Week 21: Alfredo's Pizza & Pasta

Grab the keys to the DeLorean...  We’re headed back to 1985.  When we pulled up to Alfredo’s Pizza & Pasta (www.myalfredos.com) this week, it felt like we got out of a time machine.  Located off Business 121 in Lewisville behind the McDonald’s, the strip center seemed like time had stood still for the past 20 years.  There was an old hobby store selling RC cars and Pinewood Derby supplies, a cigarette/cigar shop, and a handful of other businesses we wouldn’t have guessed still existed.  Anyway, not to judge a book by the cover, we headed in for another week of pizza.  Considering Alfredo’s had been making authentic italian food since 1988, it was worth a visit.

The inside was just what we had expected.  The decor and atmosphere hadn’t been updated since Reagan was in office.  However, the place was spotless and the service made it feel like we’d been there a hundred times.  Our waitress, who also appeared to be the owner, knew everyone in the restaurant and had the operations spinning like a top.  With a confidence and swagger, she took our order and brought out the drinks.  We also ordered some garlic cheese toast which came out quickly, and in retrospect was an unnecessary filler.  Little did we know that the pizza would be enough to feed the family for the next 4 days!

For the first time this year we ordered what is called “Sicilian Style” pizza.  It was a thicker crust pizza and 16” square.  Never having had this style in the past, we had no idea what we were in for.  The waitress insisted that it was unlike any pizza you can get around, and even ensured that we not order anything else because it was going to be enough.  At $13.95, this pizza was easily the biggest deal we’ve had all year.  No exaggeration, we stuffed ourselves full and brought home enough leftovers for the neighborhood.

Sicilian Crust

The pizza was good, it wasn’t great.  There wasn’t anything to it that “wowed” us.  As our first time having Sicilian style pizza, we weren’t immediate converts.  The crust was almost an inch thick all the way through, and reminded us of a bisquick biscuit.  Not knowing anything about Sicilian pizza, this might be the best in Dallas, but we have nothing to compare it to.  The sauce was very plain like tomato paste, and had no sweetness to it.  The cheese was your typical mozzarella, and covered the 16” beast from edge to edge.  We were glad that we didn’t get the special which included “All Ingredients,” or we would have needed a fork lift to get us back to the car.  Other patrons in the restaurant ordered the standard crust, and from across the room, it appeared to be your typical big slice NY Style pie!

Alfredo’s Pizza and Pasta was a very average restaurant.  There was nothing that we would mention as bad, but there was also nothing that knocked our socks off.  We can’t criticize anything specific about the pizza, but I don’t think that we’ll be dreaming of Alfredo’s a few week’s from now.  If there was one thing about it worth noting, it would be that you could feed an entire family for less than $20.  So, if you are looking for a good deal on pizza, and don’t want to spend a lot of cash...  Head over to Alfredo’s and they’ll treat you like family!

The Leftovers...

 The Final Report: 5.5 out of 10

We’ve had a few weeks with so-so pizza...  It’s time to get the wind back into our sails.  It isn’t even halfway through 2011 adventure and with 31 weeks left, we need some “pizza-encouragement.”  Any ideas for next week???

Week 20: Chicago Gourmet Pizza

This week we had our eyes set on “Deep Dish” Chicago style pizza.  It had been a while since we sunk our teeth into that stuffed pizza we so enjoy.  Our hopes were high after finding a place called Chicago Gourmet Pizza (www.chicagosgourmetpizza.com) in Irving.  For those of you that may not know, I was born and raised in the Windy City, and if there is any pizza I would consider myself an expert in, it would be Chicago style.  Yes, there are always slight variations, but if you are proclaiming “Chicago” in your restaurant name, you’re going to have a lot to live up to.  With that being said... Chicago Gourmet Pizza, was neither “Chicago” nor “Gourmet.”  While the pizza wasn’t miserable, those of you looking for Chicago style pizza, read loud and clear THIS IS NOT IT.

Set back off the O’Connor exit of Highway 114, in the parking lot of a Bank of America and A Loft Hotel, the strip shopping center was brand new.  Before I walked in the front door, I already had some doubts about the authenticity of the pizza.  We called ahead, because if you learned your lesson from Week 11 when we visited Chicago Street Pizza in Plano, this type of pizza SHOULD take about 45 minutes to an hour to cook.  After making the call to place our order, we were told the pizza would be ready in 20 minutes....  Yikes, not a good sign.

Inside the restaurant the walls are covered in exactly what you’d expect, Chicago Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, and Blackhawks pictures.  It isn’t a very big restaurant, and has about 15 tables of 4.  A man we assumed to be the owner of the establishment greeted us when we walked in.  Very quickly after we sat down he brought over our “Deep Dish” pizza.  The place was clean, and overall I can’t say too many negative things about the establishment.  (Except my cynicism that the owner has actually ever been to Chicago to compare his pizza to the real thing).

Apart from the atmosphere (which we know is not a great indicator of pizza quality), the pizza itself was edible.  Our order was a Large “Deep Dish” Spinach and Cheese ($18), and a small “Classic” cheese ($12).  My first thought was that it reminded me of a Pizza Hut Pan Pizza.  Typically when eating a true Chicago style slice of pizza, you’d be lucky to finish 2 pieces.  We had three adults in attendance this week and we cleaned up both pizzas with minimal effort.  For the higher price, the pizza was below average, especially considering the number of franchises these days that crank out a comparable pizza for $5.  The crust on the Deep Dish was very “bread-like” and did not include the standard handle that peeks over the top of the 2” deep pan.    The “Classic” style crust on the cheese pizza was so crispy and dense that you could barely cut it with a knife, and 75% of the cheese had slid to one side of the pie.  The kids weren't impressed, and we weren’t either.  Had it not been advertised as Chicago style, we might not be quite as harsh; overall the pizza satisfied our hunger, but not much else.

The Final Report: 5.5 out of 10

Our hopes are high that we will find some true “Deep Dish” somewhere in the metroplex, because Chicago Gourmet Pizza, certainly isn’t it.  Anybody out there have any suggestions???

Week 19: Coal Vine's

This week we enjoyed the cheapest pizza that we've tried all year.... FREE! You heard that right - free.  We have been waiting to go to Coal Vines in Southlake for quite some time because we wanted to enjoy the evening, just the two of us.  Also, we knew that on Wednesday nights you get a free pizza with the purchase of any bottle of wine!  With a babysitter at home, and an appetite for free pizza, we headed to Southlake.

This was not our first time to Coal Vines, so we knew what we had in store.  This location is nestled into a small strip center located in the parking lot of our favorite grocery store, Central Market.  Coal Vines also has it's original location off Cedar Springs Rd in Dallas and , but so far we've only tried the Southlake restaurant.  There is so much to say about this place, I don't even know where to begin...

The ambiance at Coal Vines leans towards a "date night" atmosphere, but is casual enough that you could bring the kids along.  TVs are tastefully located high above, so that you can catch a glimpse of the evening's sports scores, while discussing important family matters.  The tables are pretty tightly packed in, but not uncomfortable.  There is also an outdoor eating area with enough room to seat an additional 8 (or so) tables of 4.  Toward the back of the restaurant is the pizza oven, which stayed incredibly busy on this particular evening.

What a great way to pack your restaurant on a Wednesday night: offer free pizza with the purchase of a bottle of wine.  The wine list covers all of the necessities, and even has Opus One.  The bottle prices were very reasonable, and had a great selection in the $30 range.  For those connoisseurs out there, they also offer more expensive bottles, up-to and including Opus One.  All-in-all, it was one of the best deals we've run across so far this year.  And based on the crowd, I'd say that the secret is already out!

Now, you might be wondering, how good can this "free pizza" really be?  Was it really worth the trouble of getting a baby sitter, driving to Southlake, and having to buy a bottle of Siena Sangiovese? Yes, Yes, and Yes.  The pizza at Coal Vines is one of the best we've had in Dallas.  All the superlative adjectives I can use would not do justice to actually tasting the pizza yourself.  Let me stop and mention that even if we had purchased the pizza with our own hard earned money, a large specialty pie only cost $17!  While I didn't bring along a tape measure, the large is about 18"-20".  

We decided to give two of the specialty offerings a try this week, and split 1/2 Caprese and 1/2 White Special.  The Caprese has been our family favorite for over 3 years, and consists of a cheese pizza decorated with huge, fresh sliced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil leaves.  This time around we went out on a limb and tried something different as well.  The White Special was a pleasant surprise and we definitely enjoyed the combination of mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, sliced tomatoes and fresh garlic.  The crust is where these pizzas stand above the rest - sturdy enough to hold the toppings, yet soft enough for a slight fold.  The crust has a certain airiness to it, with a hint of char from the oven.  All of these factors combined with a self measured sprinkle of fresh parmesan/Italian Seasoning/Red Pepper, make Coal Vines a force to be reckoned with.

The Final Report: 9 out of 10

The pizza and wine at Coal Vines were incredible.  So good we almost considered buying another bottle of wine just to take home an additional free pie!  While we probably could have enjoyed another glass or two of wine, we would have had to share the pizza with the babysitter....

Week 18: iFratelli Pizza

“Never Trust a Round Pizza” is the slogan at iFratelli’s Pizza, and the Cole family has been serving up their oval pizzas since 1987.  With a total of 9 locations scattered throughout North Dallas, they must be doing something right.  There happens to be a take out location on the way home from the office, so this week we enjoyed our pizza from the calming ambiance of our home kitchen.  Before I headed out of the office, I did a quick online scan of the menu, confirmed it with the “boss” at home, and hopped in the car.  Also, note that there are always printable coupons on their website that will save you a couple bucks.  As I survived the traffic around the 121/635 interchange, I called in the order, 1 Medium Cheese Pizza, and 1 Large 1/2 Staff Special (Chicken, Artichokes, and Roma Tomatoes) 1/2 The Big Brother (Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Mushroom, Bell Pepper, and Green Onion).  The kind gentleman suggested The Big Brother, as their hands-down most popular choice.  The menu has 6 “Signature Pizzas” and a size-able list of create your own toppings.  The pizzas would be ready in 15-20 minutes, so once again I timed it perfectly.

The Flower Mound Location is 100% Take-Out, unless you plan on eating pizza in the bed of your truck.  The customer area is tiny, and with 3 customers waiting, it feels packed.  While I can’t speak for all of the locations, I do know that the Irving location is a full scale restaurant and wine bar for those of you looking for the dining out experience.  I handed over my coupon, signed my $27 receipt, and headed out the door.  The pizza immediately filled my car with the delicious aroma of fresh out of the oven pizza, and I could hardly wait to drive back to the house...

First things first...  This is a thin crust pizza.  The crust has varied in texture over the several times we have eaten iFratelli’s.  On this occasion, we weren’t particularly pleased with the crust.  I cannot pinpoint exactly what the cause of the issue was, but I can say that it wasn’t right.  The taste seemed to be “over-floured” (If that is a pizza adjective,) and towards the outer edges of the pizza, the texture was dry.  The following day the crust was much better after coming fresh out of my toaster oven.  Maybe what we experienced was the down-side to having a pizza sit in a cardboard box for 20 minutes before eating???  Well enough about the crust, although that often times is a deal breaker for me.  On to the toppings.  iFratelli’s has some of the best and freshest toppings that we have encountered on a pizza this year.  The grilled chicken pieces are huge, and could have easily been 2 full breasts worth.  The artichokes were almost the size of golf balls.  On The Big Brother, the sausage and pepperoni tasted like they just came from the local butcher.  The green peppers and onions had a crispy crunch to them that made you think they had been hand-picked from the garden earlier in the day.

The Final Report: 7 out of 10

I am a fan of the oval pizza.  There is something about having just the right amount of crust on each piece, and each slice size is perfect for a few bites. Earlier this year I had my socks blown off by Campisi’s - who also cooks an oval shaped pie.  While iFratelli’s isn’t quite as good as Campisi’s, it is certainly worth another visit. 

Week 17: Pazzo! WoodFired Pizza

As always, time seems to be flying this year and we are one week behind.  While we aren’t behind on pizza eating, we are a few days late on our review.  After enjoying Easter, birthdays, out of town visitors, and countless other things, I am finally sitting down to write the review for last week’s pizza assignment...

We packed up the bus for a quick ride up towards Highland Village.  Tucked back in the strip mall between Party City and Cotton Patch Cafe lies a lesser known pizza spot called Pazzo! WoodFired Pizza (www.mypazzo.com).  Our arrival time was about 5:30, and the place was a ghost town.  We were the only non-paid people in the place.  This got me nervous, as did the white table cloths...  Did we walk in the wrong door?  Well, both first impressions were shortly erased as the server brought two pizza dough balls (like play-doh for kids) and crayons for the table (white linen table cloths were covered with white paper).  The kids were in heaven, and there were also small TV’s built in the walls around the restaurant.  After about 15 minutes almost all of the tables were full, and the place was hopping!

We quickly reviewed the menu, and decided that bruschetta as an appetizer would hit the spot, and the server was quick and friendly.  About 30 seconds after our appetizer order was in, he came back with a plate of bread and dipping sauces.  Lesson learned (again): Next time skip the bruschetta and order a salad; not because it wasn't delicious, but it was a little too many carbohydrates with the free bread and pizza to come. 

The pizzas are cooked in the wood burning oven for about 4 minutes at 560 degrees.  Which means that before we knew it, our Margherita and Contadino were out of the oven and at our table.  The pizza looked delicious.  The pizzas at Pazzo are all approximately the same 11” size, and have VERY thin crusts.  One item that immediately impressed me was the quality of the cheese.  After reading the menu, it said that it was Parmigiano Reggiano, which apparently meant “hard textured cheese, cooked but not pressed.”  The Contadino came highly recommended by our server, which included Italian sausage, spicy salami, and flame roasted corn and bell peppers.  It was a tasty pizza, not bad, but we would order a different specialty pizza next time.  The sausage and veggies didn’t knock our socks off, or have us craving more.  Also, the crust was a little too thin for my liking and was crispy like a cracker.  All of the pizza prices were about $10, which was average compared to other pies we’ve tasted of this style.  The menu also offers a large list of pastas and sandwiches, but you’d be reading a “Pasta and Sandwich Blog” if you wanted to hear about that...   

Margherita

Contadino

The Final Report: 6.5 out of 10

Pazzo! is a a great local pizza place that is a perfect alternative for those who want to get away from the standard franchise pizza joints.  It was one of the best places we’ve been to this year for the kids.  While they didn’t rave about the pizza, they did love the kid friendly atmosphere, and so did we!