18:52:20 -0700 2006 1822701 20273 asiege2 3 1822789 yea its pasta mista. Mon Aug 21 18:59:30 -0700 2006 1822769 13010 cleveland park 2 2659363 I accidentally ran in to Pasta Mista a week and a half ago, I found it to be a high quality pizza. Definitely worthy of a revisit. I also like Pizza Johns from the one experience I have had there. www.roguefood.com Thu Jun 14 08:32:09 -0700 2007 1822701 102756 Pool Boy 2 3281080 Pasta Mista is one of my favorite. They are also opening in Canton right next to the Five Guys in February Thu Jan 10 09:26:38 -0800 2008 1822701 154153 laura d 1 1822950 First off, my benchmark is always a plain cheese pizza. And I don't mean a margheritta. Some places correctly make the distinction. For example, Iggies just added a cheese pizza that is great (I forget the name she uses, but its towards the bottom of the menu). Top 5: Iggies Vicinno's (order pizza "well done") BOP Special mention to the now defunct Appricella in Little Italy to further gauge my pizza tastes. I also love Matthew's but for me, they are in a different categroy than the above. Same with places like Joe2 and Thirsty Dog. I enjoy going and eating, but its more like like flat bread or open-faced sandwiches than pizza (sorta, kinda, you know what I mean?) I am now down to one slice of Maria D's in Federal Hill per year just to reassure me of how far they have fallen and to see if they ever plan on coming back up. Edit: Wow, I just read that and am depressed. Sorry, I couldn't be of anymore help Warthog. Post back to this thread if you try some place and like it. Mon Aug 21 19:39:22 -0700 2006 1822012 13033 KAZ 2 1823013 It's Matthew's Pizza all the way for me. But where and what is this BOP that you guys keep talking about? Maria D's in Fed Hill is pitiful. Vito's out in Owings Mills is tolerable. I miss NYC. Mon Aug 21 19:53:53 -0700 2006 1822950 17880 daeglo 3 1823088 It's Brick Oven Pizza (I think - I didn't know either) Thanks, Kevin http://www.boppizza.com/ Mon Aug 21 20:13:23 -0700 2006 1823013 10453 KOK 3 1823092 BOP is Brick Oven Pizza, on the square in Fells Point, across Lancaster St. from Bertha's. Mon Aug 21 20:14:25 -0700 2006 1823013 11669 Hal Laurent 4 2264132 It's also horrible pizza...don't waste your time. I think the only reason it keeps appearing on these lists is that people generally eat it after they've gotten drunk in Fells Point when anything with grease will taste good. The only pizzarias even worth trying in the Baltimore area are Matthew's, Chef Paolino & Ledo's (again a chain, but at least a tasty Maryland based one). Charm City ain't exactly pizza heaven. Tue Feb 06 06:58:31 -0800 2007 1823092 21858 Jonny Pops 5 2264183 You lost your credibility with me by recommending Ledo's...yuck! I'd take BOP over Ledo's any day. Does Matthew's Pizza have weird biscuit-like crust like Ledo's? If so I can save myself the trouble of trying it. Tue Feb 06 07:17:57 -0800 2007 2264132 11669 Hal Laurent 6 2264293 Trying again - prior reply to Hal L's Feb 06, 2007 post didn't seem to "take". Matthews is a style unto itself. It's thicker than a "thin crust" (even the usually doughy thin curst that seems to be the norm in Maryland), yet it's neither the thickness nor the consistency of a "Chicago Style" (AKA "Deep dish") pizza. The closest comparison I can come up with is what is sometimes called "Sicilian style". Another factor is that Matthew's "small" is about 10", and a "large" is about 12", which has an effect on the crust-to "inside" ratio. While I can't promise you'll like it, I'd say that Matthew's is unique enough to be worth a try, rather than depending on inadequate comparisons. As for Ledo's, there seems to be great variation from location to location, even if the recipes are nominally constant. I've liked Ledo's in some locations, and hated it at others. As with my comment about BOP (also just posted), I prefer to stick to places that are a bit more consistent from visit to visit. Tue Feb 06 07:48:16 -0800 2007 2264183 11647 Warthog 7 2267476 Matthew's Four Seasons pizza is the best I've ever had, bar none. Wed Feb 07 05:42:25 -0800 2007 2264293 11273 JonParker 6 2317800 LOL...I'm not going to be lectured on credibilty by someone who recommends BOP as the best pizza in the area. Good god. Ledo's is definitely different from the BOP, Dominoes, and Little Caesar's you're used to. They're Greek and use a Phyllo dough for their crust which makes for the different consistency you misdescribed. They're also a bit inconsistent from branch to branch and none seems to match the original (now closed) at Adelphi Shopping Center in College Park. But they are still head and shoulders above that Fells Point abomination you recommended which apparently puts puke from the local bars in their sauce for that "special tanginess". But honestly, arguing about the best pizza in Baltimore (with the exception of Matthew's) is kinda like arguing about the best BBQ in Nova Scotia. Come up here to NYC and I'll point you to some real pizza. Thu Feb 22 08:49:47 -0800 2007 2264183 21858 Jonny Pops 7 2317843 Umm, the original Ledo's was still open the last time I drove by there two weeks ago. Thu Feb 22 08:57:38 -0800 2007 2317800 14769 alopez 8 2318085 no need to feel uncomfortable. that's good news. i'd read they were closed numerous places. Thu Feb 22 09:38:56 -0800 2007 2317843 21858 Jonny Pops 7 2324091 BOP's pizza isn't anything like Dominoes or Little Caesar's. Your credibility is suffering again. :-) I love phyllo, but not for pizza dough. I don't think puff pastry works for pizza dough, either. My favorite pizza nowadays is the stuff I make myself. I make my own dough, too. Fri Feb 23 17:14:35 -0800 2007 2317800 11669 Hal Laurent 8 2324194 They're very comparable from a quality perspective. Pizza! Pizza! Fri Feb 23 17:53:34 -0800 2007 2324091 21858 Jonny Pops 6 2319969 I checked on the Ledo's website hoping this news about the original being open was true and there is no listing of it. Can anyone confirm this at Adelphi Shopping Center in College Park? Thu Feb 22 16:06:13 -0800 2007 2264183 21858 Jonny Pops 7 2322961 Somebody else in this thread (or maybe the DC pizza one) posted something about the original owners selling the name to the folks who run or franchise the other locations, but not much else. If that's the case, the original may not be affiliated with the franchises, and might therefore not show up on the Ledo's franchise website. Just a theory, assuming the original is still open, as the prior poster asserts. Fri Feb 23 12:34:50 -0800 2007 2319969 11647 Warthog 8 2323826 I like that theory. I hope it is still open under the original owners. That place was great before a Terps game. Fri Feb 23 15:37:17 -0800 2007 2322961 21858 Jonny Pops 8 4930525 I realize this is a pretty old thread, but if anyone is looking for the website of the original Ledo's: http://www.ledorestaurant.com/ Clearly, they have differentiated themselves from the chain. Sun Aug 09 09:00:29 -0700 2009 2322961 29976 pgreen 6 4286409 Ledos is disgusting pizza. Wed Dec 31 14:10:29 -0800 2008 4284507 12234 hon 5 2264263 In my admittedly limited experience, BOP is erratic, at best. I've had some pizzas there that were total grease slicks, and others that were pretty decent, bordering on excellent. I'm not sure if it's dependent on topping choice, who's making the pizza that day, or what. I'd love to have a consistent repeat of the best pizza I've had there, but I'm personally not willing to play "pizza roullette", so I usually stick to places where the product is a bit more predictable from one visit to the next. Tue Feb 06 07:39:29 -0800 2007 2264132 11647 Warthog 1 1822986 Do pizzas in non-pizza/Italian places count - or maybe this is a separate thread. Best pizzas in non-pizza places. Can't come up with 5, but there are 3 that jump out: *Garden Pie at Bartenders (Canton) - only $6 on Mondays *the garlicky one at Thirsty Dog (Federal Hill) *Plain cheese at Ale Mary's (Fells Point) - I can't tell you why, but it always hits the spot And while I am here, am I the only one who truly doesn't like BOP? Always underwhelmed...and I've stopped getting it and when I need a quick slice going to the place across the street in the Broadway Market. Mon Aug 21 19:49:20 -0700 2006 1822012 16318 a70wilson 1 1823260 iggies bop others are not even worth mentioning Mon Aug 21 21:05:18 -0700 2006 1822012 11007 prettygrl 1 1823374 Iggies pizza good ingredients, good toppings, tough dough (too much oil perhaps) Matthews is far from traditional but perfect in what it is Joe Squared excellent (in my opinion the best). Also you can order it on a thicker dough if you want, they even have on the menu now a lombari-style pizza made to imitate lombardi's in NYC. Pasta Mistas in towson is excellent (spaghetti on the pizzas) BOP is good but not good enough to be the best in baltimore as they proclaim. I'd sooner eat at any other on the list then them, but, as said before, this is really not a pizza town. I don't know why anyone goes to Al Pacino, they don't cook the pizza. Mon Aug 21 21:41:26 -0700 2006 1822012 13191 ryanharrisonsmith 1 1823469 How could I have left off Angelo's in Hampden. Despite the novelty size of their slices, I REALLY like their pizza. Thin crust, usually well cooked. That makes four for me: Iggies Angelo's Viccino (order well done) BOP Mon Aug 21 22:17:48 -0700 2006 1822012 13033 KAZ 1 1825807 I think my favorites have been hit for the most part. I will add Italian Gardens in Kenilworth Plaza to the fray. It is always a favorite of mine. Also, at the above mentioned Angelo's dont get "The Big Slice" it is huge, but not the same as the regular pie. Tue Aug 22 20:44:40 -0700 2006 1822012 27860 gusshane 1 1837731 I've only had good at pizza at two places so far in Baltimore: 1. Tutti Gusti (Canton) - Quattro Stagione & Genoa pizzas are excellent, although the sausage is a tad bit salty. 2. Matthew's (Highlandtown) - Interesting Baltimore-style with good cheese and low prices. Mon Aug 28 15:08:58 -0700 2006 1822012 27973 bugmenot3 2 1838065 Where in Canton is Tutti Gusti? Mon Aug 28 17:00:43 -0700 2006 1837731 11669 Hal Laurent 3 2614216 It's at Fait and S. Ellwood. The pizza bianca is amazing. And a frequent hangout for BPD. Wed May 30 12:44:25 -0700 2007 1838065 102080 cpfeifer 1 1837785 Based on previous threads here, I've become quite a fan of Joe Squared. I like to go there and order takeout, and drink a couple beers at the bar while I wait. It's good stuff. Mon Aug 28 15:29:38 -0700 2006 1822012 11273 JonParker 1 1840663 For some weird reason I've always like Vennaro's Pizza in Columbia (Oakland Mills). It has a unique taste that isn't necessarily good in the sense of straight up fresh brick oven New York pizza. But there's something tasty about the chewy dough, the weird spotty saucing and cheese. Maybe it's just me, I dunno. Tue Aug 29 16:48:59 -0700 2006 1822012 11114 jeanki 1 2021479 1. Fortunados York Rd 2. Pasta Mista Dulaney Valley rd 3. VIccinos Mt Vernon 4. Trattoria in Ellicott City 5. Thirsty Dog Federal hill Tue Nov 14 20:51:34 -0800 2006 1822012 53198 voodoohutch 2 2021702 Enrico's Trattoria at the Dorsey's Search village center between Ellicott City and Columbia makes an excellent thin crust pie. Tue Nov 14 21:46:58 -0800 2006 2021479 15018 elgringoviejo 1 2021520 favorite Thirsty Dog Little Italy Iggies Least Favorite Joe Squared- maybe I didn't order the "right" pizza but the one I got was inedible (I think it's name is the italian flag?) BOP Orioles Pizza Tue Nov 14 21:02:41 -0800 2006 1822012 14495 viperlush 2 2021557 For what it's worth, I think that the sourdough crust and the general style of Joe Squared's pizza is unique enough that it tends to get into "love it or hate it" territory. I've not heard too many people who are ambivalent about it. I don';t think it's a matter of one particular pizza there being the "right" one. I think it's more that you either love what they do, no matter which particular toppings or crust you choose, or you wouldn't like any of it. Pizza is one of those things that people have strong opinions about - no need to apologize for one's likes or dislikes. I say that as a Joe Squared fan, but one who could understand why others might not like it. Tue Nov 14 21:10:25 -0800 2006 2021520 11647 Warthog 2 2022145 You are not alone. I really didn't like this pizza either. Perhaps not coincidentally, I also got the Italian flag. Tue Nov 14 23:52:54 -0800 2006 2021520 14769 alopez 1 2023286 Just had Matthew's on saturday, I think it's the best pizza in town! Wed Nov 15 14:25:41 -0800 2006 1822012 12234 hon 1 2072910 I can't believe that no one has mentioned the Thirsty Dog in Federal Hill. They have great pizza, great beer and they are open until 2am every day for carry out. Tue Dec 05 21:28:30 -0800 2006 1822012 57902 rrebarchick 2 2073349 It was mentioned twice so far. Now you are the 3rd. Italian Gardens pizza in the Kenilworth mall is a nice thin crust pie. Tue Dec 05 23:09:45 -0800 2006 2072910 17833 toro head 1 2073870 Here's a new one that's already leap frogged to No. 2 on my list: Serpico's in Hunt Valley/Sparks. Order a whole pie and ask for it cooked well done/crispy and you will be amazed. Cafe Amore is No.1 for the obviously superior quality of the crust, sauce and cheese ( get the 18" XL if you like it thin because it is the same ball of dough that is just tossed thinner) and Piazza Italia is No. 3. Since Apicella's is gone I would have to give Vito's amd Italian Gardens 4 and 5. Wed Dec 06 02:03:34 -0800 2006 1822012 28921 Pie Man 1 2074727 Being from NYC I tend to lean toward the thinner side of crusts. Matthew's doesn't do it for me, but I can see how one would like that. Having just relocated from downtown to Baltimore County, I am in a wasteland. However, I have found pizza that I actually like. The place is called Pasta Blitz (horrible name) and it's in the same mall that the REI is in off of Timonium road (even worse than the name is the fact that I am buying pizza from a strip mall joint). Ask for it well done. i've also had their meatball sub...not bad at all. They get the bread to just the right crispiness. In the city, the best pizza and possibly the best sandwiches, are at Tutti Gusti in Canton. Get a sandwich with the homemade bread. It's worth it. Not a fan of Iggi's. Overpriced and average. looking forward to trying Joe 2. Wed Dec 06 14:17:22 -0800 2006 1822012 53844 Ram 1 2074737 Don't forget Carmine's in Hunt Valley. It ranks up there with Italian Gardens and Fortunatos. Wed Dec 06 14:20:24 -0800 2006 1822012 15222 mariab 1 2085615 My wife and I moved here from Al. Tried to find a good local pizza delivery no luck. It was only when I started a new job located above a huge dough delivery company that I realized all the dough we were trying was the same. I am a dough freak (toppings are second) I like it very crispy and chewy any suggestions. 1. Mathews 2. Egyptian 3. Pizza Johns Sun Dec 10 00:15:53 -0800 2006 1822012 51660 snowcroft 1 2085634 I'm not letting my husband use the computer anymore. Sorry y'all: when clicking on "post my reply" he got a strange html page and thought the post wasn't posting. Didn't mean to post it 3 times! Sun Dec 10 00:23:26 -0800 2006 1822012 51660 snowcroft 2 2090141 joes squared was incredible the first time I ordered it, delivered. The next 5 times were mediocre at best. They are so stingy with the toppings and the crust is oftentimes burnt on the edges. matthews is delicious but you must order a fresh pie. egyptians is tasty, too. Mon Dec 11 21:26:16 -0800 2006 2085634 23071 etg 1 2098852 Sorrentos West (Rt. 40) - Greasy, cheap, cheesy and delicious Brick Oven Pizza (Fells Point) - Sturdy toppings Matthews (Highlandtown) - Everyone has said it already Nino's II (Mt. Vernon) - These guys know how to make a pizza, my favorite of the all the neighborhood places (I'd considering Matthews, BOP and Iggies to be "restaurants") I live up the street from Iggies and I know where Joe-Squared is. Maybe I'll give them a try this weekend. Thu Dec 14 11:06:22 -0800 2006 1822012 56072 i5hawn 1 2100782 Easy - 1) Dominos 2) Papa John's 3) Pizza Hut 4) Pizza Boli's Thu Dec 14 22:32:30 -0800 2006 1822012 59838 KeyserSoze 1 2264565 Seems we hardly ever go out for pizza anymore but when we do it's Joe's Squared, Thirsty Dog or Egyptian. Frank's Pizza on Belair Rd also makes a great pie for carry out. If they delivered we'd be regulars! Tue Feb 06 09:03:43 -0800 2007 1822012 60959 bkath 1 2264918 Hopkins Deli believe it or not, has really good pizza, the closet I've had in Mobtown to what I have in NYC. Tue Feb 06 10:22:12 -0800 2007 1822012 12234 hon 1 2267023 I have to say we haven't had better than Vito's in Pikesville/Owings Mills, just above the beltway on Hooks Lane. Particularly their white pizza on a good day... great crust. Tue Feb 06 20:19:51 -0800 2007 1822012 69863 TKinBaltimore 2 2284109 Vito's just opened a second location on York rd in the shopping center next to Well's liquors. I have been a couple of times and the pizza is actually even better than I rememebr from my youth. The sauce is a little bland for me, but they know what they are doing. Mon Feb 12 08:05:14 -0800 2007 2267023 27860 gusshane 3 2288401 Where is the Vito's on Hooks Lane? The Vito's I know is further out on Reisterstown Road in the Shopping Center with the Giant. Also, Vito's Express on OM Blvd.? Also, daeglo mentioned a Nick's pizza in Owings Mills in another thread. Anyone ever hear of that place? Tue Feb 13 10:11:45 -0800 2007 2284109 74117 mez 4 2310350 The Vito's I referred to is in that strip mall on the south side (toward the Beltway) of Hooks Lane, east of Ruth's Chris. It's before you hit the huge apartment complex (Annen Woods). Tue Feb 20 10:01:14 -0800 2007 2288401 69863 TKinBaltimore 1 2281954 What about Squire's in Dundalk. I can't believe it hasn't even been mentioned! Sun Feb 11 11:47:56 -0800 2007 1822012 73647 Debora_1 2 2284037 Good point. When I first moved to the area, they were always winning "Best Pizza" awards from all the local publications, year after year. Did their standards slip, or did the public's tastes change, or are they still as good as they ever were? Mon Feb 12 07:43:06 -0800 2007 2281954 11647 Warthog 3 2340667 The mention of Squires got me curious, so I went back last night. Quite a decent pie! Maybe not the top of my personal Best of Baltimore lists, but the sort of place I would be a "regular" at, if I lived closer. They also have a nice special Monday-Thursday, with their "extra large (16 inch - the other sizes are "small" and "medium") going for $7.95 (vs. $10 and change, I think), with additional ingredients at the usual price for add-ons. Not a bad deal. The other thing I noticed is that like Pizza John's (see other comments on that place earlier in this thread), Squire's uses what looks to be a very long-cooked tomato sauce, with possibly onions, herbs or carmelization of the tomatoes (or some combination of those factors) leading to to an almost mahogany brownish-red color, and relatively thick texture, along with a very deep flavor pallette. As with most things about pizza, I'd guess that some folks like it, and others dislike it, but I do appreciate places that have a distinct and recognizable aspect to their particular vision of pizza perfection. It occurs to me that when I first moved to the area, Squire's was widely considered "the place" for pizza. It would seem that between them and Pizza John's, there was a very distinct Dundalk/Essex "style" of pizza. I suspect that if one were to have the same pizza from the two places side-by-side, there would be very clear similarities. I wonder if there are perhaps other clusters in the surrounding 'burbs of a few long-time establishments with a similarly recognizable shared "style". It might make an interesting thread to see what the longest-lived pizza places in the area are. Or even the longest-lived restaurants of any genre. Sort of "Chowhound anthropology" Thu Mar 01 05:58:53 -0800 2007 2284037 11647 Warthog 4 2689673 I believe that the one of the owner's of Pizza John's used to cook at Squires, hence the similiarity in the Pizza. And, you are right you either love it or hate it. I don't know too many people who fall in the middle. Me i think they are both pretty good. Sun Jun 24 15:52:29 -0700 2007 2340667 28137 TropicalGirl14 1 2284511 I lived in "Little Italy" when I was the Chef at "Della Notte". I thought we had the best pizza around. The crust was the best I've ever tasted (at least it was while I was there),Thin crust w/out all the crap on it. Enough sauce, but not too much. Mon Feb 12 09:54:43 -0800 2007 1822012 47586 chef4cook 1 2316862 second on Sorrento's, as skeezy as the place may be, you can't beat the pizza. place has been there 20 years, lg. pies only 5.49 Wed Feb 21 22:46:31 -0800 2007 1822012 76644 mikemd 1 2317839 great! finally, I'm able to post a reply! i stumbled on this thread by accident by attempting to do some research on pizza parlors in the baltimore area. When I saw this topic I had to reply. First let me say that I am half italian. I am also a pizza fanatic. It is really the only thing I eat. Now as for THE best pizza. You will find no Great pizza in Maryland. If you are in search of the best pizza I suggest venture out to the NewEngland area. Specifically New Jersey, and New York. Don't look for big restaurants as they will have satisfying pizza that is way better than b'mores, instead look for the small family run pizza joints. This is where the treasure is at. As for my taste in pizza I am a traditional pepperoni guy. However the sauce, bread, cheese, every part of it is important. Especially the sauce and how it is cooked. I prefer brick oven. With that said, the Few adequate pizza joints in the Baltimore area I know are: 1) BOP aka Brick Oven Pizza, located in Baltimore City's Fell's Point on the corner. I'm a regular there although i live a good 15 minutes away. I take the drive and tip the cashier, whether its that nice elderly lady with the glasses, the elderly man, or the elderly with the short hair. The pizza is made by a crew of hardworking hispanics. The slices sold will most likely not be fresh at all unless your lucky to catch it out of the oven in time. They are usually cold and put in the brick oven to be heated up. I'm sure many of you have seen this haneous crime exercised in other places. SO DO NOT order slices. INSTEAD ORDER freshly made whole pies. These are always made fresh. I also believe the establishment has been decorated with baltimore city's finest pizza for a year or two...as well as visits from celebrities. I hope that ends debate about BOP. It deserves a top 5 spot in this area for sure. 2) Little Italy - this is not the name of a pizzerria parlor but a location in baltimore city. I say this because I went to one of the family run pizza places about five years ago and it was great. It is a small building tucked in as you walk along the sidewalks of little italy. Just check out what the street has to offer. there are also small family run italian places that sell fresh pizza products essential for making the best pizza in the world, YOUR PIZZA. 3) Carrabas - yes i know its another chain owned by the same man who owns unos and outback, thats why you usually see the three together. The pizza is thin crust but brick oven style. ALTHOUGH, recently I think they changed the cheese or chef or maybe i hope i got unlucky because it was just horrible...Its been a while since i've been back. 4) Unos - another chain, i pick this only for its deepdish, and only. The pepperoni's are not the best. It would do wonders if they made them thin and worked on the bread instead of the flakey crust that falls apart in your hands. Do they call that bread? 5) god only knows I wish I could give you fellows a healthy list but this is sad isn't it? it sounds like iggys and pizza johns are popular. I'll check them out. In short the best pizza I've learned is the one YOU make, how you want it, whenever you want it. But check out the little italy's in your city's, new jersey, new york. excuse me as i order from papa johns now, i need my fix and i just dont feel like leaving the house. Best of luck with everyone and I hope that helped. Tim Thu Feb 22 08:57:12 -0800 2007 1822012 76759 meltedbutta 1 2317853 sorrentos is good for price of what you get, not quality. Thu Feb 22 08:59:21 -0800 2007 1822012 76759 meltedbutta 1 2317887 oh yah let me also say if you ever go to italy, your idea of pizza is not pizza. It is on thin flat pita bread with vegetables and meat. but hey this is where it all derived from so take it all in and try new things! Near rome and sicaly they also have not just red sauce but the option of white sauce. Thu Feb 22 09:03:37 -0800 2007 1822012 76759 meltedbutta 1 2318590 Speranza's in the food court across from Super Fresh in the 300 block of N. Charles St. has good thin crust pizza. Thu Feb 22 11:12:12 -0800 2007 1822012 12059 ko1 1 2320048 Iggies, far and away - not only is the pizza great (thin crust, yummy toppings - leek & mushroom, yum!), but it is just such a great space - BYOB, wine tasting, tips go to charities. I'm a Matthews fan too, but very different pizza, clearly. Fills an entirely different craving. Thu Feb 22 16:28:06 -0800 2007 1822012 74032 pagoda girl 1 2326756 Iggies Pasta Mista (two guys from Naples--try the tortellini pizza) Alonso's Mamma Lucia at 33rd and Greenmount Sat Feb 24 21:01:16 -0800 2007 1822012 77550 travelbuff 2 2327096 Where's Pasta Mista? Sun Feb 25 05:54:28 -0800 2007 2326756 12059 ko1 1 2328345 Pasta Mista is in Towson, on Dulaney Valley just north of the circle on the left in a strip center. Right across from the entrance to Towson Town Center. Sun Feb 25 15:10:52 -0800 2007 1822012 77550 travelbuff 1 2345695 Are there any pizza places in the Baltimore area that make pizza with super-thin crispy crust (way thinner than New York style)? When I was in Maui, there's a place called Pizza Paradiso that had pizza with cracker-thin flatbread crust (I know Maui is certainly not known for Italian food or even pizza!) and after eating there several times, I was hooked! I haven't been able to find anything like it since then... Fri Mar 02 10:53:03 -0800 2007 1822012 50824 charliedog 2 2345825 Have you tried Iggie's in Mt Vernon? Their crust is on the thin size. As I recall (it has been months though), Joe Squared pizza has a thin crust. Fri Mar 02 11:14:31 -0800 2007 2345695 14495 viperlush 1 2347511 Favorites: Allissa's (Hampden), Carmine's (Hunt Valley), Iggies, Matthew's, & Pizza Hut Least Favorites: Fortunatos (Towson), Joe Squared, & BOP (although the white pizza was decent) I look forward to trying Pizza John's and Pasta Mista. Fri Mar 02 18:30:00 -0800 2007 1822012 79392 Mini 1 2352986 Dionysus. (In Mt Vernon, on Preston between Charles and St Paul streets) Their crust is home-made, medium-thick, and chewy. I have only every had their white pizza, which is to. die. for. Crust, a layer of italian dressing, ricotta and some other cheese, artichokes, and prosciutto. Maybe spinach, too? The dressing provides the perfect amount of "wet" and a little bit of zing. Hands down, the best pie in Bawlmer, hon. Mon Mar 05 07:20:07 -0800 2007 1822012 57912 venera 1 2605083 I really enjoy the Gambari (sp?) pizza at Al Pacino's aka Cafe Isis on Cathedral Street. It's a white pizza with garlic, mozzarella, shrimp, and spinach. I usually order it with extra cheese and the whole wheat crust. I won't claim it's the best in town but it is definitely what I crave when I want pizza. Sat May 26 18:54:02 -0700 2007 1822012 86005 amethiste 1 2606256 For NY-style pizza, Mr. Baltoellen swears by Little Italy Pizzera on Bdway in Fells Point. I've not had it, but he and his friends rave...May be working checking out if people are still on their hunt for that (near) perfect slice in Baltimore! Sun May 27 12:58:35 -0700 2007 1822012 54408 baltoellen 2 2655362 Come to my house. Matthew's is nothing compared to my homemade pizza. Lots of folks in the Northeast like Gil's on Belair Road. I prefer Costco's pizza. Wed Jun 13 06:11:41 -0700 2007 2606256 104963 dogfaceboy 2 2655830 Little Italy Pizzeria slices are big but I find their pizza dry and pretty tasteless. Wed Jun 13 08:46:32 -0700 2007 2606256 12234 hon 1 2656549 If you like heavy pizza with a thick, very greasy crust then by all means head to Matthews'. Just have the napkins ready. Personally, I don't enjoy it at all. It reminds me too much of Pizza Hut, but bread and grease are what Americans want in their pizzas. Wed Jun 13 11:44:33 -0700 2007 1822012 48249 cdaddari 2 2660616 I like Matthew's Pizza, can't stand Pizza Hut. Thu Jun 14 13:15:45 -0700 2007 2656549 12234 hon 1 2663503 We would appear to have similar taste in pizza-for me it's mostly about the sauce. Also cheese other than just mozzerella-preferably provelone. I like BOP for the crust and selection of toppings. About once a month I stop at Georgio's on York Rd. in Timonium for half-price pepperoni, sausage and onion w/ a little extra sauce-fantastic flavor and decent crust-incredible value. If you want Matthew's and don't feel like going in town-try DeSanti's on Belair Rd in Perry Hall where you can buy it frozen and put on your own toppings -you'll never eat another frozen pizza! Any other faves in the Perry Hall/White Marsh area? Remember great sauce! Fri Jun 15 10:13:15 -0700 2007 1822012 105518 suzq 1 2686838 Been in bmore 20 years and read CH all the time, but this thread actually got me to sign up. Like everyone here, pizza is very important to me. I still love Bmore style pizza, but lately my SO has convinced me that NY style is the standard by which to judge and I have grudgingly conceded. Everytime we are in NYC (4-5 times a year), we visit almost every other pizza shop we pass by and we share a slice (until we are finally sick of pizza, heh.) While it is true that on average it's easier to find a better slice in NYC, I feel Bmore has just as good pizza albeit a bit harder to find. New Yorkers are always complaining how Baltimore doesn't have a decent slice, blah blah. I feel this is just their pizza elitist nature, and more psychological than anything else. I will put Pasta Mista (in Towson) head to head against anything I've had in NYC. This past weekend, I had two really good slices in NYC's West Village, one at Bleeker Street Pizza (a Food Network award winner or something) and Joe's around the corner. I went to other places New York CH'ers recommend in that area, like Ray's and Village Pizza, but found them lacking. And that was only in West Village. Just want to show I have a baseline to compare against. But my SO will think even the "bad" pizza in NYC is better than pizza here, so I don't know what to tell you if you're from NYC. Just pay the $40 in toll, you pizza snobs, haha. Just kidding. Ahem, anyway, here is my list of good Bmore pizza: 1) Pasta Mista 2) Toni's Pizza and Grill (at intersection of Rolling Rd and 40, same plaza as Han Ah Ru [Asian Market]) 3) Chef Paolino's (they just moved to a larger space about 50 yards away from their old location) Additionally, all three of the above I find to have high quality menus in general. 4) Pizza John's 5) Trattoria About some of the other places folks mentioned. At Sorrentos on Rt 40, I usually can't tell the difference between the crust and the cardboard pizza box. If you want value, BuonGiorno (on Dogwood Rd in Woodlawn) has a $6 large cheese special on Mondays evenings. Their pizza is above average and they also have good panini. Maria D's has gone down in quality considerably. Carmines (Hunt Valley), Pasta Blitz (Columbia off Waterloo Rd), and Speranza (Charles St.) are all in the decent but not great category for me. I have not tried Matthews, BOP, or Iggies in a really long time so I'm not comfortabe commenting on those places. I think someone mentioned that place in Hampden with the *huge* slices. It's fun and the pizza isn't that bad either. My absolute worst pizza experience in my 20 years of living here has been at Joe2. They gave me completely burnt crust on my pizza, literally covered with soot/ashes. It was horrible. Additionally, I also got fries and the fries were literally black in color and drenched with oil, even worse than the pizza. This was just about 5-6 mos ago. I was taking out, so I didn't see the food until I got home. I tried to talk to them but no one cared. I don't know if it was because of prejudice or what, and I hate to pull the race card, but I don't understand how anyone could look at that pizza and those fries and serve them to a customer. I went on a weekday and they weren't busy at all. An absolutely horrendous experience. I've been discriminated against in only a few other places (most notably G&M Restaurant), but at least the food was edible. There's a difference between an off day and what Joe2 did to me. I'm sure others have better experiences, but this is what happened to me. Hope some of this helps somebody. :) P.S. A lot of the better pizza that New Yorkers recommended to me wasn't true NY style either. I went to Da Nico's in NYC's Little Italy and Adrienne's near the Staten Island Ferry and both places had good pizza, but it wasn't traditional NY style. Sat Jun 23 07:26:27 -0700 2007 1822012 107374 bmorecupcake 2 2686949 bmorecupcake-- Is this Chef Paolino's related to the place of the same name that used to be (maybe still is??) in Columbia Mall? TIA www.roguefood.com Sat Jun 23 08:27:54 -0700 2007 2686838 102756 Pool Boy 3 2687162 yes, it is related, but that one was closed a while back, not sure why. at present, there is another branch in downtown, in the bank of america building on pratt right before the harbor begins. but the downtown one only does breakfast and lunch. they also have a branch in annapolis called mama lucia's i think, it's right next to the mall there. one of the staff told me the catonsville one is the busiest, but the annapolis one comes close. Sat Jun 23 10:25:38 -0700 2007 2686949 107374 bmorecupcake 4 2687378 You mean thr old Md National Building on Baltimore which is now BoA? Sat Jun 23 12:11:23 -0700 2007 2687162 12059 ko1 5 2687661 No, ko1, not that one. It's actually pretty close to that, around the corner. I think it's called Bank of America Center and I'm fairly certain it's on the corner of Pratt and Charles. It should also have an entrance on Lombard. If you come off 395, don't take Conway, make a right on Pratt and when you're about to cross Charles you should see it on your left. Sat Jun 23 14:48:08 -0700 2007 2687378 107374 bmorecupcake 6 2687794 What happened at G&M? I knew it was icky with crabcakes only the undiscerning could like, but did they reveal other than cooking deficiencies? Sat Jun 23 15:59:16 -0700 2007 2687661 72002 chowsearch 7 2688161 Well, I would just have assumed the waitress was having a bad day, but it was just blatant disregard for us all the way through. We were seated before two other parties (they were seated right next to us), however our waitress tended to them first. Our water was never refilled, not once, not even after we asked. She refilled the other parties water multiple times. I was even arguing with my SO to give her a break, maybe she's had a bad day, etc. But it kept on coming. Our food was much, much later than the others. All our food was served mildly warm at best, we were missing items, the crab cakes were burnt (I know, I know, I probably deserved it for ordering crabcakes there). We told her the corn was cold, and she said that's how it is, but the people next to us had steam coming from their corn. It's the only time I never left a tip (I think we left a penny.) One of the other parties was Asian, so I don't think it was just blatant discrimination for all foreigners, just for Middle Eastern looking people. People kept telling me their crabcakes were good. And they are always packed, so I thought that equated to goodness, but I know better now. I only trust CH. I should also add that my SO had been there two times before and told me she wasn't treated right, but I coaxed here into going a third time. I also have learned to listen to said SO. :) These days, if I walk in a place and get any sort of such vibe, I just walk right out. Happened to me recently at Burke's. Walked in, stood there for more than 5 minutes. A white couple walks in, a waitress sees them walk in, and the waitress stops what she's doing (walking toward the kitchen or whatever) and seats them FIRST! Sat Jun 23 19:55:05 -0700 2007 2687794 107374 bmorecupcake 8 2688477 My condolences. Yet another reason to spend our money at more-deserving places. I try to understand why it's popular--I think it's because people who haven't had real crabcakes at Faidley's, the Narrows, Jennings, Peppermill, Ikaros, Koco's, to name a few--just don't know better. They get suckered by really large cakes with a lot of mayo, butter and luscious-looking hunks of crab that are probably pasteurized, with little taste other than the mayo and spices--and from overseas--but nice looking, like that Philips fake stuff. Timbuktu, a couple miles down 295 off Rt 100, has good looking big cakes that actually taste like crab. And G&M is truly a dump, and not in the "find" kind of way. The salt and pepper shakers are always greasy. Sat Jun 23 23:35:09 -0700 2007 2688161 72002 chowsearch 6 2687824 Thanks, I'll be walking from my office at Calvert and Baltimore. I'll definitely check it out! And I thought I knew downtown! Sat Jun 23 16:23:16 -0700 2007 2687661 12059 ko1 4 2708664 Is there a Chef Paolino's in Catonsville? The only one I know about is the one downtown and I have always wanted to go in there since they closed in the Columbia Mall. Used to go that one there a lot for lunch and I really liked the pizza. In NYC you should try DiFara in Brooklyn True "pizza snobs" will refer you to Sally or Pepe's in New Haven, CT, but DiFara is just as good, without the attitude (quality control is also better at DiFara because it is just one 80-something year old guy making the pizza at a leisurely pace) But hey, Chef Paolino's ain't that bad... Sat Jun 30 04:44:16 -0700 2007 2687162 18729 RolandParkGuy 5 2709335 I just tried Chef Paolino's downtown and found it merely okay. I prefer Speranza's downtown. Sat Jun 30 11:48:31 -0700 2007 2708664 12059 ko1 5 2714351 Yes, there is a Chef Paolino's in Catonsville and I would say it's at least as good as the old one in Columbia Mall. The Catonsville location is open for lunch and dinner. I have never been to the one downtown, but I've passed it many times and it's always closed after lunch. As far as I understand, DiFara has closed. You should search Google for the details because we are not allowed to mention such things on CH. Mon Jul 02 15:45:18 -0700 2007 2708664 107374 bmorecupcake 6 2770538 No, DiFara is open. They'd been having some trouble there for a while, but they're back making your fave pizza. Check out http://sliceny.com for the whole story as well as pointers to great pies all around (and no, I do not work for them). Sat Jul 21 09:57:26 -0700 2007 2714351 21858 Jonny Pops 4 3680836 Columbia was closed down because of absurd restrictions and rent. Mon May 12 17:17:24 -0700 2008 2687162 160788 Achiral Carbon 2 2691194 I posted this below: I recently ordered a pie from Joe2 on North Avenue. The mushroom pizza was decent, but seriously lacking salt. Despite the rave city paper review, it's easy to see that Joe2 is a hit and miss place. The restaurant/bar is staffed by young urban "hipsters," complete with tattoos and thick black glasses and black clothes. This is a big clue that you are in a place run by people who don't have the full professional or culinary training of a proper restaurant, and which is why one night the food is terrific, and the next night it's bland and mediocre. I doubt (certainly I hope not!) that your poor food/service was because of racism-simply due to inexperience and an off-night. Mon Jun 25 08:31:23 -0700 2007 2686838 81926 Roland Parker 2 3292332 Toni's next to the H-Mart in Catonsville is now under new ownership. After three consecutive trips there since new ownership took over, I must say that, although they are decent, the pizza is not nearly as good as it was under the original owner. It's a shame. Their pizza had such a great, light crust and fresh, flavorful sauce. It will be missed and I must take it off my top 5 list. P.S. H-Mart is the new name for Han Ah Ru. I figure they wanted something everyone could pronounce. ;) Sun Jan 13 20:43:57 -0800 2008 2686838 107374 bmorecupcake 1 2687913 Matthew's is the best. No contest. Afterwards, the slices at Angelo's are an indulgence, but make sure they heat them up enough. They can be cold and if the place is busy, the staff doesn't notice. Some of the bars like Red Star in Fells Point have decent pizzas. One time in April my wife and I were at the bar there with beers and the bartender gave us a free pizza. He said the kitchen made an extra one for some reason and would we like it. It was above average. I divide my time between homes in Montgomery County and East Baltimore and while Baltimore has it way over Washington for bar food and casual eats, the pizzas at Piola in Rosslyn and Sette Bello in Clarendon (Arlington, Va.) are the best around. Baltimore would be lined up around the block if either place decided to open up in Harbor East or Mount Vernon. Check out Piola, it's an Italian and South American import and is really excellent. It can save a rainy day or a cold winter night. Sat Jun 23 17:14:41 -0700 2007 1822012 104875 jkosnett 2 2691185 Iggies in Mount Vernon has excellent neopolitan style pizza (www.iggiespizza.com). Having spent considerable time in and around Naples, I wouldn't say it's as good as anything in that holy city of pizzas, but for American pizza, Iggies is pretty damn good. As good as Two Amys. I recently ordered a pie from Joe2 on North Avenue. The mushroom pizza was decent, but seriously lacking salt. Despite the rave city paper review, it's easy to see that Joe2 is a hit and miss place. The restaurant/bar is staffed by young urban "hipsters," complete with tattoos and thick black glasses and black clothes. This is a big clue that you are in a place run by people who don't have the full professional or culinary training of a proper restaurant, and which is why one night the food is terrific, and the next night it's bland and mediocre. Mon Jun 25 08:29:35 -0700 2007 2687913 81926 Roland Parker 3 2704732 Iggies has a duck confit and asparagus pizza that is great. I used to live a block away from Iggies, and I really miss it. Also, try their mac and cheese as well. Thu Jun 28 17:18:18 -0700 2007 2691185 105803 Robearjr 1 2717153 Casa Mia's in the Rotunda!! Best NY Pizza in Baltimore!! Tue Jul 03 13:40:39 -0700 2007 1822012 109462 blahblahblah 2 2776624 Having grown up in Baltimore [and living here now] and having lived in NYC for 10 years and recently trying both Pizza Johns and Matthew's...I can say that Baltimore just isn't a pizza town. And that's ok. I've never had anything here half as good as the stuff in NYC. Pizza John's is pretty good, Matthew's I was less than thrilled by [not so into the thick crust]. And clever toppings on pizza isn't appealing to me. If you can't knock my socks off with a plain slice then you can't knock my socks off. When I am eating one of those places pies and am thinking of Di Fara in Brooklyn, it just isn't satisfying. Mon Jul 23 17:44:18 -0700 2007 2717153 68354 thedanny 1 2826917 I can't believe only one person mentioned Casa Mia, which has a fabulous veggie white pizza, but it's all about the crust, so cheese can be just as delightful. Not too much sauce. They're in the Rotunda. 1) Casa Mia 2) Vito's on York Rd (in Balto. at the county line) 3) Fortunato's 4) Egyptian FYI, BOP was not impressive the one time I ate there and I've not had some of the other favorite places listed, but since I live right at the Belvedere Sq. these choices keep me happy. (this is basically based on good ol' cheese pizza at each site, since nobody else has a veggie like Casa Mia's). Wed Aug 08 16:00:14 -0700 2007 1822012 117770 Insight Spinner 2 2827621 I had 2 plain cheese slices yesterday at Vito's on York Rd. I can honestly say that it was the best pizza I have had in a LONG time outside of NY/NJ. What's weird is I have had their pizza before and thought it was good, but yesterday it was fantastic. Maybe it depends on who's tossing the pies. Wed Aug 08 20:35:27 -0700 2007 2826917 17833 toro head 3 2828135 I tried Vito's for the first time on August 7th, same day as above post. My large mushroom pie was amazingly good also! It looked great, thick topping of cheese (without getting cheese-heavy, if you know what I mean), not greasy at all, a little salty, chewy crust without being doughy or undercooked or just too thick. I used to love Fortunato's, but the last pie I had there was weak, nothing special with a tasteless crust. Top Five: Large-Cardboard-Box-With-Bad-Graphics Division: 1. Vito's 2. Casa Mia Gormet Division 1. Iggie's (by far) 2. Vaccino's 3. b 4. Alonso's 5. Egyptian Pizza Thu Aug 09 05:41:23 -0700 2007 2827621 11285 paulyr 2 3280503 No Casa MIa is not notable pizza. Vito's is better, pretty good actually. Thu Jan 10 07:08:51 -0800 2008 2826917 68354 thedanny 3 3281279 I have always found Casa Mia's pizza to be on the greasy side. Thu Jan 10 10:07:33 -0800 2008 3280503 50371 tennisgal1206 1 2828504 Bartenders Joe 2 iggies BOP matthews Thu Aug 09 07:37:37 -0700 2007 1822012 116523 rachelshields 1 3092727 I was in the mood for a pizza tonight and re-reading this thread to figure out something new. I still need to try Pizza John's and Squires (without anchovies), but to be honest, it's a bit of a pain in the ass to drive there from Federal Hill. So I went to Thirsty Dog, which has several mentions. The verdict -- pretty darned good. I walked up and drank a beer while I waited. The pizza comes in one size -- 10 inch, which is pretty much a personal pizza. If you're a big eater, they offer something called the Smash Dog, which is two pizzas stacked on top of each other. Not sure what that's all about. I got the Fox and Hound ($8.50), which is tomato sauce, smoked gouda, mozzarella (not fresh), sausage, red peppers, mushrooms and fresh garlic. It's a thin crust, and wasn't as crispy as I like, although I did walk the three blocks home with it in a cardboard box, so it might have been crispier if I'd eaten in. All the ingredients were plentiful and flavors easily distinguishable. As near as I can tell, it's likely the best in Federal Hill, which is pizza purgatory for the most part. I was pleased, and unless I find something better it's gonna be my local pizza joint, even though it's really a bar. The beer, which I assume they brew, was good as well. I have no idea what it was -- I just told the bartender to give me something good. While I'm on the subject, I should mention that i ended up eating a pizza at the Owl Bar a few weeks ago when the Drinking Liberally group met there. I got the Greek pizza, which was black olives, feta, and other stuff that I don't remember. It was surprisingly good though. Most of us got food, and from what I can tell, this might be a place whose chow is worth looking into. Sat Nov 03 17:02:20 -0700 2007 1822012 11273 JonParker 2 3116876 I have found that Thirsty Dog pizzas suffer seriously from take out. They are much better if you hang out and eat there. We still get take out (or used to when we lived down the street), but with the understanding that it's just not as good. On another note - Fed Hill is getting a new restaurant that I just wrote about in another thread, where Vespa used to be. If they have pizza on the menu like they brought the neighborhood party at the Flower Box last week, they could be a serious contender for best pizza in Fed Hill. Mon Nov 12 08:10:54 -0800 2007 3092727 46077 pigtowner 3 3345889 pigtowner, any update on this new restaurant? or do you have a name so i might check it out? Tue Jan 29 15:03:02 -0800 2008 3116876 79562 MarcDC 4 3346075 That place is open now. It's called Junior's Wine Bar. There's another thread on it. The pizza is pretty good, but it's not a blue collar pizza joint like Matthew's or Pizza John's. Federal Hill is still in need of a great little pizza joint. Tue Jan 29 16:01:21 -0800 2008 3345889 11273 JonParker 5 3346098 thanks. My go to pizza place in federal hill has been dog pub (which i think is pretty good, as I like thin crust pizzas)... Ill check out the Junior's Wine Bar thread. Tue Jan 29 16:09:24 -0800 2008 3346075 79562 MarcDC 1 3116738 Whoever liked Allissa's pizza in Hampden - it is now gone! http://skyline.bosconet.org/pjohnson/blog/?p=417 Mon Nov 12 07:16:00 -0800 2007 1822012 12234 hon 1 3312241 I ran over to Fell's Point today to keep my promise to hon and Baltoellen to check out some of the other items at Sophies in Broadway Market. While walking by, I remembered quite a bit of discussion on BOP (some positive, some negative) and felt I owed it to myself to check it out. I had a a slice of the regular cheese and tomato sauce pizza and a slice of the white pizza with four cheese. The former was quite good -- nice tasty crust that held up well -- not exactly crispy but almost. It was a superior slice of pie. I wasn't as fond of the white pizza -- not nearly enough garlic taste and almost too much cheese. I'll go back, but I'll stick to the regular pizza in the future. Sat Jan 19 13:24:48 -0800 2008 1822012 11273 JonParker 2 3314861 BOP is controversial, mostly because of their crust, which is a bit more like bread than the typical pizza crust. One thing is constant with them, however. It is much better if you get a whole pie rather than by the slice. In my opinion the best slice in Fells Point is Hot Tomatoes, and their whole pies are great too, if you want the whole 18 inches. They make a nice NY style thin, crunchy/chewy crust with fresh, tasty toppings. Plus, they are open until three am, for those post bar munchies. Sun Jan 20 14:53:02 -0800 2008 3312241 110233 mobtown999 1 3316360 Amer's Cafe on Belair Rd. they make their own crust. Mon Jan 21 07:17:07 -0800 2008 1822012 159281 shellyl1118 1 3318966 I just tried Matthew's again and I am sorry to say my response is.....'eh'. I don't get it. The crust is spongy and airy and limp. I believe I understand what they are going for, I am not trying to evaluate it as NY pizza or Chicago pizza. Still, I don't find it very interesting or tasty. Pizza Johns, Vito's, even Ledo....these places get my thumbs up. Mon Jan 21 20:05:33 -0800 2008 1822012 68354 thedanny 1 3322422 1.Iggies- love the arugala and ricotta in the summer 2. Matthews -when I want something decadent 3. Zellas in SweBo- I'm diging the artichoke pie-it's not mentioned in this thread have people tried it? 4. Thirsty Dog-when i want a pretzel with my pie-love the greenjeans 5. pizza johns- when I want something classic Fortunatos once would have made the list but somewhere a few years back their pie started to decline rapidly Pie I eat more often then I like to admit- Bella Roma (but think the sauce is too sweet) Oh I'm hungry I need to stop Tue Jan 22 18:06:34 -0800 2008 1822012 156863 poached 1 3323059 matthew's "both cheeses". what's happened to tuti gusti lately. DOWNHILL!! Tue Jan 22 22:55:13 -0800 2008 1822012 107992 kelarry 1 3344403 I come here looking for good oysters in Baltimore. I leave my list of the best pizza spots: 1. Tutti Gusti, Canton, Fait and Sellwood - try the Pizza Bianca, full of veggies and ricotta 2. Bella Roma, Hampden, Falls Rd and The Avenue - closest to NY pie 3. Dominick's of Parkville, Parkville, Harford Road - get a pepperoni, you won't be disappointed 4. Matthew's, Highlandtown, Eastern Ave - love it or hate it. I love it. Chewy spongy airy yeasty extra-proofed dough, I get the popular with extra cheese well done with extra sauce 5. Italian Gardens, Towson, Kenilworth Mall - best crust, brushed with olive oil and herbs, yum! Tue Jan 29 09:45:50 -0800 2008 1822012 161643 hypergrrl 1 3345864 I can't put my finger on why, but for delivery, I really like Spartan Pizza in Highlandtown. Tue Jan 29 14:56:59 -0800 2008 1822012 158524 traceracer 1 3350088 Pasta Blitz, the name?, fuggedaboudit, the family is from Naples, every time there, they're talking to customers in Italian. Pizza's great especially if made to order. Strip mall just south west of York Rd X Timonium Rd. Bring your own wine. Rest of menu is very tasty. Wed Jan 30 16:46:02 -0800 2008 1822012 97703 stymie 2 3350875 Bartender's on Boston St. has really good pizza! Wed Jan 30 22:05:34 -0800 2008 3350088 107992 kelarry 2 3350935 Is Pasta Blitz a chain? I've been to the one next to Eggspectation in Columbia a couple times. Wed Jan 30 22:50:42 -0800 2008 3350088 107374 bmorecupcake 3 3381637 Pasta Blitz is a local chain. They have half a dozen or so restaurants - three in the Columbia area (east, west, and south). The odd thing is, they're all slightly different. Most chains are very strict in keeping the format and menu the same, but while the menu's are similar, there are differences (some have Baked Ziti on the menu, others don't) and the level of service / casualness is different as well. The one that just opened (south of Columbia off of 29) had really nice service, but it's kitchen was still working out the kinks. The east Columbia one (Snowden&108) is very consistent, but has almost no service. They're all comfortable places to get a decent Italian meal - especially after a good session at the gym. Sat Feb 09 19:40:58 -0800 2008 3350935 27410 dzoey 4 3401738 Does any one know if they're also related to the Strapazza locations? I've been curious when I noticed their daily special sheets are, I believe, identical. And somehow the Clarksville Pasta Blitz is connected to another local chain, Squisito. I've convinced myself that some underground group secretly runs all of the Italian restaurants in Maryland, which accounts for the reason that every place I go has almost the same menu! Fri Feb 15 12:47:43 -0800 2008 3381637 13808 Jason1 2 3401729 I second Pasta Blitz! Love the Napoli thin-crust pizza with fresh tomatoes and basil. Fri Feb 15 12:46:11 -0800 2008 3350088 134861 kcnkate 1 3358636 I just got done eating a pizza from Pizza John's on Back River Neck Road. The pizza was somewhere between very good and excellent, but it didn't cause an "out of body experience". I think the best pizza in Baltimore that I have had was Matthew's. My regular place for buying pizza near me is Dominicks. http://www.originaldominicks.com/store_locations.php A couple years ago when I lived near Essex we use to get white pizzas from a place called Bello Vitto's on Rossville Blvd. We were never dissapointed. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60811-d879810-Reviews-Bello_Vitto_s_Pizza_Subs-Baltimore_Maryland.html I remember Pizza Uno having good pizza. They had an appetizer called pizza skins that was great. Sat Feb 02 10:48:09 -0800 2008 1822012 101345 Whitemarshjohn 2 3359134 I posted my Pizza John's experience in this thread: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/462778 So would Dominick's be worth the drive from Baltimore City, given that we have Matthew's and Iggies? Pizza Uno is pretty good for a chain. It's not great, and it's probably twice as fattening as a normal pizza, but it's good stuff. Sat Feb 02 14:04:29 -0800 2008 3358636 11273 JonParker 3 3359654 Dominick's is very good, consistent and inexpensive. Not to knock it, but I would not say it's a destination place - in fact, I think it's only takeout - there aren't any tables but we love them. Sat Feb 02 17:20:50 -0800 2008 3359134 101345 Whitemarshjohn 1 3380398 Iggies is definately worth a try when you're in the mood for thin crust. I also find Zellas pizzeria an exceptionally good pizza when you're in the mood for medium/chewy crust. The sauce and cheese also seem of better quality than other pizzerias. Sat Feb 09 10:34:25 -0800 2008 1822012 164584 mblake 2 3396650 I actually visited Dominick's last night and it was quite fulfilling. The pie was a bit doughy, not too thin and not too crispy. For what it was, a delicious pie. A couple of weeks back I ate at Pizza Johns. Also a very good pie. It should be reminded that these two places offer what I'd consider to be a completely different taste. One is crispier, the other a bit doughier. Dominics is what I'd consider to be "Baltimore style" if there is any such thing. The reason why I say this is because I've had several experiences down here that taste different than pizza I've had anywhere else, yet those ones down here have some consistent characteristics. There was a place on York Rd. just past Woodbourne Ave. called Gourmet Pizza that had a very good "Baltimore style" pie. A little greasier than some places, but the pizza had that doughiness, and the sauce had a unique, a tiny bit sweet, taste. I can't describe it, but if you aren't into pizzas that dont have crispy NY style crusts, you might not enjoy these places I'm talking about. Thu Feb 14 07:30:44 -0800 2008 3380398 157944 jharris 1 3401705 Nobody has mentioned Italian Bistro. It's located in the North Plaza Strip Mall on Perring Pkwy. and Joppa Road. They have a full menu of Italian food, which I hear is also really good. But I could never go there and get anything other than their cheese pizza. Something about it is sooo good- almost a salty flavor. Definitely worth a try, especially if you like Italian Gardens, Vito's and Fortunato's. We really want to try Pizza Johns and Iggy's...we're always hearing great things about them. I'd like to hear if anyone else has tried Italian Bistro. Fri Feb 15 12:41:50 -0800 2008 1822012 166393 mmanna 1 3403302 About 7-8 years ago there was a place called Philadelphia Pizza on York Road in Timonium/Lutherville in the shopping center near the bowling alley that I use to like. Recently a friend was telling me that there is a Philadelphia Pizza in Rosedale that is suppose to be good. I found this link through google - I'll have to see if this is the place. http://www.daplus.us/ShowPhoto.aspx?abi=59E8C078375A03C915C3C2D0511745ED3ED36D374ABFB77585ADF73CBC3B9A73&Partner=400240 Fri Feb 15 23:27:07 -0800 2008 1822012 101345 Whitemarshjohn 2 3423433 I took a buddy out to Matthew's last night. It was our first time eating their pizza and, let me tell you, they turn out a very delicious pie. As everyone has attempted to describe, there's something different about their pie. It's not deepdish, not thin crust, but it's damn good. I got the Great White with a bowl of tomato sauce on the side, and my buddy tried the Four Seasons. Needless to say, we both left completely satisfied. Great service, by the way. My buddy ordered a cup of tea that they served steaming hot (hard to get a steaming hot drink at most diners and restaurants per my experience, unless you stress it to the waiter/tress) which was a big plus and not expected from a pizza joint. Matthew's has a great Mom & Pop feel to it as well. With this experience, my list has been rounded out. My Top 3 would have to be: 1. Matthews 2. 3M (Gourmet Pizza) 3. Dominic's As you can see, I'm not the biggest fan of thin crust. Being from Jersey, I grew up on thin crust pizza. Baltimore has some totally different kinds of pizza (texture wise), and I like the diversity. Fri Feb 22 06:14:21 -0800 2008 3403302 157944 jharris 1 3423544 Thanks to all the Hounds who have championed The <"Thirsty" removed for legal reasons> Dog Pub. I normally don't get to that area much, just because I really hate the parking hassle, and paying to park in the garage when I'm only there for dinner just rankles. Anyway, I finally went last night, and found the "Fox and the Hound" and the "Cajun Dog" to both be wonderful pies, especially when washed down with a brace of Black Dogs. I'll definitely add them to my personal top tier rankings. That said, those of you coming to The Dog from the Locust Point area or points south might also want to check out the offerings at Luka Cafe. I'd say that the styles are similar ("personal sized" pies, creative topping combinations, thin crust), though the list of choices at Luka is definitely more limited than the options at The Dog. And as another poster noted in the thread on the Luka Cafe, the beer options there are also more limited, though Luka Cafe "wins" in the "food options beyond pizza" category. I'm not in any way trying to suggest that either replaces or is "better" than the other, just trying to let those who like The Dog know that there's a new choice nearby. I've found that in similar situations, it doesn't always have to be a zero-sum game where the older business loses customers to the newer one. Sometimes, having more than one option creates more of an interest in the product being provided, and grows the customer base for both. Fri Feb 22 06:55:01 -0800 2008 1822012 11647 Warthog 2 3423652 Fox and Hound is my favorite of the Dog pizzas. If you come down again email me through my profile and I can help you out with the parking thing -- I'm just a couple blocks away. The big advantage Luca's has over Dog at this point is that once the weather gets better I can walk to Luca's and actually burn off some of the calories that I'm taking in. Also, the crust at Luca's seems to hold up better through the whole pizza than Dog's. I'm not sure if it's the metal tray they serve them on, but Dog's crust tends to get flabby and sort of steamed by the end. Dog wins on beer though. Luca's REALLY needs to fix that. Fri Feb 22 07:34:35 -0800 2008 3423544 11273 JonParker 2 3423661 One question. With all the options that have been discussed in this thread, are you ready to make any modifications to your original top five? Fri Feb 22 07:36:55 -0800 2008 3423544 11273 JonParker 3 3423818 Well, Cafe Amore is gone, and I'd probably drop B.O.P anyway, so if I had to re-rate, my top five (in no priority order - ranking depends on what I'm in the mood for) would now be Matthew's, Iggie's, Joe Squared, and Luka Cafe as solid entries, with Pizza John's and Squires fighting it out for the last spot, just on the basis that they are both very similar representatives of a style that is different than the others in the Top Five. Had Phat Pug survived, it would have trumped the winner of the Squires/Pzza John's steel cage death match. Thirsty Dog is a contender, but they are similar in style to Luka Cafe, and on the basis of the pizza, Luka has a slight edge. Bella Napolia on Mountain Road (Pasadena) is also right up there, as is that place across the street from Crab Shanty, just south of Route 40 (Serafino's?). Both are decent pizzas, just not quite in the top tier. I'd love to have a good deep-dish option, being a Chicagoland native, but Uno's is the only thing close, and I feel that with the reduced focus on the deep dish pizzas, I feel the product has slipped a bit. Heck, the franchise isn't even "Uno's Pizzeria" any more, it's "Uno's Chicago Grill" or something like that. Says a lot about what they think is important. And I'm averse to piocking chains over local places anyway. The thick crust at Bella Napoli is an unusual beast - knid of half-way between a Chicago style and a Sicilian style. Again, I like it, but it's not good enough to make the top five. I still need to check out some of the northern recs, like Fortunato's. I'm trying to get to everything in this thread that I've not yet tried. Fri Feb 22 08:20:32 -0800 2008 3423661 11647 Warthog 3 3429181 I'll modify mine abit. I tried Luca's and Zella's this past week. Luca's was ok for a flat sandwich type of thing. I found that that thin crust was well over cooked, to the point of almost a burnt crust, but the toppings were definitely tasty (I had the steak and the hoagie pizza's). Zella's was good enough to make into my top 5. GREAT pizza. I had the one with the proscuitto (ok, lets call a spade a spade, that was a salty ham) and olives. It left this tremendous, greasy, olivy juice on the plate that I could have drank with a straw. Zella's, welcome to the top five, with a bullet. Sun Feb 24 06:50:41 -0800 2008 3423661 13033 KAZ 4 3430593 My crust preference is exactly the opposite - I liked Luka Cafe, and didn't like Zella's, though I think the quality of the toppings is roughly equivalent. I think this highlights a useful point. Pizza is one of those things where there are distinct styles and personal preferences, and it may be useful to provide a point of comparison when discussing new places. You know, along the lines of "If you like A, you might also like B, because they have similar style of crust, but if you like C's crust style, you may not like B." There's no "right" answer, so the more we can each do to provide points of comparison for each other, the better. Sun Feb 24 16:10:27 -0800 2008 3429181 11647 Warthog 1 3428100 1.Pizza John's 2.Squire's 3.Fortunato's 4.B.O.P. (mainly for the large selection of toppings) 5.Bertucci's Sat Feb 23 15:41:21 -0800 2008 1822012 168838 Feathered Friend 1 3676721 Another addition to the canonical Baltimore pizza thread. I went back to Matthew's last week for the first time in quite a while (not been going out as much lately), and found that they now have a thin crust option available. My first try was somewhat tainted by a reversal of my two pizzas - the one I wanted "regular" came out as the thin, and vice versa, but it shows promise. Very nice crispy texture. Not a "cracker crust", or a New Haven style, but as with the regular Matthew's pizza, it's kind of its own style. The waitress reports that they've gotten split responses. Some stay loyal to the original Matthew's crust, but some "regulars" now order nothing but the thin crust. Worth checking out, if you're a Baltimore pizza Hound. It may be worth a look particularly from those whose main objection to Matthew's has been a dislike of their original style crust. Now you have another option! Sun May 11 10:48:23 -0700 2008 1822012 11647 Warthog 1 3676965 Hot Tomato on Broadway in Fells Point! Sun May 11 13:12:28 -0700 2008 1822012 177705 Seabiscuit 1 3677088 The following pizza joints following are, in my estimation, presentable, are in NE Baltimore area, and, though are not geared to the Foodie or the intense Chowhound, are great for the family experience and the Fall football party, in no particular order: 1. Gil's Pizza (good crust and cheese you'll remember from your teenage years) 2. Amer's Cafe (variety, and belly dancers if the wife is not the jealous type) 3. Giovanna's (Standard OK pizza, but embarassingly cheap, try the Eyetalian coldcut sub with hots) 4. Casa Mia's (big, filling, over-the-top, the 1970s all over again) 5. Matthew's (over-mentioned of course, but killer yeasty crust, served on nifty cardboard plates circa 1948, and a bizarre "tomato pie" that has no cheese - something your grandparents could probably relate to). Sun May 11 14:06:56 -0700 2008 1822012 145213 Montebello 2 3678034 Since pizza & delivery usually go hand in hand for us, Tutti Gusti is our favorite. Thin crust, lotsa homemade sauce, & any topping we want. Sun May 11 22:18:58 -0700 2008 3677088 107992 kelarry 1 3695369 I don't know if anyone has ever tried the Crazy Greek on Howard Street b/t Baltimore and Fayette, but their cheese pie is a thing of beauty to this lifetime Marylander. My husband is a New Jerseyian, and he doesn't fully appreciate the ultra-doughy goodness of their crust and their very garlicky sauce, but to me, it's perfection. It's worth a try, and they have a delicious Greek pie if feta and olives are your thing (which they should be!)... Fri May 16 18:37:25 -0700 2008 1822012 192915 MrsIncognito 1 3695396 I see Squisito came up here in reference to another chain, but I want to put in a good word for it -- it's the only pizza in the area I actually crave. Good sauce, a decently crispy crust, and absolutely loaded with fresh toppings. Favorites are the chicken popeye (spinach, tomatoes and chicken), the vegetarian, and the crabmeat. Fri May 16 18:45:30 -0700 2008 1822012 192917 tmich 1 4126667 As far as Baltimore city is concerned, Pasta Mista on Boston St. is now the best in the city, and i have been to all the others. Fri Oct 24 11:54:54 -0700 2008 1822012 223784 180hearted 2 4240177 agreed. Thu Dec 11 16:21:06 -0800 2008 4126667 79562 MarcDC 1 4271006 I'm psyched to find this posting because I think Baltimore is hard up for really good pizza joints, especially given the size of our fine city. I think there's alot of mediocre pizza here so I''m glad to see some mentions on here I'd really like to try. I would say my faves so far (in no particular order) are: FORTUNATOS CARMINES (especially the Margherite Pizza) DIPISQUALES THE OWL BAR Not a fan of Joe Squared or Matthews....sorry I just don't get the rave about them. I keep hearing about Never On Sunday and Thirsty Dog and hope to try those out soon. Pasta Mista and Italian Gardens at Kenilworth are ok if nothing else is available. Wed Dec 24 07:15:39 -0800 2008 1822012 251050 dws 2 4279512 Never on Sunday serves mediocre pizza but their gyros are the best I've had in this city! Mon Dec 29 07:21:32 -0800 2008 4271006 157944 jharris 3 4304685 I prefer the Gyro at Samos. You can ask for fries to be put right on it, and they will accommodate for free, which is the way they are served all over Greece. Wed Jan 07 11:53:22 -0800 2009 4279512 156231 hotel 1 4281564 I lived for 7 years in New Haven CT, home of Pepi's and Sali's apizza. From the standpoint of a broader pizza perspective, Baltimore is the weakest pizza city on the east coast. I don't know why, but this city is a mostly a pizza desert. For what its worth, its Iggy's or make your own. Mon Dec 29 18:23:50 -0800 2008 1822012 252456 Ironwood_chef 2 4295335 I think that's a bit of a stretch. Ever searched DC for good pizza? How abut Richmond? Virginia Beach? Baltimore may not be on par with New Haven or NYC and, of course, pizza is not our claim to fame here. Still, there's probably more good pizza to be found here than in the other cities I've mentioned. To say this is the weakest pizza city on the east coast is a little over the top. Sun Jan 04 14:08:08 -0800 2009 4281564 157944 jharris 1 4293935 wonder if Pazzani Trattoria Italiana in the post topic just above this right now will make it. first poster said it tastes just like the pizza in italy. alsofor the poster above mine i think the east coast generally refers to the northeast which some maybe even most, consider balt a part of Sat Jan 03 21:37:14 -0800 2009 1822012 111873 vivinator 1 4304064 Tutti Gusti! they have great regular pies, great gourmet pies, and they deliver!!! i am always happy with Tutti Gusti in canton. plus, you can order a delicious side of broccoli with garlic and olive oil. Wed Jan 07 09:42:18 -0800 2009 1822012 254820 pucedaisy 2 4783658 Didnt really get Tutti Gusti....kind of blah and soupy. I guess the thing about pizza is we all tend to approach it from different angles. When im judging im trying to do solely on the essentials: crust, sauce and cheese. Did try pizza at Thirsty Dog and was extremely disappointed---if there was flavor it was still hiding in the kitchen. 2 new finds worth checking though are: Hilltop on Fort Ave. in Federal Hill. Was surprised that this little corner joint had such solid pizza....well, solid for Baltimore. Also Dellas over in Pigtown is worth the trip. This pizza too was pretty decent although a different take on ingredients. Not sure if theyd rank in my top 2 or 3 but definitely worth a visit. Thu Jun 18 04:43:39 -0700 2009 4304064 251050 dws 3 4794408 Hilltop reminds me of Joe Corbi's pizza....not good at all. The place is very clean for a South Baltimore pizza/subs place and the owner is a great guy. The gyro is the only thing I eat from there. Back to pizza....the only good pizza places in MD are Fortunatos in Towson, Pazani Trattoria in Elkridge, and Joe Squared. Mon Jun 22 07:46:19 -0700 2009 4783658 256757 abovethewaves 1 4794124 Is there a mention for Coal-Fire in Columbia, Ellicott city yet? It's pretty excellent pie. Mon Jun 22 06:10:58 -0700 2009 1822012 102756 Pool Boy 1 4930572 1) Scatino's Catonsville 2) Pizza John's Essex 3) Matthew's 4) Iggie's 5) little italy Pizzaria Fell's Pt Sun Aug 09 09:26:24 -0700 2009 1822012 171484 BaltoMike 2 4930923 Thanks for posting! I don't think I'd heard mention of Scatino's or Little Italy Pizzeria. Are there other area pizzas that you could compare either Scatino's or Little Italy Pizzeria to, so that those of us who haven't heard anything about them could have some notion of what to expect? For example, I'd say that somebody who'd had Pizza John's in Essex, but had not been to Squires in Dundalk, or vice versa, would find that reference to the one they had been to would give them a good idea of what to expect at the one they hadn't been to. Yeah, there are differences, and somebody might have reasons to prefer one over the other, but as far as the pizza itself goes, Squires and Pizza John's share a similar style of crust, toppings and sauce. They are similar to each other, and very dissimilar from, say, Iggies, Matthews, or Joe Squared. So where on the pizza style continuum do these fall, if you can think of points of reference? Sun Aug 09 12:03:59 -0700 2009 4930572 11647 Warthog 3 4932360 I am partial to thin crust-New York Style and Scittino's (on Edmonson Ave west of Beltway) is a perfect example of that. Good crust, sauce and cheese combination. To me the proportion of those 3 are important. (It is a grocery store too and they make their own sausage!!!) Pizza Johns many times has too much cheese though I still like it. Little Italy Pizzaria on Broadway in Fells Pt is also a New York Style pizza. It is my go to when I am down there on a late Saturday nite. Open late and for 3 bucks you get a monster slice. The crust has just enough of a crispiness to it that I like. Mon Aug 10 05:09:21 -0700 2009 4930923 171484 BaltoMike 4 4960650 Hot Tomatoes - opposite side of Broadway and one block south of Little Italy - has much better pizza than LI. Pretty much everything - crust, sauce, cheese, topping - is much fresher, tastier and more well executed than Little Italy. In fact, I would say it is easily the best in Fells Point and one of the best in southeast Baltimore. Wed Aug 19 17:15:33 -0700 2009 4932360 110233 mobtown999 3 5076439 Scittino's is not thin thin crust, it's a little bit thicker, I would say like Chef Paolino's. Of the three pizzeria's I frequent in the area -- Chef Paolino's, Toni's, and Scittino's -- it's my least favorite. Even though I'm not a big fan of the regular Don Pepino sauce they use, I must say I always go in hating on it and then I just can't stop eating it. What they do, they do very well. They have a special on Mondays (look in the menu), so I'd recommend going then to see if it agrees with you. When it's cooler outside, there's a huge line there in the evenings. Sat Oct 03 09:35:17 -0700 2009 4930923 107374 bmorecupcake 1 4930971 A quick Joe Squared update. I hadn't been in a while, mostly because that area is getting more activity, and it's harder to find parking lately. Anyway, I've been on a Pizza Margherita kick, trying renditions of it pretty much every place I've been to recently. As you may recall, Pizza Margherita was supposedly invented to honor Margherita of Savoy, who was Queen Consort of Italy in the late 1800's. The pizza is topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes (fresh, sauce or crushed) and basil, to represent the red white and green of the Italian flag. In the J2 rendition, the tomato was simple sauce, the moz seemed nice and fresh, and the basil was a course chiffonade, as opposed to whole leaves or torn shreds. It also seemed to have been added very near the end of cooking, and thus hadn't turned black as sometimes happens when added at the start of cooking. Since my last visit, it seems that Joe Squared has gotten much better dialed in on their new high-temperature oven. I also noted that the crust seemed even thinner than previous, but with a nice balance between crunchy and chewy. The topping extended quite close to the edge, as opposed to leaving a "no topping zone" border. This might be enabled by the more consistently thin crust, or because this particular topping combo lends itself to precision distribution. They also now bring the pizzas out on a sheet of a sort of metal mesh with a thin solid border, as opposed to the solid baking sheets with raised sides that they used to use. I presume this is to allow air flow to prevent moisture accumulating between crust and pan. Whatever the theory is, it seems to work. I found that the crust stayed very nicely consistent as far as texture from first slice to last on their largest size pizza. As noted many times before, Joe Squared has a distinctive style, anchored by their sourdough crust. Some like it, some don't. But if you liked Joe Squared's pizza in the past, and haven't gone in a while, it may be time for another visit. I think these minor fine-tunings on their established style have improved the product. If you liked it before, you may like it more now. If you were ambivalent before, the improvement made by these tweaks may surprise you. If you really didn't like J2's pizza before, though, you probably still won't like it. The things you probably didn't like previously have only been fine-tuned, rather than completely revised. And of course, if your objections had nothing to do with the pizza, the decor, staff, and other aspects of theplace as a whole are still largely intact. Sun Aug 09 12:23:21 -0700 2009 1822012 11647 Warthog 2 4931309 what about Isabella's in Little Italy? I may get to try it out in a few weeks. how does it compare to Little Italy Pizzeria? Sun Aug 09 15:19:11 -0700 2009 4930971 111873 vivinator 3 4960828 Personally, I don't even consider Litte Italy Pizzeria in the same class as Isabella's. But the fancy schmancy style of Isabella's is not for everyone. Isabella's has an execellent Margherita, btw, as does Di Pasquale's. Wed Aug 19 18:30:52 -0700 2009 4931309 107374 bmorecupcake 2 4960396 Speaking of my informal Margherita Pizza tour as mentioned in the post above, does anybody have recs for good ones in the area? I know we have this whole thread of general pizza opinions, but not every pizza place even offers a Margherita Pizza (moz - preferably fresh, tomatoes, basil), and not all places that make one do so well. I'm finding that using the Margherita as the pizza for comparison is giving me a new perspective on some places, as compared to my opinion of the same place with my usual "first try" order of sausage and onion. There's something about the simplicity of the Margherita that brings out good things in some pizza places, and yet can highlight inattention to detail as well. Wed Aug 19 15:36:54 -0700 2009 4930971 11647 Warthog 3 4962547 Fortunado's on York Rd. I find most of their pizza to be alightly above average and a fresh slice of their Margherita to be top notch and one of the best slices in Baltimore. Thu Aug 20 10:00:13 -0700 2009 4960396 129741 gregb 2 4967905 Very nice report Warthog. Went back to Joe Squared Thursday night, and damn, you're right, they've definitely have returned to their glory. Ooooo, delicious pizza. The tweeks have made a vast improvement from when they first installed their new coal-oven. The addition of the metal mesh pan, and the timing and temperature of the oven and how long they cook the crust has been perfected, and I for one am very, very happy. Of course, I have to mention that their AC was broken when we went, and it was probably cooler outside than inside the restaurant, which makes it a little uncomfortable when you're sweating into your beer. Thursday night was extremely hot though, but still, it might be wise to keep that in mind if you're heading over to satiate that pizza-fix to call ahead and see if it's working again, otherwise... Anyway, had a great Hawaiian pizza. Crisp, thin crust with a little char (but I like that) with fresh toppings that were seamlessly integrated. Ah, great stuff. And a great beer selection. Friendly staff. Live music. Quite an interesting place. When the AC is working, I'll be back. Sat Aug 22 08:06:40 -0700 2009 4930971 204690 drunk_again 3 4972755 Couldn't agree more... the pizza there is really top notch! I was surprised to see how extensive the menu was and after noticing a big plate of great looking mussels on the walk in, decided to order those for an app. They were big, tender, and very fresh tasting, but the garnish on top was a decent amount of chopped cilantro. I have to assume this was a mistake and someone just stuck their hand in the wrong container back in the kitchen. I'll give them a free pass for now, but a knuckle sandwich if it happens again! Among others tried at the table, the meat lover's pizza was perfectly crispy and just showing just enough char to remind you it was cooked in a coal oven. Also, love the beer selection...enjoyed a couple Mama's Little Yella Pils on tap. Can't wait to go back! Mon Aug 24 10:02:53 -0700 2009 4967905 129741 gregb 1 5091413 I'm surprised no one has mentioned Pasticcio's in Canton (or at least I didn't see them mentioned when I skimmed this post). I preferred them when they were called Franco Zeppi but the pizza is still pretty good. My problem with Maryland pizza is that the sauce is too sweet. Yuck! The 2 years I spent in NJ weren't my favorite, but at least the pizza was good. Fri Oct 09 11:17:44 -0700 2009 1822012 225406 FedHill 2 5092058 I mentioned them. Pasticcio's Italian Kitchen is also located in Pikesville in Baltimore County. 1330 Reisterstown Road. They do have excellent New York style thin crust pizza. Very very good. Fri Oct 09 15:05:58 -0700 2009 5091413 226945 Woof Woof Woof 1 5188236 Since this seems to have become the canonical Baltimore pizza thread, here's a link to a new thread on Bagby's pizza. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/667704 Tue Nov 17 07:43:48 -0800 2009 1822012 11647 Warthog 2 5190845 So I'm finally going to get to Joe Squared pizza this week and looking forward to it! What pizza do I NEED to try? Should my wife and I try two smaller pies to get some diversity? Any apps or dishes def worth getting? Opinions please! Wed Nov 18 05:41:23 -0800 2009 5188236 141082 bmore_flavor