Santarpio's still rocks!

[Blumie]

People on this board love to be the first to announce that some classic Boston gastro-shrine has jumped the shark. East Coast Grill, Legal Sea Foods, Santarpio's all have had multiple threads announcing their demise.

Ok, so I had my first meal in several years at Legal recently, and it really does suck! And ECG, where I eat frequently, can be stellar at times and just ok at others. (My advice: stick with the apps at ECG.)

But last night my daughter and I landed at Logan at 9:00pm, and she asked if we could get pizza before heading home. I called Santarpio's as we were walking to our car in the garage, and headed straight over there to pick it up. It was coming out of the oven just as we walked in the door, and 15 minutes later we were home in Cambridge gobbling it up. It was awesome. I actually think the 15 minutes we had to wait to eat made it better. (How many times have each of us been served a just-out-of-the-oven pizza at Santarpio's and, too impatient to wait, burned the living daylight out of our mouths trying to inhale it?) But whatever the reason, I loved it.

So don't write this place off too fast. They still serve up one tasty pie!

[Locutus]

Santarpios will always be my favorite. been going there for 41 years. I ahve NEVER had a bad food experiance

[Bob Dobalina]

I guess you must be one of those flabby damp cardboard center crust eaters too, like me.

[libertywharf]

Legal's quality varies on the location. The best is kendal square and the worst being park square.

Santarpios in eastie is awesome, but I keep it to pizza and lamb.

[Blumie]

"I keep it to pizza and lamb."

In other words, you get the only things on the menu?

[trufflehound]

Sausage

[SimplyMarie]

Don't forget the steak tips..also..they are now serving salad at the Peabody location.

[marilu]

Had pizza once from Peabody location....never again.

[Bob Dobalina]

I must be the luckiest guy in the world, because every time I go to Santarpio's, it's exactly the same - just awesome!

Of course, I rarely if ever go there during primetime on the weekend - usually a weeknight or off-hour, so that *might* have something to do with it.

[Karl S]

Yep, it does (unless you think a flabby damp cardboard center crust is awesome eats). So many Boston hounds have reported the inconsistency. I among them. It's only occasionally awesome in my experience. And even I have tried it off-peak hours.

[Bob Dobalina]

Listen, Karl - let me tell you what you can do with your flabby damp pizza...

You can slide it over to me.

[Karl S]

Ah, so you think that is awesome. Then it's not the times that's the issue....

[Bob Dobalina]

Just messing with you, brother.
But I think I probably focus more on the taste than the consistency, based on all the complaints, which is cool - more for me.

[devilham]

My only problem with Santarpio's is the consistancy. The first time I ate there (just about a year ago) it was outstanding, second time, not so much. Third time....pretty good, fourth time, not good at all........it's just so inconsistant. I know they can make good pie, as I have had it when it's good, which is what makes the not so good soo dissapointing. Coupled with toll to get back in the city, I have a very hard time convincing my wife to make the trek....and convincing myself for that matter.

[emannths]

I agree about the inconsistency, both as it relates to sauce/cheese ratios and doneness levels.

I wind up driving to Logan with enough frequency that I rarely make a pizza run through the tunnel. If I'm in no rush, sometimes I'll take Meridian St and save the $3.50 anyway.

[Infomaniac]

I've been eating Santarpio's pies for 40 years, and over the last 5 years I have to agree with you that the pies are not as consistant as I would like them to be. I stopped recommend them to out of towners because of this reason.
When the pies are done right, it's my favorite pie in town.

[devilham]

Exactly, when they are on, they are M^#%$ F*#^$&#ing ON, it's just not like that every time....makes me have a sad

[treb]

OK, here's the issue, the original Santarpio's, the one you are referring to, is excellent. However, the Santarpio's on rt 1 in Danvers is aweful. I've been several times, it's not even close to the original store in every aspect of their pizza.