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There will always be debate over whether New York Style or Chicago Style is better.    I think it's unfortunate that the Shoals doesn't have a better choice of Pizzas but there are some good choices here.  I like Ricatoni's brick oven pizza and also like the Marina Restaurant (Barge inn, I believe) but since Pizza Marina closed I haven't really found a locally owned pizza place that I can get excited about.  Nothing like the choices that I had while living in the Atlanta area.  


One thing comes to mind though, when I considered the "best" pizza in the places that I've eaten at. Without exception it seems that the best pizza that I've found comes from places that utilize the old style pizza ovens.  These are the shelf type ovens that they slide the pizza into and allow to cook.  Not the type that are the conveyor type where they put it on a rack that continues to move the pizza through the oven.  Hence the topic here.  Has anyone else found this to be true in their case?  Do the best Pizzas come from the restaurants that utilize the old style ovens?  What about the brick ovens?


Just curious what other's opinions are.

 

Be as the Bereans ( Acts 17:11 )

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Since Franks has left the Tuscumbia location, he will no longer have a wood fired brick oven.  It was pretty good.

Some of the pizza you've mentioned is okay--but no better than okay. 

I just returned from Italy last week, and we did have some pretty good pizza.  Nothing local even rates with their marginal pizza, however.

Really great pizza requires high quality ingredients, and we just don't have any restaurant willing to spend the money on their supplies.

I do love Exlines and Broadway Pizza in Memphis which use the same bulk sausage coming out of Fayette Packing House in Somerville, TN

I also love the pizza at Carrabbas in Mountain Brook, Cool Springs and the mall on South Memorial Parkway in Huntsville. 

The pizza and short bread appetizers at Maggiano's Little Italy on Broadway in Nashville are to die for.  In fact, the best Italian food we've ever experienced in this world was at Maggiano's. 

Heck sounds sorta crazy but I am fond of those Hunts Brothers Pizza ya find at the service station/small stores. They are always pretty good compared to what I call the fast food pizza. Mellow Mushroom is not bad since they do use somewhat fresh toppings, not sure what type oven they use tho.

If you want the very best pizza, find a pizza joint owned by Greeks. They know how to make a better crust. (Let the dough rise three times, then proof it, then ever so SLIGHTLY cook it BEFORE putting the sauce and toppings on so it doesn't get gummy.) They use fresh ingredients, never skimp on the cheese or toppings, and yes, they use a brick oven - BUT the pizza is cooked in a pan first, then taken out of the pan and cooked directly on the bricks for the last few minutes.

I'll have to try Ricatonis pizza. As far as chains I prefer Papa Johns. Its been my experience you find the best pizza in larger metro areas or up north. I wouldn't expect to find great pizza here just like I wouldn't expect to find great BBQ in New York. If you're ever in Auburn there is actually a place called Brick Oven Pizza that's pretty good.

Originally Posted by Bamaman1:

Since Franks has left the Tuscumbia location, he will no longer have a wood fired brick oven.  It was pretty good.

Some of the pizza you've mentioned is okay--but no better than okay. 

I just returned from Italy last week, and we did have some pretty good pizza.  Nothing local even rates with their marginal pizza, however.

Really great pizza requires high quality ingredients, and we just don't have any restaurant willing to spend the money on their supplies.

I do love Exlines and Broadway Pizza in Memphis which use the same bulk sausage coming out of Fayette Packing House in Somerville, TN

I also love the pizza at Carrabbas in Mountain Brook, Cool Springs and the mall on South Memorial Parkway in Huntsville. 

The pizza and short bread appetizers at Maggiano's Little Italy on Broadway in Nashville are to die for.  In fact, the best Italian food we've ever experienced in this world was at Maggiano's. 

___

 

YESSS! 

 

Maggiano's ROCKS!

 

Also try Sweet Sicily's, just off  Missouri Street in West Memphis, Arkansas.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Res...emphis_Arkansas.html

 

Or if you are there and not in a pizza mood, go to Willie Mae's Rib Haus

http://www.yelp.com/biz/willie...ib-haus-west-memphis

 

If you eat at either of these places, you have my unconditional personal guarantee that you will immensely enjoy the experience.*

 

* Contendah's personal guarantee:  Should you follow any recommendation from Contendah having to do with food, music, sports, reading or any other legitimate human activity and not be fully  unsatisfied by the experience, Contendah unconditionally pledges to be very, very sorry.

Originally Posted by O No!:

If you want the very best pizza, find a pizza joint owned by Greeks. They know how to make a better crust. (Let the dough rise three times, then proof it, then ever so SLIGHTLY cook it BEFORE putting the sauce and toppings on so it doesn't get gummy.) They use fresh ingredients, never skimp on the cheese or toppings, and yes, they use a brick oven - BUT the pizza is cooked in a pan first, then taken out of the pan and cooked directly on the bricks for the last few minutes.

Actually I have heard that from another at one time.  Actually some of the best pasta that I have ever eaten came from a family that was Greek and used Greek recipes.  Also some great pasta was from a source that I would have not thought of.  A Cajun chef that came up to Muscle Shoals from New Orleans along with his son set up a small Cajun Restaurant on Avalon Ave not too far from the Police station in a little hole in the wall joint.  He had the absolute best Cajun pasta and also had the best bread pudding that I ever tried.  

 

As for this specific topic I enjoy finding out what pizzas people like because I love a good pizza.  There is a new place out in Killen, just over the bridge, on the left (as leaving Florence) that is in the old building that Pizza Marina was in.  I wonder how it is?  It may not be the case, across the board, but I cannot help but feel that the best pizzas come from the old fashioned traditional Pizza ovens rather than the conveyor air cookers that are more common

 

Contendah:  Nice to hear some new names on the Pizza front.  I had no idea Corinth had such a great place with Pizza Grocery--looks good on their website.  I thought it was a city of catfish and tamales.

 

I've had some of the best commercial BBQ ever in West Memphis--i.e. the old Razorback BBQ's barbeque chicken.  But now, the only reason I stop in West Memphis is to get gasoline.  It's one of those places you can get hurt in.  There again, Memphis is like that too--anywhere.

 

Pie in the Sky in Huntsville is owned by a Franklin, TN couple that have 3 locations in Nashville.

 

It ought to be the best pizza you've ever had with a 16" pizza @ $23 average.  One pizza with the kitchen sink is $43.  Ouch!

 

They also have an elaborate menu not commonly seen in pizza restaurants, including sandwiches and pastas.  And, $7.49 desserts? ? ?  See PieintheSky.com for details.

 

I'm sorry, but I just cannot afford this place.  It's even a notch above Mellow Mushroom in price--which is also out of my price range.

I believe the correct link is:  http://www.pieintheskypizza.com/   and their prices are premium for a Pizza but then if it's super good then folks usually will pay the difference.  Surely they have something going on because with three existing locations that seem to be making it some folks apparently don't mind the cost.  I have to say though that I would have to be in the area in order to go there because when you factor in fuel cost and all that's really one pricy pie.

 

As for Mellow Mushroom I never did really think they were the best.  Lots of people want the fancy California type Pizzas but having lived in Atlanta a while and sampling the various Pizza places there Mellow Mushroom, which started in Atlanta, wasn't high on the list.   Without a doubt Fellini's Pizza was the best pie in Atlanta ( http://www.fellinisatlanta.com/fellinis.html ) and another great Pizza place was "I love New York Pizza" which is the name of the restaurant.  I think it's a franchise chain but they always had great pizza, second only to Fellini's Pizza.  To bad we don't have one like that here. It was also always a treat to watch them work at the Fellini's in Buckhead.  They made their own dough there in the restaurant and also made it for a few of their other locations so they always had large containers of dough ready to carry out to the other locations.  If you plan a trip to Atlanta I highly urge you, if you like Pizza, to seek out and check out a Fellinis Pizza location.

Best pizza I have ever had was at a little joint called Brother's Pizza, they're in a strip mall right off the LIE in Flushing, I would certainly recommend them to anyone who happens to find themselves in Queens or traveling between the city and out on Long Island. There also used to be a place in the food court at the mall here in Florence that made a Chicago style deep dish and they were pretty awesome but they're gone now. Our choices for pizza here in the Shoals area are fairly slim but my favorite in the area is a thin crust from Godfather's.

I too lived in Atlanta for 12 years.  There were a number of Greek restaurants in a chain, and we used to eat in one over by Emory.  They had great pizza. 

I think Atlanta's favorite pizza restaurant is off Northside Drive--north of Atlantic Station.  But, I forget the name--Sorry!  I couldn't find the article on AJC.com.

Mellow Mushroom was pretty successful, but they were a little out of my price range when you throw in a couple of Guinness'.  They've spread out to Huntsville, Cool Springs and Memphis, however.

Originally Posted by Bamaman1:

Contendah:  Nice to hear some new names on the Pizza front.  I had no idea Corinth had such a great place with Pizza Grocery--looks good on their website.  I thought it was a city of catfish and tamales.

 

I've had some of the best commercial BBQ ever in West Memphis--i.e. the old Razorback BBQ's barbeque chicken.  But now, the only reason I stop in West Memphis is to get gasoline.  It's one of those places you can get hurt in.  There again, Memphis is like that too--anywhere.

 

The guy peddling tamales out of a push cart are long gone. You must be old to remember that.

Yeah Mellow Mushroom's done well for themselves.  Those guys from Georgia Tech who started it have done well but I just don' t like the crust/dough that they use so we don't really like Mellow Mushroom too much.  They also have a Pigeon Forge, TN location and it was worse than the others but maybe that was just a bad day.    If you do  like Pizza though and go to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg try out the Ole Smokey Mountain Brewery's pizza.  It was very surprising how good it was and I believe every Tuesday is BOGO day for Pizza at the Brewery.  They (Pigeon Forge) also has one of the best Cupcake stores I've ever found and is Nom Nom Cupcakes (http://www.queennomnoms2.com/) .  For those who like to go to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge you might make note of it.

Originally Posted by gbrk:

Yeah Mellow Mushroom's done well for themselves.  Those guys from Georgia Tech who started it have done well but I just don' t like the crust/dough that they use so we don't really like Mellow Mushroom too much.  They also have a Pigeon Forge, TN location and it was worse than the others but maybe that was just a bad day.    If you do  like Pizza though and go to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg try out the Ole Smokey Mountain Brewery's pizza.  It was very surprising how good it was and I believe every Tuesday is BOGO day for Pizza at the Brewery.  They (Pigeon Forge) also has one of the best Cupcake stores I've ever found and is Nom Nom Cupcakes (http://www.queennomnoms2.com/) .  For those who like to go to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge you might make note of it.

-------------------------------------------------------------

 

you took the words right outta my mouth... the "ole smokey mountain brewery" is an awesome place!

I just returned from Venice, Tuscany & Rome. You have two styles of food to eat in restaurants--very expensive and pizza.  And, they have just a few fast food restaurants--McDonalds and Burger King.  I didn't see any local large restaurant chains.

 

Order a pepperoni pizza and you get pepperocini (green peppers) pizza.  Italians really don't know what our pepperoni's are.  Their pizzas often have proscutto (almost like country ham) and don't look for 3 or 4 different items.  They also use salami often on pizza's and as appetizers.

 

But, much of the Italian pizza places have much better ingredients than we have--including great cheeses.  And, it just tastes better there.

yes, pie in the sky is expensive...but worth it. it is definitely a "premium" pizza. much better than mellow mushroom though. (which is building a location in decatur).

 

unrelated (except it has to do with food), a sandwich place has opened a few door down from Pie in the Sky called "Which Wich." went there friday night and i was very impressed.

Originally Posted by gbrk:

Yeah Mellow Mushroom's done well for themselves.  Those guys from Georgia Tech who started it have done well but I just don' t like the crust/dough that they use so we don't really like Mellow Mushroom too much.  They also have a Pigeon Forge, TN location and it was worse than the others but maybe that was just a bad day.    If you do  like Pizza though and go to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg try out the Ole Smokey Mountain Brewery's pizza.  It was very surprising how good it was and I believe every Tuesday is BOGO day for Pizza at the Brewery.  They (Pigeon Forge) also has one of the best Cupcake stores I've ever found and is Nom Nom Cupcakes (http://www.queennomnoms2.com/) .  For those who like to go to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge you might make note of it.

 

 

Yes it's hard to belive they going to put one in the old Decatur downtown area, not sure if they have started that yet but time will tell how it does there I guess.

Originally Posted by BO:
Originally Posted by gbrk:

Yeah Mellow Mushroom's done well for themselves.  Those guys from Georgia Tech who started it have done well but I just don' t like the crust/dough that they use so we don't really like Mellow Mushroom too much.  They also have a Pigeon Forge, TN location and it was worse than the others but maybe that was just a bad day.    If you do  like Pizza though and go to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg try out the Ole Smokey Mountain Brewery's pizza.  It was very surprising how good it was and I believe every Tuesday is BOGO day for Pizza at the Brewery.  They (Pigeon Forge) also has one of the best Cupcake stores I've ever found and is Nom Nom Cupcakes (http://www.queennomnoms2.com/) .  For those who like to go to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge you might make note of it.

 

 

Yes it's hard to belive they going to put one in the old Decatur downtown area, not sure if they have started that yet but time will tell how it does there I guess.

its is still in construction. gonna be right next to the Princess Theater. not much else around there like it or in Decatur for that fact. Goodfella's on 6th ave is pretty much the only non-chain pizza place i can think of in Decatur.

Downtown Decatur has a few good places to eat already, including the Brick.  The Brick has a great beer selection and an interesting sandwich menu.  Some examples -

Rob’s Rye and Roast

Rye bread, lean roast beef, hot mustard, onions, jalapenos, hot pepper cheese, mushrooms, lettuce, and tomato

5 Finger Banjo Picker

Polish sausage, Swiss cheese, kraut, mayo, and mustard on toasty rye bread.

Downtown Hoagie

Ham, turkey, smoked Cheddar, provolone, onions, pepperoncinis, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, mayo, Italian seasonings, lettuce, and tomato all on a hoagie bun.

Casa Del Grande

Ham, turkey, and roast beef, provolone, smoked Cheddar and Swiss, curry sauce, all the condiments you can imagine, onions bell peppers, mushrooms, black and green olives, lettuce and tomatoes piled on a long white bun.

If you are in Alabaster, do not miss Joe's Italian Restaurant! Check out their web page:

 

http://www.joesitalianalabaster.com/

 

This place is amazing!  It is as authentic as you will find anywhere in Alabama and probably anywhere in the South.  My son in law is Italian and grew up with great Italian cooks and after I recommended this place to him he went there to try it out.  He is very demanding of quality and authenticity and he was very impressed with Joe's.

Sorry, but I cannot remember last time I was in Alabaster.  Only time I even go to B'ham is driving through on my way to Atlanta to the Ikea store for their Sweedish meatball dinner.  I much better prefer to Nashville for weekend outings and great restaurants.

 

Took the Mrs. to Huntsville last week, and stopped at Pie in the Sky in Madison.  I couldn't get over all the people spending $15-20 for lunch per head.  I got their Italian sandwich, and it was cold--terrible.  Mrs. got a calzoni, and there about 6 paper thick slices of pepperoni on it--rip off.  Service was also very marginal.  We won't be back.  There's something to be said for high quality ingredients, but there's also something to be said for Value.  Pie in the Sky rates a zero for Value.  The facility is not even nice.

One additional note about the Smokey Mountain Brewery's Pizzas.  I talked to the manager of the Pigeon Forge location our last visit up there and the Pizzas were just as good as always so I ask him about their secret.  He said that they use the new style conveyor ovens but one thing they do differently is use white Cheddar cheese and also put the cheese on the pie before they put the sauce.  Not that this is the secret but thought I would share what he said with the group.  

 

If you make a trip up there I highly encourage you to try their pie for it's one of the best I've had and that includes the many restaurants in Atlanta that I tried Pizzas at.

 

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