Rate-A-Restaurant #192: Tomato Pie

Restaurant: Tomato Pie Pizza Joint

Location: 2457 Hyperion (Silver Lake)

Type of restaurant: Pizza

We stipulated: As I continued to slowly creep through Friday evening traffic, I called up Maria and suggested that we meet somewhere for dinner. I’d been in the mood for pizza — and suggested one of the many newish joints that had popped up in Silver Lake and vicinity in recent times. We looked at Garage Pizza and Tomato Pie — but chose Tomato Pie, perhaps because of its nicer logo.

What we ordered: Evan got a slice of cheese pizza, while Maria and I split a medium Pesto Pie ($14.50) — fresh garlic pesto base, chicken, sundried tomato and artichoke hearts. Also: An order of 10 hot wings — baked, not fried ($6.50).

High point: Pizza was solid — and heats up well for leftovers. The baked wings were nice too, and boasted a decent spice.

Low point: Even though we were the only ones there, service was slow — so much so that the wings came out at the same time as our pizza, even though it’s an appetizer.

Overall impression: Tomato Pie makes a decent pizza, but I’m not quite sure it’s worth the slightly expensive prices.

Chance we’ll go back: Probably not any time soon. For economical pizza, we usually hit Crispy Crust… and for sit-down pizza, Casa Bianca.

For a complete list of our more than 190 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Rate-A-Restaurant #185: Posto Thin-Crust Pizza

Restaurant: Posto Thin Crust

Location: 310 Second Avenue, at 18th St. (New York)

Type of restaurant: Pizza

We stipulated: Evan was down for the count in New York, having been hit hard with an ear infection. As a result, going out to eat was out of the question mid-week. Instead, I decided to grab a pizza and bring it back. But not just any pizza. I’d read about Posto on Chowhound, where foodies raved over the joint’s thin crust. Posto was a few blocks from our hotel — good enough for me.

What we ordered: First visit, the Fafandone (16 inch, $20): Marinara Sauce, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Sweet Italian Sausage, Fresh Mozzarella. Second visit, the ChixPotle (9 inch, $11.00): Marinara Sauce & Cheese, Shredded Chicken braised with our own Chipotle sauce with sautéed Vidalia Onions and Peppers, Fresh Pineapple, Cilantro. Also, Formaggio Bianco (9 inch, $10.00): Fresh Ricotta, Fresh Mozzarella, Spinach, Fresh Basil.

High point: The Fafandone — wow. My favorite pizza in all of New York. Whatta combo, and with that cracker-thin crust, nearly perfect.

Low point: The other two pizzas we tried a few days later weren’t quite as special — shoulda stuck with the Fafandone.

Overall impression: A great NY spot: Located in a small home downstairs in the formerly rough ‘hood, Posto is worth the trip.

Chance we’ll go back: Next time we’re in NYC.

For a complete list of our nearly 185 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Finding the Best Pizza in Los Angeles

(Photo by Julie Wolfson/LAist)

LAist has just proclaimed the best pizza slice in Los Angeles: Vito’s Pizza on La Cienega.

Definitely a good choice — check out our Rate-A-Restaurant review here.

For best overall pizza, we still have to go with Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock. For best slice in our area, we might gravitate toward Brownstone Pizzeria, also in Eagle Rock.

Where do you guys go to find the best slice in L.A.?

Rate-A-Restaurant #179: Uncle Vito’s Pizza

Uncle Vito’s owner, with the San Francisco Twins

Restaurant: Uncle Vito’s

Location: 700 Bush St., at Powell (San Francisco)

Type of restaurant: Pizza/Italian

They stipulated: “Uncle Vito rises early each morning, prepares fresh dough from unbleached flour, cuts the freshest vegetables and grates part-skim milk mozzarella (less fat, but full flavor). All pizzas can be ordered with light cheese.”

We stipulated: We were in the mood for pizza. Our hopes were dashed in Monterey, where the joint one of you recommended wasn’t, alas, open for lunch. After a day of walking around SF, a pizza sounded ideal. I asked the concierge at our hotel for recommendations, and he noted that many spots were closed — it was July 4, after all. But Uncle Vito’s wasn’t — and that’s the spot he sends people (“and I’m Italian, so I know pizza,” he said). I knew he was on to something when, as we were waiting for a table, a cable car conductor stopped his trolley right in the middle of the street, leaving people hanging as he ran in to buy his dinner at Vito’s.

What we ordered: The Mountain: The house combo – with salami, pepperoni, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms and sausage. (We ordered without salami — seemed like excessive meat.) Medium was $15. Also: Spinach Salad (mushrooms, croutons and our own poppy seed dressing), $5, Got a 1/2 liter of the House Red for $5.75.

High point: Gotta say, that poppy seed dressing was pretty good. And the pizza was pretty good too — the concierge didn’t lie. But perhaps the high point was our surreal encounter with the Twins. They’re apparently regulars at Vito’s, so if you’re looking for that kind of SF experience, there you go.

Low point: It was the holiday, and with many restaurants closed, the wait for a table at Uncle Vito’s was unbelievable. We stood there for at least an hour. After we finally got a table, the owner came over and sheepishly asked us if we could trade down to a smaller table, to make room for some guests after we just arrived. I was waiting for him to offer something — hey, some free wine, anything — in exchange. But nothing. So we didn’t say anything, and it dawned on him that after an hour of waiting, we weren’t giving up our hard-earned table. He told us not to worry about it.

Overall impression: It ain’t Casa Bianca, our L.A. pizza of choice. But it’s not bad. And it’s a great place to both people watch… and cable car watch (a bonus for those of you with 3-year-old boys.) I’d definitely consider eating there again on a future SF visit, if we were in the mood for pizza.

For a complete list of our nearly 180 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Rate-A-Restaurant #179: Uncle Vito’s Pizza

Uncle Vito’s owner, with the San Francisco Twins

Restaurant: Uncle Vito’s

Location: 700 Bush St., at Powell (San Francisco)

Type of restaurant: Pizza/Italian

They stipulated: “Uncle Vito rises early each morning, prepares fresh dough from unbleached flour, cuts the freshest vegetables and grates part-skim milk mozzarella (less fat, but full flavor). All pizzas can be ordered with light cheese.”

We stipulated: We were in the mood for pizza. Our hopes were dashed in Monterey, where the joint one of you recommended wasn’t, alas, open for lunch. After a day of walking around SF, a pizza sounded ideal. I asked the concierge at our hotel for recommendations, and he noted that many spots were closed — it was July 4, after all. But Uncle Vito’s wasn’t — and that’s the spot he sends people (“and I’m Italian, so I know pizza,” he said). I knew he was on to something when, as we were waiting for a table, a cable car conductor stopped his trolley right in the middle of the street, leaving people hanging as he ran in to buy his dinner at Vito’s.

What we ordered: The Mountain: The house combo – with salami, pepperoni, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms and sausage. (We ordered without salami — seemed like excessive meat.) Medium was $15. Also: Spinach Salad (mushrooms, croutons and our own poppy seed dressing), $5, Got a 1/2 liter of the House Red for $5.75.

High point: Gotta say, that poppy seed dressing was pretty good. And the pizza was pretty good too — the concierge didn’t lie. But perhaps the high point was our surreal encounter with the Twins. They’re apparently regulars at Vito’s, so if you’re looking for that kind of SF experience, there you go.

Low point: It was the holiday, and with many restaurants closed, the wait for a table at Uncle Vito’s was unbelievable. We stood there for at least an hour. After we finally got a table, the owner came over and sheepishly asked us if we could trade down to a smaller table, to make room for some guests after we just arrived. I was waiting for him to offer something — hey, some free wine, anything — in exchange. But nothing. So we didn’t say anything, and it dawned on him that after an hour of waiting, we weren’t giving up our hard-earned table. He told us not to worry about it.

Overall impression: It ain’t Casa Bianca, our L.A. pizza of choice. But it’s not bad. And it’s a great place to both people watch… and cable car watch (a bonus for those of you with 3-year-old boys.) I’d definitely consider eating there again on a future SF visit, if we were in the mood for pizza.

For a complete list of our nearly 180 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Rate-A-Restaurant #173: Brownstone Pizzeria

Restaurant: Brownstone Pizzeria

Location: 2108 Colorado Blvd (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: Pizza

They stipulated: Weekday specials include two slices of cheese and a drink for $4.95, or two slices with topping and a drink for $5.95. We were set to get the specials — but they’re not offered on Saturday.

We stipulated: We had a big breakfast and were planning on having an early, so we wanted to have a simple, quick lunch. We were heading in Eagle Rock’s direction, and we’ve been wanting to try Brownstone anyway.

What we ordered: Slice with mushrooms and a slice with meatballs, $2.95 each

High point: What a nice surprise — the thin crust is a great, ultra thin consistency, and the slices a good size. Especially as a nice snack, it hit the spot.

Low point: Sad to discover that the weekday special wasn’t available on the weekend. Service was also a bit surly. But perhaps that was part of the New York pizzeria experience.

Overall impression: Hmm, Eagle Rock can now lay claim to being one of L.A.’s pizza mecca, as it’s home to both Brownstone and to our fave, Casa Bianca. Brownstone is a perfect addition to Eagle Rock’s ever hipper Colorado Blvd., and offers up one of the best by-the-slice experiences I’ve had in L.A.
By the way, Colorado Wine Co. allows Brownstone customers to come in with their slices and enjoy it in their wine bar with a glass or two. That sounds like a future plan.

Chance we’ll go back: Considering how often we’re in the neighborhood, there’s no doubt.

For a complete list of our more than 170 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.