Pizza Tangent - Best you've had ANYWHERE.

Thanks Doogy! Yep - Luigi's is $3 too.

Hero's is $2! I need to take my Jersey boy out there once we are finally ready for Italian food again.

He has complained since he moved here about the prices of pizza slices/Italian food - he's right to some extent. It's basically cheap food - you can get a mountain of spaghetti and meatballs in Jersey for $6 or $7. Same thing here would be more like $12-$14 depending on where you are talking about....

[Robin Garr]

You mean, other than Pizza King?

Okay ... Ron is on target about DiFara's in Brooklyn. Amazing! I also love Rizzo's on Steinway in Astoria, Queens, for NYC/Sicilian, which isn't really deep-dish but another genre all its own.

I've loved just about all the pizza I've had in Italy, but I realize a part of that comes from just being in Italy and eating pizza there. I've had beautiful ones in Roma, in Verona, in Venice, and in smaller villages in the north and northeast, mostly. The one I remember particularly fondly was in a neat little Fruili village, Gradisca d'Isonzo, near Gorizia in Fruili. Another awesome pie was, um, in France, but in Marseilles. You can get some GREAT pizza along the Provence coast, where I expect they may be close to the Neapolitan original than even Northern Italy. Alas, none of these places were gastronomic temples, and I couldn't tell you the names of the places on a bet. But they were some mighty fine pies.

There's some great pizza in Bloomington, IN.
Aver's Cream and Crimson pizza is probably more addictive than crack. http://www.averspizza.com/signaturepies/
Lennie's Woodsman and a Big Stone Stout is earthy nirvana. They also make a garlic blue crab pizza that's pretty interesting.
http://bbc.bloomington.com/menu/index.html
Puccini's Smiling Teeth's Campfire pizza is an incredible pie. They now have a location in Louisville and I highly recommend them.
http://www.puccinissmilingteeth.com/men ... html#cmobs
I always loved to catch the Ryder Film Series at Bear's Place. Pizza, Guinness, and well-made independent films are a perfect combo.
http://www.theryder.com/
And I can't count how many Pizza Express Big Ten specials I had (probably hundreds) while living in B-town. Large one topping pie, large order of breadsticks with dipping sauce, and two sodas for $10! I can't imagine they still sell them at that price these days.
http://express.bloomington.com/

In Lexington, I love to do The Funky Chicken from Pazzo's. In fact, I had one last night at their Franziskaner Dunkel pint night. If you haven't been to Pazzo's lately, you are missing out. The new additions and new patio (set to open this spring) will blow you away. Check it out.
http://www.pazzospizzapub.com/Food.html
I also love Brooklyn Pizza in Lexington. The best NY style pizza I've had in Kentucky so far.
http://www.thebrooklynpizza.com/aboutus.php

In Louisville, I gravitate towards Za's, Jockamo's, and Rich O's. The pizza's are all very good, but it's the atmosphere and beer selection that beckon me. Rich O's is an absolute treasure and Jockamo's homemade cakes and desserts are always a treat. I also like Hero's. I haven't tried Primo or Impellizeris yet, but look forward to it. Does Blu do pizzas too?

And BTW, if by some freak accident, you find yourself in downtown Frankfort anytime soon, we have a great new locally owned pizzeria called Buddy's right across from the Old Capitol. Its surpisingly well done NY-style pies and dollar High Life's are hard to resist. Serafini across the street also makes some good lunch pizzas.

And BTW, if by some freak accident, you find yourself in downtown Frankfort anytime soon, we have a great new locally owned pizzeria called Buddy's right across from the Old Capitol. Its surpisingly well done NY-style pies and dollar High Life's are hard to resist. Serafini across the street also makes some good lunch pizzas.

I work in Frankfort but hadn't heard about Buddy's yet. I'm gonna have to try it sometime.

Ron,

That DiFara's looks great. But, it in the picture it looks about like any other NY Style pizza...

What is it that makes it so spectacular as opposed to other NY Pizza?

You can get some GREAT pizza along the Provence coast, where I expect they may be close to the Neapolitan original than even Northern Italy.

This is a good point. We had several outstanding Neapolitan-style pizzas in Antibes and Nice.

One night on the way to Staten Island, stopped by some random pizza place in Perth Amboy, NJ. Can't even remember why it tasted so good, but good it was.

Romeo's Pizza in Plainsboro, NJ has incredible white pizza with spinach. Stunning.

Almost any pepperoni pizza joint in NYC. Why can't I get it everywhere?

Ron,

That DiFara's looks great. But, it in the picture it looks about like any other NY Style pizza...

What is it that makes it so spectacular as opposed to other NY Pizza?

Dominic DiFara. The man makes each pie by hand. His dough is made in small batches, and once it has been around for more than a few hours, he discards it. He has fresh herbs growing in boxes in the window and he uses these on the pies. His cheese is only the freshest mozzarella di bufala and a scattering of freshly grated parmigianno reggiano. The crust is simultaneously crispy and chewy, and the sauce is just the perfect piquant. I've had every major NYC pizza: Patsy's, Lombardi's, Totonno's, John's, Grimaldi's, Ray's, Waldy's, 28 Carmine, Una Pizza, etc. etc., and DiFara's is better . . . much better.

Joe's Pizza in Vauxhall (Union) NJ. The best pizza sausage and cheese pizza anywhere.

There was a place in Phoenix that was really darn good. Can't remember the name though. Then there was some weird style of Turkish pizza in Izmir that was good in its own way. There are places everywhere that have great pizza.

There was a place in Phoenix that was really darn good. Can't remember the name though.

I've read about that place. They guy went to Naples to learn from the best in the business. Super authentic.

The place in Phoenix : Pizzeria Bianco

My hands down grand champion for the moment is Minneapolis' Pizza Luce. If they ever go national and open here, I'll probably never leave that place.

Outside of that Gino's East in Chicago was very good, and welcome reprieve for Chicago style with me after a disappointing visit to Giordano's.

Then of course comes our own beloved Rich-O's.

Chiming in on the Bay Area pies (east bay)...Hands down the best pizza is ZACHARY'S. Chicago style pie with two layers of heaven....blows anything from Chicago away! A long wait but worth every bit of it.......Give me a tomato-basil and I'll wet myself!

Just 3 1/2 hours south of Louisville in Oakridge, Tennesse is a place called "Big Ed's". Excellent, excellent pizza!!

http://www.pizzajoints.com/United_State ... a994627593

Bianco's and also Grimaldi's in Phoenix, for great thin & crispy crust pizza.