Pizza Garden - surprisingly good NY style slice in a casual setting

[YVRChow]

This inexpensive little pizza joint right off of the Granville entertainment district was a really pleasant surprise. They are using a Wood Stone open oven, and producing a very VERY respectable NY style slice for a reasonable price ($2.25/slice, or $5.50 for 2 slices and a drink).

The key here clearly is getting whatever is coming fresh out of the oven, as the slices sitting in the warming tray did not look anywhere near as good.

Luckily the friendly guy behind the counter was just taking out a basic no fancy schmancy toppings pizza from the over so I got to enjoy my favourite - a regular slice. The crust was very good, with just the right chew while still being crispy and light. It folded perfectly. The bottom had a nice leoparding with a slight char. The sauce was rich and flavourful, the cheese just right, and there was a little bit of olive oil on top just like in NY. I would have loved to have a shaker with some oregano, but a guy can dream.

I'll definitely be back and keeping an eye on that open oven to see what is coming out fresh!

[kinnickinnik]

And open late. We poured out of the Commodore ~ midnight last night and were glad to find them open. I had a spicy sausage/pepperoni/capicolla which was the most recently baked one. Nice crust, good chew and a much appreciated alternative to the late night hot dog or MB slice.

[YVRChow]

Good to know!

[Georgia Strait]

sounds good - so is it ON Granville (which side, the east side (Orpheum) or the west side of Granville) or on a cross street? which one and which side - north or south? Very often we don't want an entire pizza so this is a good tip. And also, you're right - wait for what's coming out of the oven, isn't that the truth. Thank you

[YVRChow]

It is located at 675 Smithe Street - just east of Granville on the North side of the street.

[LotusRapper]

Their original (?) location is on Commercial Drive, I forget cross-street, maybe Parker ?

[YVRChow]

I just searched a bit. Apparently they have 3 locations: http://pizzagarden.ca/locations.html

[LotusRapper]

They're like Regazzi Pizza (E. 22 Ave), where appearance and prices look "typical", but the quality is very surprisingly good:

http://www.ragazzipizza.com/

Their latest new venture is Via Tevere on Victoria Drive:

http://viateverepizzeria.com/

[1newyorkguy]

Is there any reason to go to Via Tevere when Campagnolo has the same priced pizza?

[fmed]

Yes. Via Tevere has better pizza. (IMO). They are different styles, to be fair (VT is "true" Neapolitan and Campgnolo is more of a hybrid)

[fmed]

I go to the one on Commercial Dr once in a while. That particular location is the first one that they opened. It is the original Pizza Garden that morphed into the Megabite chain many years ago. In fact, this current incarnation of Pizza Garden is still affiliated with Megabite. They decided to experiment with brick oven pizza when they saw the Neapolitan wave coming towards Vancouver. It is the best $2 slice joint on the Drive and perhaps the city. I have so many options here in my 'hood these days that it I haven't been there in a quite while.

[YVRChow]

I'll have to try the original location on the Drive too then!

[grayelf]

We used to get pizza from there and I remember it had sesame seeds on the crust. I take it that was before the changes, as the rest of the pie was forgettable. It was really cheap though :-).

[fmed]

Yep. That was in the previous era.