Mineos Vs. Aielos- Which has better Pizza? (Pittsburgh, Lebanon: shop, food)

[sentine55]

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Interested in seeing what people think is the better pizza place

[BrianTH]

Villa Reale.

[Tinare]

Fiori's.

[gg]

Not a fan of raw pizza and that is what Mineos serves IMHO. Just can't get past that raw doe layer. Aielos is okay. Cooked a little better and probably is better, but to be honest, I don't feel Pittsburgh has any good pizzas like they have in NYNY. Not sure why, but it just doesn't have the correct flavor or feel.

[Mr. Humble]

If I've got my Pittsburgh Pizza History correct, Aiello's is an off-shoot of Mineo's. Joe Aiello worked for Mineo's, and after a spat, opened up a few doors away.

It could have changed, but my recollection is it was pretty hard to tell the difference between the two.

[ML North]

Sometimes in the summer I go to Squirrel Hill and get one slice each from Mineo's, Aiello's, and Napoli, which are all located on two adjacent blocks. I always start at Mineo's because they have the cheapest drinks.

Frankly I don't think any of them are very good, but of the three Mineo's probably wins. Aiello's is too sloppy, not crisp at all, and is relatively tasteless. Mineo's cheese is too sharp and there is just too much of it. Napoli is just forgetable, nothing about it stands out.

I prefer the Milano's in Oakland, which is not affiliated with any of the other Milanos in the area. They have a real oven, not a toaster, and it's owned by a young Italian guy that knows how to cook a pizza. Blue Grotto on 17th and Carson is also pretty good.

[Tirade]

Aiello's.

Mineo's just tastes like a pile of grease to me.

[fleetiebelle]

Mineo's just tastes like a pile of grease to me.

Agreed. The first time I had Mineo's I thought, "this is supposed to be the city's best pizza?"

[smokecitytdi]

Originally Posted by Mr. Humble

If I've got my Pittsburgh Pizza History correct, Aiello's is an off-shoot of Mineo's. Joe Aiello worked for Mineo's, and after a spat, opened up a few doors away.

It could have changed, but my recollection is it was pretty hard to tell the difference between the two.

I'm not really sure of the history but both places are excellent.

I usually go to Aiello's because the workers seem a little happier. They joke around with the customers, make fun of your order, or laugh about the snow outside and the drivers on Murray. They have a smile and you have some great pizza when you leave.

I feel like I'm at the "Soup Man's" shop with Mineo's and Fiori's..give me your money and here is your pizza.

Customer service sells even with pizza...

[XRiteMA98]

Piazzaiolo in Mt. Lebanon. They have a brick oven and serve small pizza in a sit down environment (and a hefty corking fee) but at least, it tastes like in Italy.

Other that this, I like Monticello downtown. My coworkers rave the pizza from Ephesus Pizza - "A Taste of the Mediterranean"
However the owner is Turkish and, although he has even French pizza on the menu (aka with ratattouille) and other crazy stuff, I always eat turkish pizza when I go there. It's the real thing, it tastes like in the bazar in Istanbul. That place is creepy but the food he makes is EXCELLENT! Highly recommended.