Chicken Pesto Pizza??

[littlegreenfrog6]

I live north of Boston but am willing to go into the city for a huge craving of mine. Can anyone recommend a place that serves chicken pesto pizza? I have searched high and low in the Merrimack Valley area with no luck.
Nancy

[seefood]

Please forgive me for being blunt, but chicken does not belong on a pizza.

Pesto, okay, although that is a bit of a stretch for pizza traditionalists. But it is so tasty. Plus, pesto is mostly basil, cheese, garlic, and olive oil, all time-honored pizza ingredients.

I am an adventurous eater and a cook who is always experimenting. But when it comes to pizza, well, there are certain conventions that make sense. There are reasons why thin disks of dough briefly baked in blazing heat marry so well with a few basic toppings, but not, I'm sorry, with chicken.

[Spenbald]

Not so north, and a little bit west, we've found a fantastic chicken pesto pizza in a highly unlikely place. Pleasant Pizza on Pleasant St., very close to the Bridge St. intersection in Watertown, makes a fantastic chicken pesto pizza. Their version comes with just the pesto sauce (i.e. no tomatoes anywhere), chicken, and broccoli. We usually substitute artichoke hearts for the broccoli.

-----
Pleasant Pizza & Subs
467 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA 02472

[littlegreenfrog6]

Wow! So many great ideas? My mouth is watering already. Thanks to all the great replies. I will try a couple and post my comments.
Nancy

[itaunas]

Most hounds prefer Regina's pizzas with less toppings, which I generally agree with, but I have to admit that I am a huge fan of their pollo pesto pizza with their excellent ricotta. It just has an excellent balance of flavors (although I am not a huge pesto pizza fan overall). I sometimes get it with bacon too to satisfy dining companions, but I think its better basic. I don't believe the Polcari's locations offer it (Kendall Sq certainly didn't before it closed), so you might have to come into Medford or Boston.

[bear]

You're right, itaunas, they do have it on the web menu. My experience at the Woburn Polcari's is that they have pretty much what is on the web, so they should have it. I usually stick with plain cheese, but that does sound tempting, even though it'd probably be better in the NE.

[bear]

Fiorella's in Newton just over the Waltham line used to have a terrific one. I checked the menu and it's not on there, but I'm sure you could have them make one.

[rosiebcook]

Vesuvius in Marblehead has one that I can't resist. I end up ordering it every time. It's called the Elano and has just the right amount of toppings.
Lori

[rlh]

I'm not sure it's destination-worthy (but better than Bertuccis IMHO) -- the chicken pesto slices at Viga in downtown Boston are my favorite pizza that they make -- I think they only serve it on certain days (Monday is one of them -- I know what's for lunch today...). I imagine you can also order a whole pie any time.

-----
Viga
133 Pearl St Ste 1, Boston, MA 02110

[pamalamb]

I'm a big fan of the pesto pizza at Upper Crust (although there's been a lot of flack about the chain on this board recently). If you like extra thin crusts, it's a great place.

[mcel215]

I know that Regina's in Medford makes Chicken Pesto Pizza, but haven't tried it.

[MC Slim JB]

The house pizza at J.J. Foley's Cafe in the South End has a nice drizzle of pesto on it, a very thin crust, kind of an app-sized oval pie. You could add chicken to this. Great old tavern atmosphere, nice prices. An unusual value for the neighborhood.

[cmd]

I seem to remember Boston Beer Works having one. It's not my favorite place, but a quick check of the menu (http://www.beerworks.net/html/pizza.html) shows they have a pesto pizza, and you can add either grilled or fried chicken as a topping.

Any of the Upper Crust locations could also do one as well.

[macca]

Maybe give Mario's in North Reading a call. They are on Rte 28 in the small strip mall near the intersection of rt 28 and Park Street.They have a chicken alfredo pizza, maybe they can do a pesto. Good, thin crust pizza. Their pizza is crispy bottom, oily cheese- so good.

[CherylK]

I like The Dogwood's "Magnolia" brick oven chicken pesto pizza. Cheesy and pesto-y with a very crispy thin crust. If that's what you're looking for, it will be sure to hit the spot. It's in Jamaica Plain across from Forest Hills station. Not sure it's worthy of a trip from Merrimack Valley, but you can always go to the Arboretum and make a day of it. www.dogwoodcafe.com

-----
Dogwood Cafe
3712 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

[mabelm4050]

Bertucci's has pesto and grilled chicken as toppings, so you can create your own!