76 replies to this topic

[waylman]

I swear to God, there is no good pizza in this city. I had a pretty good pie at Olympia on Denman awhile ago, but that's about it! Can someone please convince me that Vancouver isn't the worst pizza city in the world!?!?

[jsmith]

Can someone please convince me that Vancouver isn't the worst pizza city in the world!?!?

Come to Toronto

[vandan]

i disagree , go down to commercial and have a walk around

[quattroporte]

The only thing that I would call "good" pizza is Lombardo's.

I'd be one happy girl if they'd consider delivering.

[Vaughan]

Amadeus, and they do deliver...not too heavy on the cheese, which I like (sorry, Joe!).

[run2eat]

I swear to God, there is no good pizza in this city. I had a pretty good pie at Olympia on Denman awhile ago, but that's about it! Can someone please convince me that Vancouver isn't the worst pizza city in the world!?!?

I second Amadeus . Nat's NY suits me fine too. Still, nothing here to match the Montreal pizzas of my childhood. The simple "All Dressed" from the pizza joint on my block, hand tossed with a superb sauce, great cheese - not too much, not too little. Nothing here comes close.

But - how do you prefer your pizza? Thick crust or thin? Saucy? Cheesy?

[Vaughan]

Second Nats too, good by the slice variety.

[Anchoress]

Wasn't there a discussion a few months ago that the reason Vancouver pizza sucks is because of the soft water?

[PaoPao]

Previous Vancouver pizza threads:

http://forums.egulle...topic=95784&hl=

http://forums.egulle...topic=64256&hl=

[SBonner]

Good post.... I have not had a good pizza for sometime. Rocky Mountain is pretty good although it is Alberta based. Incendio in Gastown is a lot better than anything on the Drive.

[Sonja]

I think Firewood on Cambie is pretty good, and they deliver. My favourite pizza by far, however, is from Me 'n Ed's, but they are located in Burnaby/New Westminster.

[jchaput]

I like Gastown Incendio too, especially the foccacia. must be the oldest brick oven in the city, (and the coolest looking) a leftover from Al Forno. I think it is actually wood fired, as opposed to most newer gas or gas assited forno ovens installed now. At home I order Gigi's from Broadway. I like it. When it's good, it's really good. I think it's partly because they cook it enough. Pizza can often be undercooked. It needs that 'golden' cheesey love on top.

[Daddy-A]

I think Firewood on Cambie is pretty good, and they deliver. My favourite pizza by far, however, is from Me 'n Ed's, but they are located in Burnaby/New Westminster.

Me 'N Ed's? Gaaaack Although I must admit they have improved significantly from the day when the pizza choices in Burnaby/New West were between them and Shakey's.

Firewood is right next door to where I work ... LOVE the smell of burning wood that wafts into the showroom around 3pm. Do them a favour. Order a pizza soon. I was talking to the manager today and he said biz was down about 25% with all the construction. I take home a couple a month, but tthey're good neighbours and I'd like to help them a little more.

A.

[mkjr]

Can someone please convince me that Vancouver isn't the worst pizza city in the world!?!?

Come to Toronto

Agreed. No John's in Toronto or Vancouver. Sigh! Oh well thank god I can fly to NYC from Buffalo for dirt cheap. I also really do like Me 'N Ed's very much.

[D90]

The only thing that I would call "good" pizza is Lombardo's.

I'd be one happy girl if they'd consider delivering.

Lombardo's have a special right now Med. Pizza $10 I believe, I might order one tomorow for lunch, since I work only a stones throw away. I have yet to try their pizza.

I may get stones for saying this but I think Numero Uno on Davis and Granville is pretty darn good at 2-3 in the morning, espcially their chicken pizza.

Edited by D90, 19 June 2007 - 04:52 PM.

[Beebs]

I like Minerva's on 41st & Larch, especially the sauce. It's run by a Greek family, I believe. They also deliver but I think it's only within a certain area.

[Piccolina]

I like Sciue's italian pizza (corner of Howe and Pender). It is the thin slice variety with a wide selection of toppings (not your typical north american pizza topping. Tastes pretty much like pizza from Italy. The pricing is by weight, so it can get pretty expensive.

Avoid going there during the weekday lunch rush. The line can be >30 people long on a summer lunch hour.

The outdoor tables/chairs are great during the summer!

[hopkin]

Pie By Night

1147 Granville Street 604 622 7781

New york style.
We like the '666' (hot capicolo) , easy cheese, extra sauce.
Fantastic!

[canucklehead]

Not to rub it in... I am on business in NYC right now - had a suprsingly good pie from a chain Piola (one was topped with very fresh ricotta and arugula) and a surprisingly weak pizza from Mario Batali's Otto. His partnership with Nancy Silverton in LA - Mozza, was waaay better. I may try to hit John's before I go to the airport today.

Good to see some suggestions above for places in Vancouver.

[Daddy-A]

Not to rub it in...  I am on business in NYC right now - had a suprsingly good pie from a chain Piola (one was topped with very fresh ricotta and arugula)

Bastard. Better bring me back a pie!

A.

[inanimate]

Didn't love the last pie I got at lombardo's but I'm really looking forward to going down to bellingham to have another sofia at lafiamma.

so good.

[brokentelephone]

I was just in Italy for the weekend..... shame on VancouveR!

[Hestia]

Nook on Deman: The crust is not going to win any big prizes, but the toppings are decent and the room is very pleasant. Probably my favorite place just to sit and relax over some very well done food.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company: Only redeeming thing about the place is the super child friendly policies. The crust is beerier than the carpet at a fraternity house and it looks like the hired Doug Henning to decorate the place. Posthumously.

Ah Beetz: The crust is complete heaven. Crisp and chewy with a delicous toasty taste. I think they do a two day rise, and it shows. Great sauce. The only thing stopping the pizza from being perfect are the toppings. They are not bad, but could be better.

[Beebs]

I had a surprisingly delicious pizza at Epicurean Cafe (1st & Cypress). Incredibly thin crust (thinner than Lombardo) and just the right amount of topping. Mine had prosciutto and arugula.

Italian Kitchen does a good thin-crust pizza too.

[brokentelephone]

Has anyone tried Strawberry Cones in Aberdeen Center? (it's a Japanese pizza chain with some pretty wacky toppings -- Hokkaido Potato Tuna anyone ? )

[fmed]

Has anyone tried Strawberry Cones in Aberdeen Center?  (it's a Japanese pizza chain with some pretty wacky toppings -- Hokkaido Potato Tuna anyone ? )

I have. The crust is fluffy and spongey and the toppings tasted very artificial (sweet sauces, etc.). Not my thing.

[Edward J]

In response to the orginal poster, "Why are thee no decent pizzas in Vancouver"

I have a pet theory, perhaps even a conspiracy.

Vancouverites love cheap pizza. You know, the $1.14 take-away kind kind on a paper plate?

Every major street and mall has at least one such pizza joint.

How good can a $1.14 slice of pizza be?



But that's only part of the conspiracy...

The most popular oven for baking pizzas in Vancouver?

A Doyan convection oven

Not ideal for a crispy crust or even baked texture, but hey, it's cheaper than a conventional deck oven, and a lot cheaper to operate too...

[fmed]

In response to the orginal poster, "Why are thee no decent pizzas in Vancouver"

I have a pet theory, perhaps even a conspiracy.

Vancouverites love cheap pizza.  You know, the $1.14 take-away kind kind on a paper plate?

Every major street and mall has at least one such pizza joint.

How good can a $1.14 slice of pizza be?



But that's only part of the conspiracy...

The most popular oven for baking pizzas in Vancouver?

A Doyan convection oven

Not ideal for a crispy crust or even baked texture, but hey, it's cheaper than a conventional deck oven, and a lot cheaper to operate too...

The typical pizza here is atrocious....even some of the new higher end Italian places don't get it right. Once good pizza joints like Lombardo's have gone downhill of late. Lombardo's owner has left the newer downtown location (which is now being rebranded as Pacific Pizza)...so maybe she can stop the downward spiral at the Commercial Drive location.) I can't get myself to eat at Marcello's even though it is probably the best pizza in my neighbourhood (their brick oven is still charcoal fired while Lombardo's is running gas now).

Ah Beetz in Abbotsford is on my sights...I haven't been, but I like what I see. The pizzaiolo there is a real NY pizza fanatic and goes the extra mile to make it authentic. He is running his deck ovens at 700 C and cold-rises his dough in the fridge like the better places in NYC. I have recently heard good things about Steveston Pizza. I may have to pop in one time when I visit my parents there.

I have found ways of improving delivery pizza - sometimes for our family rental movie nights we order pizza from Megabite on Commercial Dr. This particular location is the best of the "chain" (more like an aggregate of pizza shops). Their crust has a bit too much oil, but it is good in comparison to the other delivery places in town. I ask for thin crust, easy on the toppings - especially the "cheese"...then when it arrives, I pop it on a preheated pizza stone for a few minutes to crisp up the crust (I turn on my oven to max right before I phone in the order). It's like putting lipstick on a pig.

[Hestia]

Vancouver pizza is generally awful. And I agree with Fmed that even some of the newer higher end places have generally been really disappointing.

A good slice costs $4-$5 in NYC, so when you see how low the prices are in Vancouver, clearly something must be wrong. Cheap sushi give me the creeps also.

Ah-beetz crust is really fantastic, and a visit is fun and informative. Their sauce is fresh with hand ripped basil tossed over the pizza just before hitting the oven. I just wish they would step it up with the toppings. Pre-shredded asiago adds an unwanted hit of salt and they use a dry mozz rather than a fresh one. I understand that good fresh mozz is difficult to source, but please, a Margherita without that fresh dairy hit seems wrong.

[CaliPoutine]

Dont feel bad, pizza really sucks in Ontario too.