OT: The Great Pizza Debate

[michealprater]

I did not want to hijack the other thread but I thought this would make an interesting topic. One thing I have noticed is no one ever agrees on pizza favorites. This is one dish that is so different that it is amazing all the different types you can get, and simply put, you will never get a group to agree on it. But I love trying new places. I will throw out a few opinions and those of you that live in the city can give your recommendations. The options seem to be endless.

For starters, I love IMOs. But I am not just a sucker for St. Louis style. I really love Giordanos in Chicago. I have been told I would like Black Thorn, may go there Monday night. Another wierd one, I heard people rave over Panteras and I do not really get it. Was it good pizza, yes, was it great, no. The restaurant just looked dirty and the pizza did not impress. I think it was called Ultimeat or something. There is an authentic italian place here in town called Dimaggios but they seem to rely too much on the tomato sauce, although they do have an alfredo sauce bacon pizza that is pretty high on my list. I typically prefer thin crust, the thinner the better with the exception Chicago style, in that case cornbread crust is tough to beat.

Anyway, lets here your ramblings on pizza. I know it is always a hot topic here on SLASH.

 

[zt444a]

After having sampled some of the various pie around St.Louis, I am not a huge IMO's fan. There are a few others around who make pie that is as good as IMO's, imho. What about our resident Pie expert? Nook where are you....

 

[Koddie Doo]

zt444a and MP,

Although I agree that there are better pies than Imo's. Imo's is the most consistent and readily available to most. They are not to creative, but do offer a wide variety of choices. I would say that their square does score high on all the key factors when judging pie....

Crust:
Flavor:
Amount of toppings:
Next day eatability:
Liked by the masses:

My favorite Imo's Pie id the Deluxe - the sausage + black olives...

 

[Nanook]

My favorites in no particular order

Pirrone's

Faraci's

Farotto's

Ponticello's

Cicero's

That'sa Nice'a Pizza

Cusanelli's



I think some Imo's locations are good, but not on par with the above restaurants. I bet I have ate 10x the IMO's pizzas of anyone on this board in my lifetime. My brother worked for them as did many of my friends growing up. I have spent thousands of dollars on their pies

 

[logiktest]

There is a place by Gateway Aquatics called Louie's that has a really good specialty Chicago with spinach and some other sort of madness in it, which I find odd because I don't even like spinach as a topping, but still love it. They make a nice Italian sausage hero too.

I'm one of the one's who like's Pantera's. It's a decent hand tossed, and not too far from home. I also like that they have video arcade games.

Pointers has the all-elusive hand tossed Pointersaurus, and I still really want to kill one, even if just for the glory of it.

Near Saltwater Island is Pizzarelli's, and they had the best hand tossed pie I've ever had in my life, and I only say "had" because the Pizzarelli family sold it a few years ago, and the last time I ordered, I received lack luster service. I think they have the best hot wings by far, and hero's as well.

Imo's is simply not a place for me to be when I'm hungry because I cant justify spending sixteen bucks on a thin little cracker that I can treat like an appetizer, however it does taste good. They have some pretty good vinaigrette salad dressing too.

Stephanina's makes a good cracker crust, but I don't think I've ever ordered one for myself because I'm far to infatuated with there tortellini in a cream sauce. They have the best creamy Italian salad dressing in town, bar none.

When I think of the best cracker in the lou, I think of a Spicy Jerry with onion rings and extra crushed red pepper flakes.

 

[Nanook]

We are going to have to change our Pizza Nights to Fitness Nights in a few years:lol:

 

[logiktest]

:lol:!!!

....I figured it out. We'll either dine here at Fitness Pizza: http://www.fitnessgrill.com/

Or,

^ Check out the Papa John's mobile cart! :lol:

 

[zt444a]

My favorites in no particular order

Pirrone's

Faraci's

Farotto's

Ponticello's

Cicero's

That'sa Nice'a Pizza

Cusanelli's



I think some Imo's locations are good, but not on par with the above restaurants. I bet I have ate 10x the IMO's pizzas of anyone on this board in my lifetime. My brother worked for them as did many of my friends growing up. I have spent thousands of dollars on their pies

That is the list I'd say Dave. And you touched on the major problem I have with IMO's. Not all of their locations seem to give a damn about making good pie.

 

[jjwill_sdsu]

In the St. Louis area, I can say some pleasant surprises have been (in no particular order):

1. Dewie's Pizza - Nice variety from the standard pizzas you normally see, but can still get some of the classics.
2. Pi - Waited a long time to actually make it to one of these locations, but I'm now waiting to go back. A little pricey, but good thin and Chicago styles. Once again, some more "exotic" pizzas, but not much for meat selections if you're a strict meat-i-tarian such as myself.
3. Bellacino's - Nice hand tossed pizza with a sweet sauce that I enjoy.
4. Il Vicino - More personal style wood baked sicilian pizzas - very nice if you're craving pizza but not necessarily looking to stuff yourself on a large or have leftovers for a week (crazy, I know).
5. Louie's - +1 with Logiktest on this one... I dig the Chicago style pizza.

My one major complaint to date is that we can't get an Old Chicago's here... perhaps there's a pride issue with the Cardinals/Cubs rivalry. I won't even always get their pizza (which is mighty tasty as well), but there's always something good on the menu to make everyone happy.

 

[smoothdog]

I have to say I've never met a pie I didn't like. Pizza should be it's own food group. That being said, I do have my favorites.

Pirrone's
Giordano's
Stephanina's
Ami's - Fantastic New York style!
Ponticello's

One of these days I'm going to have to break down and try Ami's Chicago style but the NY has always been so good that we always go back to it. Does anyone know of a good place to get Chicago style pizza in town? I'm talkin' at least 1.5 in deep, none of this "we took our regular pie and put the sauce on top" stuff. Is Louie's like that?

 

[breutus]

My list in no particular order

Cusanelli's - is pretty high on my list as they do an extra provel cheese pizza like no one else IMHO

Faraci's - definitely gets high ratings once again simply because of phenomenal cheese used on there pizzas

Ilvicino's - Is very highly rated due to the fact they are a bit more unconventional pizza with the best oven in saint louis.

IMO's - has to be on this list but it completely depends on location. The one on big bend in maplewood is great and so is the one in High Ridge. But I wont even eat at most the others.

Joanie's Pizzeria - because it has to have the best barbecue chicken pizza in saint louis! But I dont really care for a "normal" pie from them.

The good Pie - has some of the best crust in saint louis hands down, there's almost nothing to compare it to.


So it always depends On my mood for what I'm up for, the big thing to note is there is NEVER a time I am into the crappy horrible terribly disgusting Chicago style deep dish half inch of grease pizzas LOL

 

[rbnice1]

little place out by me called Sorellie's is some of the best pizza I have had. It's like what IMO's tasted like 10 years ago. 1 large hamburger and canadian bacon pizza and I am in heaven.

 

[Im Lon 2]

HAHA this is going to sound really bad, but one of my favorite pizza is the supreme from Casey's General Store/Gas station.

I guess I don't get out much!! :lol:

 

[michealprater]

IMOs is one of my favorites because of provel cheese. Plain and simple.

People keep mentioning Chicago Style, but no mention of The Black Thorn. My buddy says it is an amazing feat to eat 2 pcs.

The rest of you, thanks so much for the list. I am going to have to start trying a few! Two people made Pirrone's there favorite, I need to try it.

BTW, hand tossed is the worst choice of crust IMO. Ill take a cracker or a Chicago bowl style first anyday.

 

[Nanook]

Black Thorn is more of a trendy place for college folks, think bar, table games and lots of people smoking/drinking It is more of a popular haunt for the youngsters with mediocre Chicago style pizza, also expect to wait 45 minutes to an hour at least if ordering in the restaurant. Definitely doesn't compare to an authentic Chicago pie. It is also located in a pretty inconvenient part of the city for most of us and is no where near for a pizza night.

 

[rbnice1]

There was a small pizza place in a out door mall I went to back when I was a kid in boulder Colorado that had the best deep dish pizza I have ever had.

Also Pirrone's is good. I grew up in west county, but Sorelli's is better.

Have to come out some time and we can get drunk and talk fish while eating pizza.

 

[frenchie]

roma's pizza bethalto, illinois

 

[breutus]

Okay so all you pizza gurus out there help me find out what this place is

When I was young... like 11-12, Me and my dad stayed up all night one night and at like 2:30 in the morning we wanted pizza. SO he got the phone book out and started calling all over the place. He finally found some place down in the city near the main bus station (I don't remember how close but it seems it was pretty close) It was hand tossed thin crust. All I remember is it was amazing!!! But i have no idea what the place was or if its still there.

So anyone have any clues?

 

[twizzlerman77]

Anyone ever had a taco pizza from caseys? One of my favorites and you may laugh at me too... LOL

http://www.caseys.com/food.html

 

[rackman]

i have to go with Pirrone's as well

-great crust, sauce, cheese, and is even better the next day.
and it is only half a mile from my front door:thumbsup: