PrintPizzeria Bianco: Long Wait, High Expectations
Editor's note: Digging into the Slice mailbag, we find this dispatch from the (long) front lines at Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix. —The Mgmt.
Line, line. Everywhere a line.
I am a longtime reader of your blog and fellow pizza connoisseur. I wanted to report on my recent experience at Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix.
My parents recently relocated to Phoenix after living in New York and then New Jersey for pretty much their entire lives. Our family has been accustomed to eating some of the nation's best pizza, (Di Fara, Grimaldi's, Patsy's, DeLorenzo's Tomato Pies in Trenton, New Jersey). When we read the reviews here about Chris Bianco and his pizza , we planned an evening out to try these locally famous pies.
We arrived at Pizzeria Bianco around 4:30 p.m. on a Saturday (30 minutes before they open) to find a line stretching down the block (picture is attached ). After waiting in line for about an hour, we made our way to the front of the line. At this point we were able to put our name on the list to be seated, the wait time: FOUR HOURS!
We all decided to wait it out and hope that the wait time was exaggerated. Little did we know that the estimate for our wait was pretty damn accurate. So about five hours and six bottles of wine later, we were seated and ready to order. Unfortunately, we were all drunk and tired by the time we sat down, so that took away from the enjoyment of the pizza we were about to eat. We ordered six pies, one of each on the menu. The pies arrived at our table about 25 minutes later. They were good but did not live up to our expectations, definitely not worth a five-hour wait. The crust was special, though. I enjoyed the different texture it had, almost chewy and crisp at the same time. Everyone in the group would have enjoyed the pizza a lot more if the wait wasn't as bad. We were all in agreement that Dom DeMarco makes a better pie, hands down.
Thanks for the recommendation, Slice! It was definitely an experience to remember.
Best Regards,
Brian
Dear Brian,
Well, at least you've gotten to try it, though I'm sorry to hear you had such a crazy wait. I still haven't been and so can't comment on whether the wait is worth it. Personally, I'm not sure any pizza is worth a total five-hour wait time, but that's me. Eventually I'll have to endure it, and I'm sure I'll pass the time as you did—with plenty of wine.
I wonder, though, if you didn't have an especially long wait because of holiday diners. The last time I was back in Kansas City for Christmas, I noticed the lines at Arthur Bryant's barbecue were especially long—I think everyone in from out of town was trying to get in their barbecue fix before heading out. Maybe you experienced the same with a Thanksgiving rush?
Anyway, thanks for sharing your story, and it reminds me that I've got some Bianco material sitting around that I haven't blogged yet. Later today, later today ...
Hasta la pizza,
Adam
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6 Comments:
Wow - I've been to Pizzeria Bianco many times, but I've NEVER encountered a line that long - that is insane! They have been getting a lot of press recently - maybe that is part of the reason. I'm a fan of their pizzas, but I don't think there is any restaurant on the face of this planet worth a four hour wait!
BaconUnwrapped at 11:31AM on 11/27/07
A tip for beating the Bianco's lines... plan ahead - they make limited advance reservations for groups of 6. My wife and I used to eat there just about monthly when we lived in Phoenix. Going on a Wednesday helps, because, anything over a 90 minute wait gets real tiresome, even with the nice wine bar next door.
mgraban at 4:01PM on 11/27/07
We tried to make a reservation as we had a party of six but we were told they were not taking any reservations until January.
dnb101 at 5:23PM on 11/27/07
The week before Thanksgiving & week of, are the busiest for our shop. Saturday night is the busiest night of the week period.....simply poor timing. Go again mid week & not around a major holiday (they close twice a year for a couple of weeks at a time) & then you can compare to Di Fara...but yeah 5 hours is simply lunacy. It was 2+ hours this last week at our shop...the guilt I felt is maddening....(even though there is nothing we can do about it)...I can't imagine the guilt Chris & company may feel.
Kim Nyland at 6:29PM on 11/27/07
I went in July and was the first in line at 3pm, making sure I made the first group at their 5pm opening.
robert40 at 7:25PM on 11/27/07
I have never been to Pizzeria Bianco, in fact despite living in Phoenix for FIVE years I have never heard of it! Am I nuts? apparently- people visiting me later this month begged me to take them there. Is it worth the immensly long wait- and WHAT makes it so great?! Any insights?
Btw: Has anyone eaten at Slices in Tempe. It is far from gourmet but it is certianly the best drunk food pizza I have ever had next to Casa di Amici's in Morgantown, WV! (GO MOUNTAINEERS!)
marywv8633 at 3:08PM on 03/11/08