Fenway better than expected - the pizza, not so much

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by holden125

I lived many a year in New York. My thought is that there are a small number of places in and near Boston with good pizza, and a lot of places that absolutely stink. Particularly in the South End. That "NY" place on Mass Av. near Wally's: yuk! New York (and especially Brooklyn) does beat Boston, hands down, for just walking off the street and buying a slice. In New York it will more than likely be good, in Boston not so much. Ditto bagels. But I do like the few good places. Net result - I eat less pizza, which I imagine is good for the waistline anyway.

BTW-Regina opened in the former Sports Depot in Allston and there's hardly ever a wait since the space is so big. The quality is much closer to the original North End restaurant than the "Regina" you'd get at South Station or Quincy Market. I generally go there or Santarpio's when I feel like pizza. Presto or Pino at Cleveland Circle will do fine too.

I have to disagree about NYC pizza. The half dozen times I have walked off the street for a slice I have been gravely disappointed. In fact I have had some of the worst slices in my life in Manhattan. Who'd a thunk it? In NYC, like anywhere else, you need to know where to find the best pizza.

IMO: The best pizza is in New Haven CT. The best pizza in Boston can be had at a place in Jamaica Plain called Same Old Place. I drive from Ashmont to JP for their pies.

[HenryAlan]

I have also had bad pizza in New York. But the good pizza, when you find it, WOW!

At any rate, I agree that Same Old Place is great, but Mr. Joshua, I strongly recommend you turn left sometime when you get to South St. and head down to Rozzie Square. You will find one of the best pies anywhere, not just for Boston, at Cafe Rialto, which is on the corner of Washington and South St. just as you enter the square.

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by HenryAlan

I have also had bad pizza in New York. But the good pizza, when you find it, WOW!

At any rate, I agree that Same Old Place is great, but Mr. Joshua, I strongly recommend you turn left sometime when you get to South St. and head down to Rozzie Square. You will find one of the best pies anywhere, not just for Boston, at Cafe Rialto, which is on the corner of Washington and South St. just as you enter the square.

Do they do takeout? And do they have good salads as well?

[rranger]

Originally Posted by Mr. Joshua

I have to disagree about NYC pizza. The half dozen times I have walked off the street for a slice I have been gravely disappointed. In fact I have had some of the worst slices in my life in Manhattan. Who'd a thunk it? In NYC, like anywhere else, you need to know where to find the best pizza.

IMO: The best pizza is in New Haven CT. The best pizza in Boston can be had at a place in Jamaica Plain called Same Old Place. I drive from Ashmont to JP for their pies.

Ditto. I lived in NYC for years and never had a good slice of pizza. People used to rave about Ray's, for example, and it was like dried out tomato and cheese on cardboard. I guess growing up in RI and having access to places like Caserta's spoiled me. I don't particularly like pizza in Boston either but, as I said, Woody's is very good. I'll have to try that place in Rozzie.

BTW: Lots of people have told me about New Haven pizza, so I guess I'm going to have to stop on my way to NYC and try some pizza there. Any recommendations?

[HenryAlan]

RE: Rialto

They do takeout, and they have fantastic salads, though surprisingly, they don't have a ceasar salad. It's worth dining in, though. It's small, but they did it right, so it's very warm and comfortable, nice big screen TV to watch a game, and a decent selection of beer and wine to go with your pie. The rest of the menu is also quite good, mostly panini and pasta offerings, and the place is owned and run by the nicest people you'll ever meet.

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by rranger

Ditto. I lived in NYC for years and never had a good slice of pizza. People used to rave about Ray's, for example, and it was like dried out tomato and cheese on cardboard. I guess growing up in RI and having access to places like Caserta's spoiled me. I don't particularly like pizza in Boston either but, as I said, Woody's is very good. I'll have to try that place in Rozzie.

BTW: Lots of people have told me about New Haven pizza, so I guess I'm going to have to stop on my way to NYC and try some pizza there. Any recommendations?

Sure. There are all on one street on the east side of New Haven it's called Wooster St. I would go to Frank Pepe's.

[rranger]

Originally Posted by Mr. Joshua

Sure. There are all on one street on the east side of New Haven it's called Wooster St. I would go to Frank Pepe's.

Thanks, I'll give it a go!

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by HenryAlan

at Cafe Rialto, which is on the corner of Washington and South St. just as you enter the square.

Is that a new place?

[HenryAlan]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Is that a new place?

It is newish. It opened about a year ago.

[chuy617]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Never heard anyone talk about going to Boston to get pizza....I always thought clam chowder and other seafood type stuff is the Boston specialty, never pizza.

I didn't go to Boston for pizza, I went for Fenway baseball, which can't be found anywhere else.

Since it was my first trip to the East Coast, I was totally geeked at the prospect of trying East Coast pizza, which is supposedly the ****.