Sauced

This week we finally had schedules that synced up, and so, loyal readers, we were able to once again sacrifice our bodies and our health for your edification and education. After weeks of abstaining from our favorite food, we hungered for a truly adventurous pizza. And so this week we chose Sauced because after we write these pizza reviews, we tend to get that way. So, was the adventure as good as the name?

Italia Express

With our hectic schedule of late, we decided to make up for not reviewing anything on Sunday by hitting up Italia Express on 122 and MacArthur. A regional chain, Italia Express also has a location in Penn Square Mall and lots of stores in Texas. But we're getting a bit tired of the usual review format, so today we thought we'd spice things up.


The Cheese Pizza:
Crust of sour dough,
the cheese could be flavorful.
Sauce is barely there.

The Pepperoni Pizza:
Not like its brother,
spicy grease melts in cheese.
Tube meat saves the day.

The Chicken Pruscuitto Alfredo Pizza:
Chopped up flesh of fowl.
Creamy sauce rich and tasty.
I think it needs salt.

So, in all seriousness (ha!), hit the jump for a slightly longer review.

Dan's Pizza

To our faithful readers, you may have noticed that we have posted pretty much weekly since the inception of this blog. You may also have noticed that for the past two weeks we have posted nothing. Why? We accidentally went on an Odyssey. In the last two weeks we survived eight rounds of International Bear Fighting, a great flood, hours and hours of being pestered by radio personalities, at one point we thought Ryan had been turned into a toad (he got better), and sought a great fortune, which led us down a road of great peril, which eventually led us to our salvation: Pizza.

We here at New World Pizza pride ourselves on being Dapper Dan men. We drink Jack Daniels, we read Dan Slott comics, and we’ve even watched every Dan Aykroyd movie (yes, including Crossroads). This week, we ate at Dan’s Pizza, located at 121 W Waterloo Rd. Ste. 13 in Edmond.

Was the journey worth it?

Othello's of Edmond

On the recommendation of one of our twitter followers, we went to Othello's in Edmond. One of the biggest draws for us was the fact that on Sundays they offer half price pizzas. Turns out that it's half off on only the first two pizzas. And the cheapest two pizzas. Ryan learned this the hard way. Oh, and adding pine nuts, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes to smashed avacados does not make guacamole.

What other lessons did we learn?

The Wedge, Deep Deuce

This week we had some guests in town, and decided to show off some of the best of what Oklahoma City can offer, so we took them to The Wedge's Deep Deuce location. If you want a short review, here it is: Go there. Now.

A longer review follows.

Cafe 7

This week we had made plans to hit up Othello's, but there was a problem. Tonight, as if you didn't already know, is the Lost finale. And as nerds, we are honor bound to watch (even if 50% of New World Pizza hasn't seen a single episode). So we called an audible and swung by Café 7, on N. May and WEST Memorial. Café 7's shtick is that the sandwiches, the salads, the pastas, and pizzas are all $7 (actually, $6.46, plus tax). Oh, and everything comes out within seven minutes. And if you're the seventh son of a seventh son you get your seventh meal free (we think, you should probably check with them before you try this one).

How'd it hold up?

Italian Jim's Pizzeria

Last week we were driving along, and heard a radio advertisement for Italian Jim's Pizzeria, which claimed something along the lines of that they served some of the best pizza in the state. Upon hearing the ad, we decided we'd have to visit them this week and see if their claim holds up.

Did it?

Quickie: Tuscany Pizzaria

So far we’ve been spending most of our time at restaurants on the northwest side of the city, and we know that we’re missing out on a lot of good pizza as a result that fact. Partly this has to do with where we are based out of (New World Comics, located between 50th and 63rd on N. Meridian), and partly it has to do with our busy schedules and not having the time to make it down to the south side. But rest assured we are trying to fix that.

So, tonight we found ourselves down south, visiting our brothers from another mother, we suggested we grab some of the local pizza for dinner. Our good friend/brother Adam suggested we try Tuscany Pizzaria, located on SW 104th and S. Penn.

Should he have been trusted?

Quickie: The Warren

This week there was time enough for another quickie at the Warren movie theater.  While sitting in the balcony awaiting the latest installment in the Iron Man franchise, a menu was shoved in my face. What marvels lie within? Oh, a small item named Pizza.  Several choices plagued me as I dread the thought of the movie starting before my selection was made. Deciding to go The Way of the Pizza,  I ordered the five cheese pizza.  Just before the fantastic feature began, my pizza arrived.  The lights dimmed just as I began to dig in, so I'm afraid I didn't get a good look at the team-up of ingredients. Thus, as it should be, I relied on the taste.

So, how did it hold up?

Zorba's

We here at New World Pizza have been visiting a lot of standard pizza places, and so this week we decided to have some fun. When you visit Zorba's, located at 6014 N. May, it's usually for their hummus, gyros, and chicken bandari. But, because we like to mix things up every so often, we went for their pizzas.

We promise you this review will be entirely free of "all Greek to me" jokes.

Top Ten

Hooray! We cracked the Top Ten Oklahoma City food blogs at Urban Spoon. Once we beat Eat Around OKC we're taking on Zagat!

We'd like to say thanks to all the people who have sent us their lists of places to try. We know we haven't gotten to as many of them as we'd like, but, please, keep sending us more suggestions. Also, thank you for reading our silly little pizza blog.

Sicilian Pizza Cafe

So, to make up for a couple weeks ago, we headed out to Sicilian Pizza Cafe, located on EAST Memorial and Lincoln. We instantly knew we had found a place we'd be comfortable hanging out as all the walls were decorated with posters of soccer players. The one person running the place on the lonely Sunday evening was the owner’s son, and he was personable and very accommodating.

So, what happens when you find a stranger in the alps?  How was Sicilian Pizza Cafe?

Ford Center Pizza

Well, we made a mistake. Generally, we here at New World Pizza eat our mistakes. But in this case, we couldn't. I'll let Sharon and Kelsey explain.

Stars Pizza Cafe & Grill

Three quick notes. First, we hope you enjoyed the quickie review yesterday. We should be adding those pretty regularly from now on. Second, we would love to find a Thunder themed pizza by next Sunday. If anyone has a lead on that, please, let us know. Third, in another Thunder related note, we will have one of our special freelance corespondents (one of our sisters) at the Ford Center on Saturday for game six of the Thunder/Lakers series, and she'll review the pizza they offer there for us.

This week we went to Stars Pizza Cafe & Grill, located off N. Pennsylvania at 2124 NW 39th St. It was a little bit off our beaten path, in an area of town we don't usually visit, but we had heard good things. One of the great things about Stars Pizza is their hours of operation, during the week they are open until 1 am and on the weekend until 2:30 am. As night owls, we heartily approve.

Let's get this party started!

Saturn Grill

So we’ve been doing this for a while now. Every Sunday night it’s the same routine. We go out, order some pizza, and get down to business. It’s nice. Nice and routine. We’ve read in several places that to keep a relationship like this working, there needs to be some variety, some spontaneity. In an effort to break the routine and spice things up, we decided what we need to start having quickies.

What? Get your mind out of the gutter! We’re talking about reviewing pizzas! This is a family-friendly blog! Wow, you think you know your readers. Anyway, we figure that there are so many places that serve pizza in Okc that if we do a place a week, we’ll be at this forever. So to cover more ground and keep you informed we’ll be breaking with routine every so often and writing up places that mainly do things besides pizzas. Expect the reviews to be fast and dirty (instead of usual, methodical, scientific approach), and maybe even a bit weird (curry pizza, anyone?).

So without further ado, our first quickie.

Danny B's Redux

So our plans tonight were to try a place called Sicilian Pizza Café, but we ended up with bad information regarding its location (turns out it can be found at N. Lincoln and EAST Memorial). Being technophobes and unwilling to call for help, we tried to swing by Café 7, over on N. May and W. Memorial. But it closes at three on Sundays. We here at New World Pizza don't just offer pizza reviews, but also morality tales. We almost expected J. Walter Weatherman to pop up and lose his arm while exclaiming "This is what happens when you don't do your research!" Fed up and starving, we decided to swing by Danny B's again, to further explore their menu.

The glorious logo and other news

Everyone tell Erin how much you love our new logo. Those familiar with the current New World Comics shirts will appreciate it.

Things are going well with adding our reviews to Urbanspoon. If you can think of any other corporate overloads willing to let us spread the good word of the Grand Unified Pizza Theory, let us know.

And as always, thanks for reading.

Pizza Milano

This week, instead of going to our Rolodex of known pizza places, we tried a new place that had left a flyer at Brian's apartment (such is the folly of youth). Pizza Milano, located at 16th and Meridian, is one of the few places that will deliver to our home base. And as far as delivery services go, they were ahead of schedule and their driver was more than pleasant (and not at all creepy).

But the real question is, how were the pizzas?

Pizza House

First, we'd like to say thanks to Colin at 365 Things to Do in OKC for the bump. 365 Things to Do in OKC is a daily list of odd and fun things that are going on in and around the metro area. If you're on facebook, you should check it out. And as a small token of thanks, we're reviewing a place that Colin introduced Ryan to back in the day. Thanks again, Colin.

Let's get down to business. 

After all that tomfoolery on Thursday we decided to get back to our usual business, and so we trekked over to Pizza House on 2520 N. Pennsylvania. We ordered out, since our base of operations exists in a no-man's-land for pizza deliveries, but we could have stayed in and maybe even enjoyed a game of pool.

It's business time!

Our first national chain review!

We’ve had several people ask us to review national chains, and we live to serve.

So read on, we dare you.

Papa Angelo's

This week we ventured over to Papa Angelo's, tucked away at 3921 N. College Avenue across from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany. Papa Angelo's is home of the Empire Pizza challenge - where they dare you to eat a 6-pound pizza in 45 minutes. We didn't take their challenge, but considered attempting it at a later date, for scientific purposes only, of course.

Want to know how it turned out?

Joey's Pizzeria

This week we decided to make our way down to Joey's Pizzeria on N Classen and NW 18th Street. One of the first positive things we noticed after walking in was the choice of music - 80s classics such as "Love Is a Battlefield," Prince's "Kiss," and "Living on a Prayer" played as we ate. While that doesn't impact the way we judged the pizza, it made the overall ambiance totally rad.

So, how was the pizza?

Pizzini's Pizza

Somehow we managed to find time to hit up two places this week, so we went to a little place on Rockwell and 50th called Pizzini's Pizza. And, to be quiet frank, we may have gone a little bit overboard.

Let's get started.

Hideaway Pizza, Warr Acres

With more than 10 locations in Oklahoma, Hideaway Pizza is a local giant. For many people, it is a staple of 'non-chain' pizza. And while it would be ideal to review the original location in Stillwater first, your humble pizza reviewers have neither the time, nor the gas money, to burn on a spur of the moment 90 mile one-way trip. Instead, we visited the location at 5501 NW Expressway in Warr Acres.


So, how did the hometown Goliath hold up?

Danny B's Part 2

So we would be remiss in our duties as pizza scientists if we did not discuss what happens to pizza in the days after you order it. But this brings us to our first, of many, divides in philosophy. Brian is a staunch re-heater, while Ryan likes his leftover pizza cold and for breakfast. This conflict works out for you, loyal reader, in that no stone will be left unturned regarding leftover pizza.

So, how does Danny B's pizza hold up as leftovers?

Danny B's Gourmet Pizza

For our initial review for this project we decided to try a new restaurant that most people haven't been to yet, and we were lucky enough to hear about Danny B's Gourmet Pizza. Located on NW 164th and Rockwell in Edmond, Danny B's is sandwiched in between a convenience store and a liquor shop. Primarily focused on carry out, they do have a delivery service and a couple tables.

As previously agreed upon, we ordered three pizzas: a cheese on hand tossed crust with the classic hearty sauce, a thick crust pepperoni with sweet garlic sauce, and the 'Randall,' a hand tossed thick cut Italian sausage and cream cheese pizza with the classic sauce.

The Randall is named after the co-owner, who was running the store when we visited. Randall was extremely helpful and his excitement about the 2-week-old store was obvious. It was easy to tell that in the two weeks of being open, Randall and his staff has been making constant refinements to their process and menu. Randall was charismatic, knowledgeable, and eager to share with us the story of Danny B's. Even before we had a chance to try the pizza, we were excited to see Danny B's do well.

Now, on to the pizzas.

The Way of The Pizza

As we search for the perfect pizza, we will examine multiple dimensions of the pizza experience. Primarily, of course, are the ingredients that make up the Golden Ratio, Crust:Sauce:Cheese:Toppings. First, the crust. We will focus on the Three T's: taste, texture, and tensile strength. Second comes sauce, where we will consider it's viscosity, taste - sweet versus savory, and additives. Next is the cheese. It will be judged on amount, it's ability to stay on the pizza or the "slide factor," and, once again, the critical factor of taste. Then, there is the toppings. With freshness, quality, distribution, and - yet again - taste being our primary focus.

While each of these factors is extremely important, there are instances where the pizza is better than the sum of it's parts - just like Captain Planet was better than five teenagers with magic rings. So how the separate parts combine will also be judged.

In these tough economic times, taste is easily sacrificed on the alter of economics. So we will consider the price of each pizza.

Additionally, when possible, the service and and story of each store will be examined.

In cases of delivery, we will judge it on how quickly the order was processed, how well the pizza traveled, and the creepiness of the delivery person.

When ordering pizzas, we will try three different kinds. First, the cheese pizza, as it is pizza in it's most basic form. This will act as our control. Second is pepperoni. It is by far the most popular topping in the US. Lastly, we ask what each place recommends as their quintessential pizza. This will give each restaurant a chance to establish a unique and individual identity. Upon poor reviews, we are more than happy to give a restaurant a second chance.

Grand Unified Pizza Theory

Where to begin? I guess in the crust, where the foundation of pizza is laid. I would say that the perfect crust would have to be chewy, with body (but not crunchy), and just like a recent college grad, needs to be able to support itself.

The sauce, ah, the sauce. The perfect one lies somewhere between ketchup and spaghetti sauce - too many times the simple flavor of the tomato can be overwhelmed by egregious herbage. It needs to be both sweet and savory. There are so many ways to do it wrong, and it's so hard to do right. An essential rule to remember: it's a sauce, not a salsa.

The cheese, the wrapping on this magnificent present for your mouth. Not just a glue to hold the toppings to crust, cheese is what separates a good pizza from a great pizza. Too little cheese and you're stuck with an over sauced bread stick, and with too much all the other elements are lost.

Next, the toppings. To continue a previously established metaphor, the toppings are the bow on the present. Toppings are widely considered to be the star of the pizza, but just like Jay Leno, a little goes a long way.

We believe that somewhere out there, there is a pizza that exhibits a golden ratio of Crust:Sauce:Cheese:Toppings. Our mission is to find that perfect pizza. Hopefully in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area. We'll be scouring national chains to mom-and-pop shops, food courts to gourmet restaurants, and the frozen food isles to take-and-bake shops. No pizza product shall escape our grasp. Our stomachs, like our wallets, will sacrifice much in this search, but we believe what we can achieve - finding the perfect pizza - is worth it.

Additionally, we will examine the world of pizza beyond the restaurants by carefully studying pizza products, recipes, tools, and trinkets. We we also look at pizza derivatives, such as pizza flavored gums, snacks, etc. Again, we believe this is for the greater good.

We hope that you will join us on this journey, nay, quest.

Sincerely-

Brian Ulysses Berlin

Ryan Ulysses McKeiver