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Amici's East Coast Pizzeria
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Pizza, Italian [Edit]
880 Santa Cruz AveMenlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 329-8888
Announcement
Due to customer request we now serve gluten free pizza & beer. Customers say it is some of the best they have tried. http://bit.ly/fgP7Ug
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
103 reviews for Amici's East Coast Pizzeria
Review Highlights
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"Their thin crust pizza dough it amazing." In 18 reviews -
"Overall, great experience and our server was such a doll..." In 3 reviews -
"The roasted garlic brought a fantastic accent to the pizza." In 5 reviews
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103 reviews in English
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Review from Jason S.
Redwood City, CA
4/22/2012
7 words: They. Deliver. Vegan. Pizza. To. Our. House.
The Asante is amazing -- we add jalapenos and pizza sauce. -
Review from David B.
4/9/2012
Amici's fills a void with a pizza pie bass line.
I really like their Manhattan red clam pizza.
Their caesar dressing is really good too (heavy on the garlic and anchovy)
I've eaten a lot of Amici's in my day and it's nothing to write home about, nothing outstanding, but it does the job. Crust is meh, sometimes the pie gets soggy depending on the toppings, manhattan clam usually is immune to this though.
All in all not bad, not great. -
Review from Serena G.
Palo Alto, CA
12/31/2011
The pizza is tasty, albeit super salty (then again, it's pizza). I really like the thin crust style. Takeout and delivery are both easy-peasy.
The salad is okay -- very much of the "bagged spinach on a plate" genre. I did try their special broccoli side dish, and it was not for me.
In terms of service and atmosphere, keep in mind that this is a chain and you will be fine. In my opinion, it's a very well-run chain. I did try the gluten-free pizza with Daiya cheese once (long story); I learned through that process that I am really not a fan of Daiya (but that's not a reflection on Amici's).
I did come here once with some friends and their very energetic little girl, who wanted to color, empty sugar packets into her water, get in and out of her seat, etc. Our waitress was infinitely patient, upbeat, and helpful.
Last but not least: It's expensive. I would say it's best for lovers of thin-crust pizza, possibly with kids in tow. -
Review from Ken L.
Atherton, CA
5/18/2012
home delivery at it's worst! Don't bother with their delivery service...they will never ever get it right! We have tried several times and it's never right... especially if you special order..they'll forget the extra ingredients, or the last time, they brought someone else's order to our house... forget it amicis... if it's just normal amici's menu and at the restaurant, you've got a fighting chance...
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Review from Charlotte C.
Menlo Park, CA
3/21/2012
Their online ordering system is easy and user-friendly -- delivery is fast and well-packaged. We've enjoyed their pizza -- though my Brooklyn-born husband says it doesn't compare to the real deal. The best meal we've had from Amici's is, perhaps surprisingly, their four-cheese lasagna with meat sauce. Off the hook. A bit pricey for pizza, but as many reviewers have said, you don't have a lot of stellar pizza options in the area.
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Review from Laura D.
Menlo Park, CA
12/20/2011
The best pizza int the bay area
A little bit pricy with the home delivery, but totally worth it, enjoy it!! -
Review from Khounkeo S.
San Jose, CA
11/8/2011
I realized I prefer to eat thin crust, gourmet pizza. It's non-greasy and light(a little strange to say about pizza). I actually do not feel guilty after my meal. I don't feel gross and sick from all the grease I usually get from the typical fast food pizza joints.
My usual order consists of the spicy pepper chicken pizza, amici's combo pizza and spinach salad. The spinach salad is my favorite!!! I love the cornucopia of flavors. The roasted red peppers, tasted pine nuts and the lemon vinegarette gives you acidity, nuttiness and sweetness all in one plate. A wonderfully delicious combo!!!
Service is also great! The waiters/waitresses are very helpful. They will recommend items if you need assistance. -
Review from Raymond M.
San Jose, CA
10/7/2011
*3.5 stars*
I always wanted to try Amici's. I hear advertisements on the radio. The thin crust pizza is cooked in a fire stove.
Both of our pizzas tasted good. Lots of toppings. The toppings were high quality. Personally, thin crust pizzas are not my cup of tea. Objectively, I believe thin crust pizza fans enjoy Amici's.
Service was standard. The interiors were clean and a higher class atmosphere than typical Round Table and Mountain Mike's. Prices were on the high side. I felt I overpaid for a personal size pizza. -
Review from Nicole A.
Newark, CA
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome salad, great chicken pollo pizza, good kids menu, wine glasses could be nicer, but I'll live : )
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Review from Elizabeth J.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2012
Amici's used to be decent. But the past few times I have been, it has been brown lettuce, soggy shrimp artichokes, and poor service: even when we were the only ones in the shop! I will not be going back.
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Review from George B.
Updated - 1/6/2012
I'm revising my review upward based on revealed preference. We keep on ordering pies from Amici in part because it is walking distance from home, but also because it is consistently tasty. The $3 coupons that come in the mail offset the higher price.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/16/2010
Good pizza. Nice thin crust and decent toppings. In an east coast city this place wouldn't stand… Read more »
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Review from martin t.
Menlo Park, CA
2/4/2012
Tonight was the first time I ate at Amici's. My family and I shared a garden salad with olive oil and lemon dressing. We ordered the bread stick with marinara sauce and shared a 12" gluten free pizza with New Haven clams. Everything was delicious and the service was terrific. Amici's has now become one of my favorite restaurants and I can't wait for our next return.
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Review from susan m.
Menlo Park, CA
Updated - 7/16/2011 1 photo
i have some serious back pedaling to do on my last review for Amici's. I have become a fan. It was a gradual process but started in April when I needed to order pizzas for visiting friends who had some serious food allergies and the only menu that offered gluten free crusts was Amici's. I had all kinds of special requirements for that pizza and when i got there they told me they included an ingredient I didn't ask for and remade the pizza...but here's the customer service kick...they gave me the first pizza for free! Since then (and because of that excellent customer service) I have been back 3 or 4 times. I order the veggie pizza with the addition of sun dried tomatoes and I love that pizza.
Oh and my friends had rave reviews for the gluten free crust pizza I ordered for them!
Seriously...one of the best things Amici's has going for them is the people they hire. They have always been friendly and concerned about my order. It's always been ready when I get there. They just know how to treat customers and the service is consistent.
I had the same experience with the Amici's in Redwood Shores and had another unusual customer service story which made me realize they really know what they are doing. I will save that story for a review for that Amici's branch.
But hey Amici's you turned this customer from feeling so-so about you to a huge fan!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/4/2010
I really wanted to like this place. I also hate giving negative reviews. The restaurant itself is… Read more »
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Review from Alex Z.
Fremont, CA
7/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Finally- east coast pizza on the west coast.
I've been looking for a nice thin crust pizza on the west cost for the last 6 months...dozens have failed.
Amici's delivers- order the super thin crust and you feel like you are in NY -
Review from Loz L.
Menlo Park, CA
6/26/2011
Amici's has the best thin-crust chain pizza in the area. The myriad gluten-free options surely delight some people. The drinks are good (even the Coke... yes, it's a pretty homogeneous product, but seriously, they've got good Coke).
The downsides are 1) the cost and 2) the crowd. It's not Amici's fault that it seems everyone who goes out to eat in Menlo Park has multiple toddlers. If you aren't in a stroller posse, you might want to eat outside where children's shrieks won't be so piercing. -
Review from Patti R.
3/21/2011
After all the good things I heard about here, I was very much looking forwards to trying it for the first time. The weather was nice (after raining all weekend!) and we were seated in the outside patio area. Our server was a bit abrupt, but we put it down to the fact there were several kids that looked like they got out of school early there and they were laughing and doing the things kids do. We gave our order, I had a 7" Margarita pizza and then had to wait almost 30 minutes until I received it! The server didn't make eye contact when she brought my pizza, and I understand why...My pizza was extremely burnt and the basil was completely black and burnt to almost non existence I sent it back and asked for another, approx 10 minutes later, I recieved a new one that was cooked to perfection but I was VERY surprised that she had the gall to serve me the first one!
By the time I got it, my fellow diners were almost done and I was just going to get a to-go box. But they urged me to eat most of it. It was embarrassing to still be eating when they were already done.
On top of all this, the server made it a point to keep coming back and clearing off the table and indicating she needed it--even when the place wasn't even close to full, no one was waiting, and there were several tables available in our area. After all that, she even charged me for my pizza!! Crazy!!
I am willing to go back to try it a second time--maybe it was an off day, but that server needed to get her eyes checked and go to charm school. If I get her again, I'm going to request someone else! -
Review from Christine S.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2011
Amici's is the only mid-range, kid/group friendly, casual, open late-ish dinner option on Santa Cruz Ave. For this reason, they really have me by the balls - but they don't take advantage of this, instead they staff the best waiters and waitresses and keep the best "keep the customer happy" policies.
FIVE STARS for:
* Customer Service, Wait staff (as above)
* Ambiance.. they really invested in improving this property
* their pasta, the penne bolognese
* Hours
WARNING:
* If you're going to drink wine, bring your ID. They'll card you. Trust me. -
Review from Susan R.
Palo Alto, CA
2/16/2011
I love pizza and I LOVE AMICI'S!!
My husband is vegan and I'm vegetarian. Awesome selection of toppings, and Daiya cheese on the pizza for no extra charge!
Very delicious!
When we were there the other night they messed up our order, so guess what, free pizza! Yay! And it didn't take them long at all to make a new one.
One of the best pizza places around. We'll be back for sure. -
Review from s p.
Palo Alto, CA
11/15/2011
Best pizza joint I've found in the bay area. Pleased as punch that there is finally one close enough to deliver to me! Spinach salad is really good too.
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Review from Jess C.
11/5/2010 2 photos
Ok.... I know what you're thinking - I've always been wary of this chain too, especially because it looks much like CPK, and I *really* don't like CPK pizza.
But I decided to go for it because I found an old coupon for 20% off, and I heard they have free delivery. The white clam pizza is actually really good (chewy crust, flavorful, good combination of toppings), and I would definitely come back again when I'm feeling like spending $15/person on pizza (yes, I ate half of a large pizza).
Cheesecake was ok, but really mushy. -
Review from Pete S.
Palo Alto, CA
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very good thin crust pizza. Love it!
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Review from cara l.
Burlingame, CA
8/23/2010
Are you kidding me? My review is based on the pizza & the ravioli. Seriously? The ravioli was generic, the pizza was horrible, it was stiffer than a cardboard. We spent almost $75 for lunch!!! I could have bought 2 medium thin crust pizza at Safeway and would've enjoyed it better. Do yourself a favor & dont waste your time on the pizza or the pasta dishes Ugh!!! Just because it's thin crust you guys could call it from the East Coast. We got ours burnt!!! The mushrooms were from a can, don't even let me tell you about the service. There was not even a lunch crowd.
Peeps this is not a not a place for a good pizza or ravioli , do yourself a favor and just go to the grocery store and buy a box of ravioli, canned tomato sauce and 2 boxes of medium safeway pizza and you'll have a better experience. -
Review from kim n.
7/7/2011
I've actually always found Amici's to be a solid choice. perhaps on the expensive side but they make a good product. The new Milano with Mozzarella, Provolone, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Bacon, Roasted Garlic, and Red Pepper is tasty. The bonus of this locale is the have an outside covered patio plus tables beyond that if you want the sun directly. Service is friendly and you can get in and out in no time fast.
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Review from Seth M.
Menlo Park, CA
2/2/2012
Not the best East coast pizza
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Review from Sean H.
Reno, NV
8/31/2011
It was ok. Good prices, free delivery, great crust. Just wishy-washy on the toppings.
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Review from Stephanie L.
Atherton, CA
2/7/2012
Our waitress was bored and disinterested. She was yawning while taking our order. Food was fine but the experience was not a warm, friendly one.
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Review from terry h.
San Jose, CA
5/25/2009
BOO! Thought I'd be the first reviewer.
Oh well, 3rd isn't so bad. Anyway, went on a date to Menlo Park again. Why? I don't know. Los Gatos is so much better for walking, talking, hiking, looking, eating. Menlo Park is cool and all that and I love it but so many stores are shutting down it kind of puts a damper on the place.
Fortunately, Amici's just opened and it is one gorgeous, happening spot. All marbley and stainless steely clean. My Florida house is like Amici's but now I want a house like it here. Something that you can just mop and go on your way. Well not mop exactly, swiffer.
If you love pizza like I love pizza then you will love Amici's. Can I tell you a secret? The safeway 3.99 margarite (sp?) pizza are just about as awesome and you can cook 3 at a time... one for now, two for later. I'm a pizza freak man. If I'm not eating, I'm jonesing like an addict for a needle or a pimp for... oh well you know what I mean. Glad my vices are legal ones.
We sat at the table next to the place where they are spinning the dough and spreading it out. Made for interesting conversation as we watched the dough masters do their thang while speaking spanish throughout.
We sat down, ordered in about 20 seconds and about a minute later here came the pie. And it was AWESOME. Just the right crust, just the right texture, the tomato sauce was just the right tangyness (or is that tanginess, frankly I don't care being a Berkeley English major and burned out on words. I'll go with tangyness because tanginess doesn't look right and I'm too tired and lazy to google it).
The tomatoes were fresh and tart/sour. Perfect!!! I was full before the pie vanished so there was some for later and I am a person who takes home doggie bags for the big doggie whoz me.
Our waiter was awesome. Very nice and cool. What more can you ask for? Sun, a girl, a pizza and a sunroof in the car. I love California in May with a temperature around 80 degrees.
Yea Bay Area. Yea Amici's. 5 stars. -
Review from David P.
7/4/2009
They wouldn't go out of business if they set up shop in Manhattan. Thin crust and nice balance between cheese and sauce.
I ordered delivery to a school yard where we were playing a parent-child soccer game. They were nonplussed by the special delivery instructions. Pizza came right on time, piping hot. The kids inhaled $70 worth in a matter of minutes (and probably wouldn't have cared if had come from Round Table or Costco.)
Not being experienced with Amici's, I found the statement "East Coast" in the name to be odd. It could mean that its pizza you'd find in Delaware or Maine. As anyone who has spent any time in NYC knows, pizza, hoagies, lox and bagels are mostly worthless outside a 50-mile radius. -
Review from Tomomi S.
1/13/2010
I know Amici is famous for pizza, but we were craving pasta so we ordered large puttanesca and split it. Sauce was a little spicy side but very tomatoey, hint of sour/salty taste from capers and anchovy. Tasted good, but pretty average pasta I'd say. There were tons of sauce left over after eating the pasta so my fried took the leftover sauce home, cooked pasta, mix with the sauce and made another dish out of it.
I liked Caesar salad. The dressing was so good! Unlike those bottled creamy Caesar dressing, I could taste garlic and anchovy in this dressing. My friend's spinach salad looked pretty yummy too. Small size was more than enough to keep my hunger under control until we got our pasta.
This Amici's was pretty spacious and gave me an "open" feeling, didn't feel "crowded" at all, that may be because it was late Sunday afternoon, this place looked pretty slow. But service was good. I'd try pizza next time. -
Review from Wes T.
6/15/2009
The options on the pizzas are a plus. The convenience factors of having it so near my house AND being able to order online are also star-bringers.
Burnt delivery pizza is gonna cost ya, Amici's. If you want to be a five star joint, you gotta strive for that, my friend. Take a clue from Pizza My Heart. -
Review from Will H.
Menlo Park, CA
9/19/2011
I am not impressed with Amici's at all. I ordered a large cheese pizza and a order of garlic breadsticks. It took about ten minutes for the breadsticks to appear and a good thirty minutes for the pizza to come out. By the time the pizza had come, I had filled up on breadsticks! I took a bite out of the pizza and the bottom was completely black. I had never had a more burnt pizza in my life! The breadsticks were good enough and to be honest, that's all I really ate. The waiter who served me seemed to be distracted by something and there were extremely conversation-ending loud noises coming from the kitchen. I will not be coming here again soon.
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Review from Erica e.
1/28/2010
*****The 5 stars for this review is purely based on their AMAZING Gluten-Free offerings.****
I have eaten at Amici's many, many times and at several locations but this evening I was going to dinner with my mother-in-law who has recently developed severe gluten allergies. The number of places that understand the severity of gluten allergies is very few and so finding one that is acceptable is pretty tough.
Just to clarify, having a gluten free menu can mean a lot of things, but Amici's really takes the extra steps to make sure their customers can dine care free. They have "clean" prep areas for all gluten-free food, use separate utensils and cooking methods to make sure none of the gluten-free food is cross-contaminated by the non gluten free food.
That being said, we were a party of four and ordered a gluten free salad, a gluten free Veggie pizza and a regular Trentino pizza (for the non-gluten free eaters).
When the pizza arrived, the waitress did such a wonderful job of making sure that my mother-in-law did not come in contact with anything that was gluten related, even having her grab her own plate to avoid any unneeded contact. Wow! These guys are pros! When there was extra pizza- they brought the box from a separate spot even- it was really amazing how committed they are!
I am not allergic to gluten, but honestly I preferred the gluten free pizza to the non!!!
Overall, great experience and our server was such a doll- really did a great job.
If you have or know anyone who has gluten allergies- take them here!!!!Listed in: Gluten-Free
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Review from lisa h.
Menlo Park, CA
10/6/2009
Gotta say, the pizzas we had were really delicious. Knocking down 1 star because 10 bucks for a mini pizza that barely equals the size of a regular slice is a bit steep IMO.
Service was pretty good and the place was clean. I was surprised there were only a few tables taken during lunch hours. -
Review from D J.
Wynnewood, PA
8/26/2010
"East Coast Pizzeria" is as meaningful a description as "West Coast Mexican Food." There is plenty of pizza on the East Coast that sucks and isn't worth eating. Most pizza in New York stinks, and there is no definitive thin crust on the East Coast that appeals to all eaters as perfect. So we should judge Amici's pizza on its qualities as a pizza from Menlo Park (or wherever you are eating it).
The crust was thin(nish), but I like a thinner, lighter crust with a crunch. Black olives (the kind you'd stick on your fingers as a kid) should be nixed in favor of kalamata. Prices seem a little high, but I like the three sizes available.
I haven't had better around the Menlo Park/Palo Alto area, though, so I might go back. -
Review from Geoff L.
Oxford, OH
6/23/2009
So I was walking through downtown Menlo Park for the first time in a while last night, and I was thinking to myself, "how do any of these business make money?" I mean, we got designer baby clothing stores, enormous rug stores, two-story expensive furniture stores...I just can't imagine how in this economy, the cost of running these businesses is less than the money they take in. But we arrived at Amici's for dinner on a Sunday night, and everything about downtown Menlo Park was made right.
What an excellent restaurant product! The inside and outside are beautifully done, the service is fantastic, the food is very good and very affordable, and they have pitchers of Gordon Biersch Marzen, Sam Adams Summer Ale and Blue Moon for $12.75.
The garlic bread is awesome. The quality of the bread was outstanding, the herbs and spices were perfect, and it was cooked and served just right (plus they bring marinara and ranch for dipping).
We ordered the Manhattan Red Clam pizza, the Amici's Combo pizza, the Four Cheese Lasagna with Meat Sauce, and the Cheese Ravioli with Pesto. Every dish was awesome. The quality was impressive, the flavors were spot on, everything was cooked perfectly, it was brought to the table hot...there's really nothing else to say. Oh, and the pizza crust is amazing.
We all had a feast with a few beers each and ended up having to pay about $20 a person. Without beer and without totally pigging out, we could have gotten away with $10 or $12 a person. This is a great establishment, and they will be a Menlo Park staple for years to come. -
Review from Jimmy G.
Emeryville, CA
10/21/2009
Ordered the pizza with fried eggplant -- sounds pretty good, right? I even added some Italian sauage. But the end result was really bland. The crust was decent (I ordered it cooked on the light side -- per their menu -- because I don't like blackened crust, brick oven or no). But they've got to kick start the tomato sauce or something.
Service on a Sunday afternoon was kind of spotty. Had to wait a while for some oregano (which helped but didn't cure the bland pizza) and never got a refill on my soda, even though that is stated on the menu. -
Review from sally t.
Monterey, CA
5/9/2009
Amici's... east coast pizzeria. sooo good.
I went to the amici's in menlo park. Tried the spinach salad, manhattan clam pizza, vegan asante, and the milan pizza. All were phenomenally delicious. The pizzas with a cabernet sauvignon wine and stella artois & widmer hefeweizen really hit the spot.
Servers were phenomenal. We had Aaron as our server, and he was such a delight. Super friendly and really attentive even though the restaurant was so packed. Great experience. -
Review from Missy W.
Oakland, CA
5/3/2010
**gluten-free friendly**
Nom! I am off-the-charts allergic to gluten, and I was with 2 other gluten intolerant people, so we decided to try the GF pizza here. I'm not sure how they make their dough, but it was the best GF pizza I've ever eaten. It tasted *just like* regular pizza dough.
However, the major downside to this place is the cost of a GF pizza. They are 5" smaller and cost $10 more. I don't feel I should be punished for my food allergy. -
Review from Arnold W.
Menlo Park, CA
Updated - 5/18/2009 3 photos
UPDATE: Amici's now does serve wine/beer. They have about 5 whites/10 reds by glasses on the menu plus tap beer and wine bottles. My latest eat was the Margherita, very good. I next want to try the sausage sandwich, sounds so good, and a pizza of my own design (I may have to bring them pears for that).
NOTE: If you check my pic of the front door, you will see that the listed hours above are not quite correct.
ADDED: We;ve lately tried their New pizza, with potatoes. Fine said my guest, i wished we'd had the artichoke hearts.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/7/2009 First to Review
It was a delight to be the very first 'public' customer, May 11. While they were cutting the ribbon… Read more »
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Review from Ed L.
8/26/2009
One of my best friends has been raving about this place since high school so I was quite excited when the Menlo location opened. Coworkers and I ordered like 5 XL pizzas for one of our dinner arrangements so we got to try a good variety of their offering. Spicy Pepper Chicken and New Haven White Clam were my top 2 tasty choices.
The good: online ordering and free delivery so we could have our asses remained glued to the office chair, great topping combination and thin crust so you can try different slices without feeling bloated.
The not so good: pizzas don't come with much sauce, if any, and were over-baked which made them very dry, a little "Shylock" on the toppings (like where's the beef?), and the food is a pricey (for a pizza).
