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So, it turns out that All-Purpose Pizza stops serving slices at 4 pm. After that, it’s whole pies only. Highly disappointing, but still a four star establishment.
Look at this pizza. It doesn’t look particularly appetizing. You could probably find numerous superior slices within a mile of your present location. But I’m tempted to give it five stars because it’s one of maybe four pizzerias in all of London, including Pizza Hut. This isn’t so much a pizza review as it is a complaint regarding the pizza atmosphere in London. Pizza by the slice is almost nonexistent, so to get my pizza fix I traveled to Royal Pizza, which is located a block from King’s Cross tube stop. This pie, which was by no means large, ran $13. It was average in every sense of the word, but it got the job done. In most U.S. cities, Royal Pizza’s pie would be middle-of-the-road at best. In London, it may be as good a pie as you’ll ever come across. Three stars.
ROYAL PIZZA
Location: 1 Kings Cross Bridge, N1 9NW
Phone: 020 7837 5777
A reader suggested that we review Garlic Jim's Famous Gourmet, a chain open in four states, with plans to move into a half-dozen more. There are a few locations in the area now, but we decided to order delivery from a new location on 65th.
We were both hungry and ready to tear into the pie, but were startled to discover that a large pizza from Garlic Jim's is only 14 inches. This is not unprecedented for a chain -- Pizza Hut and Domino's both offer 14" larges. Still, if you're trying to establish a reputation for quality pizza, those aren't the two names with which you want to be associated. Moreover, Domino's and Pizza Hut both offer 16" XL pies. At Garlic Jim's, the buck stops at 14 inches. This is unfortunate for a number of reasons. First, it's a ripoff. Pagliacci, just as an example, offers a 17" large for only a few dollars more than the $15 we paid for a Garlic Jim's large. A 17" pie offers 47% more pizza than a 14 incher. Second, aside from the value (or lack thereof), sometimes a 14" pizza just won't cut it. What do you do then, order two pies? Ridiculous.
The pizza itself was pretty good. It featured quality ingredients for a chain, and my satisfaction with the pie made me all the more upset by the paltry 153 square inches the pizza had to offer. Back to the food, though, Garlic Jim's tasted a lot like Milano's, but without the absurd amounts of grease. This is a welcome step up, but the size limitations and poor value force us to hold Garlic Jim's to a lower rating. Three stars.
GARLIC JIM'S FAMOUS GOURMET
Location: 2400 NE 65th St
Phone: (206) 524-5467
Whitney and I hit Mioposto after Jay Edge from the NWHardcore Board told me he worked there. The place is located on a quiet corner in Mt. Baker. Serving both imported Italian Coke products as well as espresso drinks, Mioposto has a Neoplotian/back-to-Italy vibe. This style of pizza is often associated with food snobs who love the complex flavors of imported sausage and fresh fennel. Inside Mioposto 
though, you'll find a welcoming community vibe that is very nice. This is not necessarily a full-on laid back pizza spot, but more a community-oriented casual cafe. This atmosphere has an upside, but it also made me feel like I was intruding on the routine of everyone there. It was also pretty much silent inside, which I did not appreciate.
Priced like a fancy resturaunt, in casual setting, with a casual quality of food, Mioposto wasn't the worst. But it wasn't anything amazing either. Three Stars
MIOPOSTO CAFFE
Location: 3601 S McClellan St
Phone: (206) 760-3400
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All-Purpose Pizza is a new pizza spot located a block off MLK on Jackson St. The restaurant, which
opened in November 2005, makes pizza on a sourdough crust. They offer a selection of sauces (red wine tomato, garlic and olive oil, pesto), meats (pepperoni, proscuitto, salami, sausage, coppacola, bacon, meatballs) and other toppings (too many to name here). The slices are expensive ($6 gets you two slices — one cheese and one pep) but huge. Unlike Juliano’s Pizza, where $6 worth of pizza might not fill you up, some may consider a single slice of All-Purpose Pizza to be a full meal. Each slice is hefty, with a thick sourdough crust and lots of cheese and sauce. Every aspect of their pizza satisfied me: the dimensions, the flavor of the crust, and the ingredient quality.
Another advantage is its location: while there is a glut of pizza options in the northern parts of Seattle, the south end has fewer places to choose from. The pizzeria has individual slices for sale, delivers from Columbia City to Madison Park, and includes a spacious area for sit-down dining. Between the atmosphere, pizza quality, and location, All-Purpose Pizza is my favorite pizza south of Capitol Hill and easily a 4-star establishment. Four stars.
NOTE: My apologies for the grainy cell phone pictures that make the pizza look like it came from a Domino’s oven. Better pictures will be taken and posted upon my return to Seattle.
ALL-PURPOSE PIZZA
Location: 2901 S Jackson St
Phone: (206) 324-8646
I leave town on Wednesday, but Sam and I have been visiting numerous pizza spots around town in preparation for my departure. Thus, the reviews won't stop once I leave. Coming up: Tony Maroni's, A Pizza Mart, Piecora's, Hot Mama's, and possibly Garlic Jim's.
Whitney and I took our first suggestion from a reader tonight, and headed over to Wallingford Pizza House. This spot specializes in Chicago Style deep dish pizza, which is not our main focus here at SPR. We ordered a basil and tomato combo.
The general vibe here is sit-down, family-style eating. Think nice neighborhood restaurant -- not my favorite, but acceptable. One notable bonus (at least this time of year) is outdoor seating. Overall a good vibe, with some relaxed, nice service.
Before I go on I must note that my experience with Chicago Style pizza is almost nonexistent. "I thought you loved pizza?" could be going through your head right now, but Seattle lacks much Chicago Style pizza. As I understand the situation, Wallingford Pizza House and Delfino's are the only places in the city to get that deep crust pie. With that said, my review of the pizza will be somewhat limited.
Overall I found the pizza enjoyable. The crust was well cooked and chewy on the inside, and the sauce was delicious and in the right proportion. The cheese was also well distributed and seemed to be of a high quality. It was not what we are used to here at SPR, but I thought it was solid overall.
Being "the only game in town" gives Wallingford Pizza House a huge edge over a lot of the competition. I really don't know much about Chicago Style so that rules out a serious dissection of the pizza itself. Still, this place has a good vibe and quality ingredients, so all signs point up. Out of scarcity, I'm giving this place a good raiting, but it's possible that some Chicago experts would dislike it. Four Stars.
WALLINGFORD PIZZA HOUSE
Location: 2109 N 45th St
Phone: (206) 547-3663
I am torn over Juliano's Pizza. On one hand, I admire its goal. However, it also suffers from some major problems.
Juliano's opened earlier this year on Capitol Hill, right next to Baguette Box on Pine Street. Sam and I stopped by just after it opened and the entire place was a disaster, complete with a flooded floor. However, considering its freshly-opened status, we believe that it deserved a free pass. Consequently, a repeat visit was necessary. We hit it up again on Sunday, hoping for an improvement but worried by the possibilities.
Upon walking into Juliano's, you will immediately notice its lack of fresh slices. However, the sign clearly proclaims that slices are for sale. The confusion only escalates, as ordering one slice gets you two small slices. Ordering two slices results in a half pie. The slices are small -- we estimated that a 
pie is no more than 12 inches in diameter -- but tasty. Not only did the pizza feature heavy garlic flavors, but it was fresh as possible. During both of our visits to Juliano's, our pizzas weren't made until we placed an order. The benefit of this process is a hot slice that hasn't been sitting around all day, but the downside is that eating at Juilano's is a lengthy experience. It's a relatively expensive experience as well: ordering two slices (which gets you four) costs over $6. While four slices for six dollars and change may not sound like a bad deal, keep in mind that these slices are small -- four Juliano's slices are no more filling than two slices from a typical pizzeria.
Juliano's has an interesting idea, offering small, gourmet pizzas that you would normally find in a fancier restaurant and instead selling them at more reasonable prices in a relaxed atmosphere. I enjoyed being inside the pizzeria and found the slices to be tasty, but was ultimately dismayed by the confused ordering process, lengthy wait time, and price. Juliano's captures several niche markets by offering vegan pizza and staying open until 3 am on weekends and 1:30 am on weeknights. But if it's early enough in the evening that competing spots are open, I'll walk the three blocks to Hot Mama's for my pizza fix. Three stars.
JULIANO'S PIZZA
Location: 1211 Pine St, Seattle WA
Phone: (206) 625-9922
Afterthoughts
Anyone who lives in Seattle and eats pizza even occasionally has almost certainly been to Pagliacci Pizza. Pagliacci consistently wins regional pizza awards from a variety of sources (Citysearch and Seattle Weekly among others.) Because Sam formerly worked at the Queen Anne location, we felt that it was the natural site to review.
For those who don't know, Pagliacci is a medium-sized local chain with six sit-in locations and 
additional delivery centers. Sam and I visited earlier today and each had two slices of cheese. Having consumed hundreds of Pagliacci slices before (Sam is approaching the 1,000 barrier), this outing was more for show than anything else. Make no mistake, Pagliacci offers a quality, New York-style slice. They are consistently rewarding, with nary a disappointing slice appearing in our multi-year history at their stores. The sauce and cheese are delicious and well-proportioned. Overall, eating a Pagliacci slice is a highly gratifying experience.
However, good as it may be, the slice suffers from one significant flaw. Pagliacci's focus on a crispy 
crust results in a situation whereby an excessive amount of crumbs tumble off the slice after each
bite. The crispiness alone leaves something to be desired, but the crumbs are the real issue. The effect creates a messy eating experience, with crumbs stuck in my teeth and on the grease that inevitably reaches my mouth. More than a mere matter of flavor, Pagliacci's crumb problem is a source of dissatisfaction.
The other negative aspect of Pagliacci is its cold, chain-like atmosphere. Sitting in Pagliacci is rarely an enjoyable experience. Their locations lack any sort of personality; indeed, it almost feels like being in a McDonalds. The withdrawn, corporate focus also manifests itself in the pizza: while the pizza is delightful, the slices seem to be fresh off an assembly line. Oddly enough, Pagliacci slices are consistent to a fault.
Despite these drawbacks, Pagliacci offers some of the best pizza in Seattle. However, the aforementioned flaws prevent it from reaching the elusive 5-star status. Four stars.
PAGLIACCI PIZZA
Location: 550 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle WA
Phone: (206) 726-1717
So, I had a long weekend and decided to head down to Portland to visit some old friends. While down there, my friend Robin and I stopped by Escape From New York Pizza. This place is run by some former 
New Yorkers, and decorated with photos of their pizza place back in NYC. On the whole this place was great, but lacked that x-factor to push it over the top.
The pizza itself was a solid four. Nice thin crust, crispy with good distribution of sauce and cheese. The sauce itself wasn't too special but did have a noticable kick to it. My main complaint with the slice is that it's too thin and crisp which makes it unfoldable. On the whole though the pizza was good, but somewhat forgettable. It was appealing, but nothing about it made me think that it's amazing pizza.
The atmosphere inside is pretty calm. Like I said before there are photos of New York and some paintings on the wall. It's in NW Portland (Knob Hill) which is a little too yuppy for me, which 
translates inside. There is no noticeable feeling of the surroundings inside the pizzeria, but I couldn't help but feel like it was trying to be something that it wasn't. The yuppies decide to relive their college days and get pizza at that "real hip place" Escape From New York by their house. It was just awkward, but not unbearable.
The phrase "there was something lacking" is sort of essential to understand this place. There wasn't really anything all that frustrating, but the elements combined to form an undesirable experience. Three Stars
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK PIZZA
Location: 622 NW 23rd Ave, Portland OR
Phone: (503) 527-5423
Last week, Sam and I had a highly unusual experience while eating at A Pizza Mart on the Ave. We'll elaborate on the incident in our final review, but in the meantime, we need your help. As per our policy of requiring a follow-up visit before issuing a 1-star or 5-star rating, we must drop by A Pizza Mart once more. Before we do that, we would love to hear from you about the pizzeria in question. If you have anything to say about A Pizza Mart, send us an email to seattlepizza@yahoo.com or leave a comment on the site. We're trying to determine whether our visit was an isolated episode or part of a larger pattern. Thanks!
NOTE: Sam's computer is broken, which is why we've been
silent lately. It's also why I've been doing all of the reviews and
he's writing the afterthoughts. We'll be back to normal soon.
Milano Pizza and Pasta is less than half a mile from Sam's place. Moreover, it's our homie Jaen's favorite pie in Seattle. Needless to say, we hit it up pretty frequently. When I first sampled their offering, I had high hopes. Anytime someone gives their "best pie" endorsement, you naturally anticipate a quality slice.
Milano has two tables inside with a few chairs, and they sell slices. However, their pizza emphasis is clearly on whole pies, because their available slices are scarce and unpredictable. In addition to pizza, Milano makes pasta, calzones, sandwiches, chicken wings, etc. The atmosphere is initially a little strange, but it grows on you. The general vibe is certainly superior to what you'll find at Bella Pizza and Pasta or -- dare I say its name -- Northlake Tavern and Pizza House.
Milano's pie is tasty, but flawed. There is too much cheese; a mild
reduction in the amount of cheese 
could dramatically improve its taste.
The sauce and crust are both fine, but they fail to overcome Milano's
central problem: grease. Simply put, their pie is too greasy. This
becomes especially problematic when you order a fresh pie. At times,
the grease reduces Milano's pizza to a glorified Pizza Hut. Consistency
is another issue. On a good day, Milano tastes like 4-star pie; on a
bad day, it's almost unbearable.
Still, I enjoy sitting in Milano for a slice of cheese now and then. We plan to have Jaen write a guest review at some point to offer another perspective. Three stars.
MILANO PIZZA AND PASTA
Location: 405 NE 45th Street, Seattle WA
Phone: (206) 545-0252
Afterthoughts
- While Whitney loved the cups, I felt that they reeked of start up pizza. They looked like they were bought at Pier One, 
and in no way compare to the amazing cups at Tacos Guaymas.
- Stuffiness is essential to understand this place.
- The pizza was cut exceedingly wide, making me feel like I was eating a slice from a giant personal pizza.
- The pizza was a low level four star, but still made the cut.
Three Stars
Bella Pizza and Pasta is located on the north end of Broadway. It’s pretty much the last business before the residential stretch begins. First, yes, we agree: the fact that pizza and pasta are equally weighted in the name is strike one. However, while this is a pizzapastaria instead of a primarily pizza establishment, they do sell slices. Therefore, we’re willing to review it early. First impressions: it feels like a Pallino Pastaria in the sense that it is somewhat like a small, relatively upscale chain. Two slices of cheese and a fountain drink ran us to $7.26, which is a little pricey. On the positive end, their plastic cups for fountain drinks were large and sturdy, much like Tacos Guaymas. (My apologies for the two references to non-pizza places in Seattle.) We each ordered our slices, and were told that our pizza would be brought to us shortly. The wait was no longer than one minute, confusing me greatly. Is the wait time normally longer, making it one of those places where you order your food and it takes 10 minutes? Or is it always a microscopically small wait time? If so, why don’t they just eliminate the wait time altogether and give you your slices immediately, like a normal place does? Or couldn’t they at least make it like Pagliacci, whereby you wait a moment while the pizza heats up, but you stand around? When they bring it to you, the whole atmosphere feels a little stuffier.
Stuffy is a key word when discussing Bella Pizza and Pasta. The vibe is pretty rough.
I feel like it’s where you go on your lunch break when you’re 27 and working at Bank of America. However, the slice itself was great. The slices were inconsistently shaped, which is unfortunate, but the sauce, crust, cheese, texture and flavor were all superb. Four star slice. In fact, I was a big enough fan of their pie that I contemplated giving the place four stars overall. However, it just feels terrible in there. Whereas Pizza Passion gets all the small things right to elevate its game, Bella’s non-slice shortcomings make a four star review impossible. Three stars.
BELLA PIZZA AND PASTA
Location: 700 Broadway E, Seattle WA
Phone: (206) 860-8300
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