Joe Squared, Station North (Baltimore City)

 

 Chicken, Corn and "Apple" Pizza

After all the hoopla I’ve heard about Joe Squared, I expected my life to change upon the first bite of the coal-fired pizza.  It didn’t happen.  I’m not sure it could have since my pizza was so lacking in…..flavor and deliciousness :o/

I decided to go for something fun and chose the Chicken, Corn and Apple Pizza (10 inch for $15) but instead I received some forgettable chicken, some corn, cheese, a very spicy tomato sauce, SO MANY onions and, oh yea, a few tiny diced pieces of granny smith apples in one corner of the pizza.  No, this is not what I was expecting, Joe Squared, when you told me there would be apple on my pizza.  I am in FALL mode now – I want apples everywhere and in everything, so don’t insult me with tiny diced pieces (in one corner, no less!) when I dream of big ol’ slices of apple all over my pizza. 

Other Observations:

- The 10inch pizza was definitely a good size for one person.  

- They have a HUGE risotto selection, which is something you don't see very often.  I had a taste of the bacon and apple risotto and all I tasted was salt and (surprise, surprise) no apple. But it was still very comforting, and if you're not a fan of pizza, I would suggest getting a small risotto and a small salad.

- This isn't a very pretty place, definitely a bar type feel to it, but a surprising number of the patrons on a weekday evening were older. I am assuming the young crowd comes later at night.

- They have a huge bar list, and a TON of rum.

- Their desserts are from Puffs and Pastries

So in conclusion, perhaps I ordered wrong, or perhaps my pizza would have been flavorful had they actually served what I wanted, but nevertheless what I was served was boring.  If someone wanted to meet me there for some food, I would say yes and definitely choose another type of pizza from the menu, but I probably won’t suggest it myself.  For that type of money and for the amount of praise Joe Squared has received, I expected a little more.

Iggie's, Mt. Vernon

Holy crap. This is it! I have found my favorite pizza place EVER!!!!!!!!! Not only is this the cutest pizza place in the city, but it has the most delicious gourmet style pizza. I am vowing to myself to try every single one on their menu. The pizzas themselves come on thin crust pizza and it's a self serve sort of place, and a BYOB so there is no extra charge with tips etc. It's a very warm atmosphere-- and dogs are allowed!

We tried the Pera Saporita which has gorgonzola cheese and pears and a balsamic reduction (the half eaten one in the picture). Let me tell you something, I don't like the gorgs, but I LOVED this pizza. The gorgs wasn't overwhelming AT ALL and all the 3 ingredients created this wonderful melody in my mouth.
We also ordered a pizza with cheese, basil and tomatos-- YUM. I can't find it on the menu so I don't know what it's called, but you can find it! It's delicious and definitely my favorite of the three that we ordered. The cheese was just the right amount, and I love basil so much so the amount on there made me glow.

The last pizza we ordered was the Quatro Formaggio, 4 cheeses, roasted garlic and sea salt. Boy they did not lie about the garlic. This was a really yummy pizza, but VERY garlicky, so beware if you're on a date!

These pizzas are pretty expensive compared to regular take out. The large pizzas (the best for sharing) cost anywhere from $14-17, so be prepared! They also donate all tips to a different charity every month (this month was Beans and Bread Outreach).

Overall, this is a wonderful neighborhood gourmet pizza joint with heart and soul! I loved it.

Pasta Mista, Towson

YUM.

I had already heard good reviews about Pasta Mista's pizza before I tried it, so the anticipation was great when some friends decided to order from there. They ordered 3 kinds, one cheese, one meat and one WHITE vegetable.

As soon as I saw the vegetable, it was like all the other pizzas went into a blur and the vegetable pizza stood out in a bright light. Seriously, this pizza looked damn good. Besides the fact that the pizzas themselves were HUGE, they weren't kidding about adding vegetables to the pizza. There were large pieces of broccoli, basically the whole broccoli tree was on there, and also some spinach and tomatoes. This was SO GOOD. I almost felt healthy chowing this pizza down because the taste of vegetables gave me a false sense of caloric knowledge.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend this pizza. YUM.

822 Dulaney Valley Rd
Towson, MD 21204

(410) 321-8855

http://www.pastamista.com/