Pizzeria Bianco - worth the wait? (Scottsdale, Cottonwood: sales, house, live in)

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Desert_SW_77

Well I'm doing spending night in Old Town Scottsdale, and one night at a hotel in the North Valley near the 17/101 interchange and I intend to spend some time around Central Phoenix. I guess I could go to Yelp, but that site has become sort of a beast of its own. What it boils down to for me is, I was reading about Pizzeria Bianco and its Neapolitan style pizza which triggered a craving for it. So now that I have an appetite for Neapolitans Pizza (my palate is going coo coo for it), where's the best place in the Valley for that?

If you'll be in Scottsdale, Pomo is good. Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana - Scottsdale - Scottsdale, AZ | Yelp

Just because Bianco is overrated doesn't mean that it isn't good. I'd still try to check it out.

[pbenjamin]

Pomo is better if you want AVPN certified Neapolitan pizza. Chris Bianco's pies are more creative and stray a bit from the standard. There both great and neither, in my opinion, overrated.

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

AVPN certified Neapolitan pizza.

wow, did have to look that up!.....an official pizza board!....here's the American section of the association

VPN AMERICAS - Vera Pizza Napoletana

[exit2lef]

Both Pomo (locations in Downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale) and La Piazza PHX (Downtown Phoenix with a sister restaurant called La Piazza Locale in Glendale) are VPN certified. As mentioned, Pizzeria Bianco is not, but that's more because the proprietor hasn't needed to bother. I'm sure could meet the standard if wanted to, but maybe not pursuing the certification allows a little more flexibility.

[nope098]

It's worth a 10-15 minute wait..

[Champ le monstre du lac]

OK, I went to Pizzeria Bianco downtown on Monday afternoon at about 2:00 PM, and the place was about 1/2 full. It was a satisfying and different experience. I did find their menu to be very limited. I'd call it a very decent neighborhood kind of pizza joint that happens to have an excellent pizza oven that makes a good light and airy crust. I can't say it was anywhere near being the best pizza in America as its been called before. Would I go back again? Maybe, as it was a good pizza. But next time I'm in the Valley I'll probably try some other place that locals would recommend.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Desert_SW_77

OK, I went to Pizzeria Bianco downtown on Monday afternoon at about 2:00 PM, and the place was about 1/2 full. It was a satisfying and different experience. I did find their menu to be very limited. I'd call it a very decent neighborhood kind of pizza joint that happens to have an excellent pizza oven that makes a good light and airy crust. I can't say it was anywhere near being the best pizza in America as its been called before. Would I go back again? Maybe, as it was a good pizza. But next time I'm in the Valley I'll probably try some other place that locals would recommend.

Glad you got to check it out. That sounds like a fair and accurate take on the place.

[SK115]

I visited the one at Town and Country about a year ago. I didn't understand why it gets so much hype. The pizza wasn't even the best pizza I've had in Phoenix, let alone the best in the country. It seemed like a place that people go for the "vibe" and not a place for people that like to eat.

[Jukesgrrl]

I've lived in Arizona for nine years now. I've never had anything in this state I would call the best pizza I've ever eaten, including Bianco's. I'm convinced it's the local water not being conducive to making a tasty crust ... but that's a story for another day.

The last time I ate at the downtown establishment (because I had an appointment in the same neighborhood), it was a weekday at around 3 p.m. and I was seated immediately. Right after I started eating, Padre Bianco came over to ask me how I liked my food. I said everything was fine, thank you. He seemed rather annoyed that I didn't fawn all over him. And I didn't say a word about it being somewhat overpriced nor did I mention the fact that I was kind of put out that I had to deal with valet parking in a half-empty lot in the middle of the day. Generally, I agree with DetroitN8V: it's overrated and good. The room is pleasant.

Pane Bianco on N. Central also has rapturous reviews but I'm unlikely ever to go back there. On my first visit the service was terrible and I found the place to be very pretentious for someplace mimicking a country Italian cafe. The menu items seem designed for attention-getting, rather than taste, with exotic ingredients and weird combinations you wouldn't find in a place like that which actually is in Europe. The bread is, indeed, delicious, but just buy some to go.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl

Padre Bianco came over to ask me how I liked my food. I said everything was fine, thank you. He seemed rather annoyed that I didn't fawn all over him. And I didn't say a word about it being somewhat overpriced nor did I mention the fact that I was kind of put out that I had to deal with valet parking in a half-empty lot in the middle of the day.

Padre Bianco? That's a new one. There are a large number of parking options, this is a big city. You managed to find a valet lot?