Pittsburgh Pizza Taste Test 9/1/12 (York, Fairfield: house, suburban, friendly)

[SPSGuy]

Originally Posted by Clint.

Something might be wrong with my tastebuds, though, because most of it tastes pretty much the same to me. Maybe there is a spectrum, but the swing isn't so large to me that one particular place is outstanding and others are terrible.

Exactly. Dough, sauce, and cheese has variations but I really think some people put to much emphasis on it.

[groar]

has anyone tried that coal-fired pizza place in the south side?

[groar]

Originally Posted by SPSGuy

Exactly. Dough, sauce, and cheese has variations but I really think some people put to much emphasis on it.

there's lots of acceptable pizza out there that is pretty interchangeable, but i think what most people are talking about are things that make pizza REALLY REALLY good to them. if you don't care and are happy with whatever, that's cool! it's just a matter of taste and preference.

[Herodotus]

Most pizza around here is pretty close to the generic Pizza Hut/Dominoes/Papa John's standard. That's what most folks are used to. Thus, a place like Mineos, who does that style, but better, seems great to most locals. Square pizza is a different animal altogether.

[Evergrey]

Anyone ever try Niki's in the West End? The reviews are good... apparently known for their white pizza (a style that doesn't appeal to me).

Niki's Pizza - West End - Pittsburgh | Urbanspoon

[Gordo74]

Gateway Grille in Monroeville is the best around in my opinion.

Giovanni's downtown across from the Clemente bridge is #2

Aiello's in Sq Hill is #3 for me.

[villageidiot1]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Lots of pizza places in Pittsburgh have a layer of raw dough because the pizza maker doesn't cook it long enough. Mineos is one of those places that people who like the raw dough layer congregate. I don't think I ever had a raw dough pizza in NYC for example. Sadly I think it might be a Pittsburgh thing. I just always order pizzas well done. I have to do that at Pizza Sola. That used to be a great NY slice, but the grew and have no consistency at all. Usually it is raw, never know how much toppings, dough overworked and more. I need to try Fiori's. Maybe that will be good, but I am not counting on it. Pittsburgh isn't a pizza town.

I have never noticed that Mineo's pizza had a layer of raw dough. Fiori's has good but very sloppy pizza. You need to eat it with a knife and fork.

Originally Posted by Herodotus

Most pizza around here is pretty close to the generic Pizza Hut/Dominoes/Papa John's standard. That's what most folks are used to. Thus, a place like Mineos, who does that style, but better, seems great to most locals. Square pizza is a different animal altogether.

Pizza Hut/Dominoes/Papa John's and a few other chains are all I have in my area. They all have very bland pizza. There is no comparison to Mineo's.

Originally Posted by Gordo74

Gateway Grille in Monroeville is the best around in my opinion.

Giovanni's downtown across from the Clemente bridge is #2

Aiello's in Sq Hill is #3 for me.

Aiello's has good pizza but after going back and forth between them and Mineo's I decided that Mineo's tasted better and and was more filling. Aiello's has a thinner crust.

Based on the comments here and other threads, I need to try Slice on Broadway.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by Copanut

The only good pizza is from New York, end of argument. Even if you picked up a pizza place from NY and put it in Bloomfield, it still would not be as good. I'm serious.

This is so wrong.

It's not New York, it's New Haven

These threads always amuse me. Personally, I hate Beto's with the passion of a thousand flaming pitchforks. But I get that it appeals to some because it's "different".

I grew up in pizza heaven, halfway between NYC and New Haven. And we cut out our own identity with a really odd pan pie with a crust like an Irish soda cracker and liberal application of hot oil that was only available in a cop bar where I grew up drinking 25 cent Schaefers in juice glasses. My wife (native Pittsburgher) loathes it. But it's my first stop every time I go back.

There are probably too many pizzerias in Pittsburgh to do something like this site, but it's one of the most informative, opinionated and hysterical local pizza review sites I've ever seen. Being from there, I'm biased, but how can you not appreciate a review like this one.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Anybody here try Dinette's pizza? I haven't been...

Daily Menu | Dinette | Restaurant & Wine Bar | Pittsburgh, PA

I like it, haven't been in a while. It's not really a pizza place though in the vein that many of these others are. It's a foodie place whose main dishes happen to be pizza.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by sskink

This is so wrong.

It's not New York, it's New Haven

Nah, just ask anybody from NY, they have the best pizza in the whole world.