Posted by Adam Kuban, September 18, 2008 at 12:00 PM
pdxdude*: Hello adam pdxdude: I just moved to Portland OR NYCSlice**: from where? NYCSlice: awesome city NYCSlice: good move pdxdude: brooklyn pdxdude: any places for a slice? pdxdude: I tried Ken's NYCSlice: well, you leave brooklyn for portland, you can't have it all
NYCSlice: You now live in one of the most beautiful cities in the country. If not THE most beautiful NYCSlice: I would be jealous if you had really awesome pizza there, too NYCSlice: Hmm... I haven't been to pdx since 2000 NYCSlice: when i moved from there NYCSlice: i used to like Pizzicato Pizza NYCSlice: but that was a lnog time ago NYCSlice: stay away from Rocco's NYCSlice: it sucks NYCSlice: try it once NYCSlice: to see NYCSlice: and then stay away pdxdude: u are from PDX NYCSlice: no NYCSlice: only lived tehre for a few years NYCSlice: 1997-2000 pdxdude: wow what a small world pdxdude: there are a few places that claim they have NY pizza NYCSlice: oh pdxdude: so far so bad NYCSlice: have you tried Escape from NY? pdxdude: yes- not NY NYCSlice: i'll open it up to the Slice audience pdxdude: sweet pdxdude: thx
So, Slicers, where can pdxdude go for a good New York–style slice in Portland? Please dish.
* Screen name has been changed to protect the innocent.
** Screen name is correct; feel free to ping me with similar requests, though my tactic may involve repeating above formula.
Apizza Scholls. It's East Coast style, but more New Haven than New York. Oh, and you won't get a slice. And you can't get it to go. But it is the best pizza I've ever had.
Indeed it's all about Apizza and Ken's. Well those are my 2 favorites anyhow. Mississippi Pizza Pub is pretty good too- slices, whole pies, and yes, even though they have some vegan and wheat free options, the regular stuff is still good. Pizzicato is ok, but doesn't really satisfy a pizza craving.
A bunch of friends of mine and I had a party earlier this summer where we each brought our favorite pie. Apizza Scholls, Ken's, and Pizzacato were all represented. It's A Beautiful Pizza blew them all out of the water. It wasn't even close.
I'm with everyone else in saying Apizza Scholls. It got a lot of press when it was featured on No Reservations. Seriously amazing pizza- I might even say better than the pizza I usually have while in NYC. The crust is made by hand and cooked in a brick oven and is absolutely perfect. No more than 3 toppings on a pizza, perfect crust, and wonderful sauce. The only problem is that you have to usually line up at 4:30 to get in- once pizza sells out, it's gone for the night!
As a current Reed student and native New Yorker, my advice is to just avoid Portland pizza so as to not tarnish your cherished memories of Brooklyn. Although Apizza Scholls is, as everyone seems to agree, very much worth a trip or five, I haven't yet had a decent slice (as opposed to a pie.)
Hey, PB, I'm so with you on Pizza a'fetta. Whenever my son came to visit me in Portland, he had to go to Cannon Beach also just for the pizza there. It's a small little joint, but definitely worth the drive. Apizza Scholls in the best in Portland, but as mentioned, get there before they open or it is a long wait.
I don't think they have slices, but for a whole pie (and the experience) go to Apizza Scholls in Hawthorne.
Further down the valley... "Apizza" in Stayton is getting some buzz. Lefty's in Salem is a good bet.
Heading East? Pizza Mondo in Bend is my favorite.
And for an extended road trip head out to Baker City and try the slice of the day at Paizano's. OM NOM NOM! They are making some outstanding pizza way out there in Eastern Oregon...
I will also vouch for Hotlips. I'm saying this from a less affluent student standpoint, but they have great local and organic topping combinations that keep me coming back. It may not be N.Y. but it's worth at least a try for a few bucks. They also have awesome sodas.
Apizza is good but unless I'm mistaken, they don't do slices!!! I loved their pie but they are a bit too uppity for me to wait in line. I wait in line for very little.
Pizza is one of the 5 food groups in our house and the gold standard is John's in NYC. Bleecker st is the preferred location.
Now that I've given my credentials, my vote is for Tributes in NW portland http://portland.citysearch.com/profile/8459556/ . It's no John's but it's not about hype, location or anything other than being a east coast pizzaria transplanted to the northwest.
There are no great NY style slice joints to be had in Portland. Escape from New York Pizza is pretty mediocre. Their crust is a little on the thick side and they are heavy handed on the cheese. Hot Lips can do a decent slice, but isn't better than your average New York corner slice.
The best places in PDX are no-slice establishments—whole pie or no pie. Apizza Scholls takes the cake for east-coast style large pies. Ken's does a great neapolitan-style pie. Carboni's on MLK, which doesn't seem to get any press, makes a good pie. They imported their wood-burning oven from Italy and seem to take their pizza pretty seriously. Their dough is handmade and their crust has a nice char. Their large pizzas are 16" though, which is not-quite NY sized.
NY NY on Barbur off the Terwilliger curbs is run by a true NY import and has the closest to the real thing I've found. He got written up in the local pages back in '01 I think for having the largest pie in town, thus requiring a dine in only because they couldn't make a box big enough. Slices are massive and topped to order.
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pdxdude*: Hello adam
21 Comments:
I wouldn't consider it New York style, but I second the Pizzicato recommendation. It's one of the most delicious slices I've had this year.
codasco at 1:05PM on 09/18/08
A/S/L
worldcupfever at 1:15PM on 09/18/08
Apizza Scholls. It's East Coast style, but more New Haven than New York. Oh, and you won't get a slice. And you can't get it to go. But it is the best pizza I've ever had.
arbeck at 1:16PM on 09/18/08
Apizza Scholls at 4741 SE Hawthorne.
thaiturtle at 1:16PM on 09/18/08
There was an article on here about Apizza Scholls a while ago:
http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2008/07/apizza-scholls-pizza-portland-oregon-or.html
danqu at 1:22PM on 09/18/08
Indeed it's all about Apizza and Ken's. Well those are my 2 favorites anyhow. Mississippi Pizza Pub is pretty good too- slices, whole pies, and yes, even though they have some vegan and wheat free options, the regular stuff is still good. Pizzicato is ok, but doesn't really satisfy a pizza craving.
nwbywayofla at 1:42PM on 09/18/08
I didn't realize we could make requests like these! =) I need a good slice placein baltimore!
anyways, I'm wondering if maybe we could have some sort of user contributed map of well rated pizza places.
attgig at 2:06PM on 09/18/08
Go here - no joke - kickass pie!
http://www.apizzascholls.com/
Yea, Boy!
Vegas
SputnikHQ at 2:45PM on 09/18/08
Bal'mer? Charm City's best slices can be found at Angelos or Mama Lucia's!
Vegas
SputnikHQ at 2:48PM on 09/18/08
A Beautiful Pizza at 3342 SE Belmont.
A bunch of friends of mine and I had a party earlier this summer where we each brought our favorite pie. Apizza Scholls, Ken's, and Pizzacato were all represented. It's A Beautiful Pizza blew them all out of the water. It wasn't even close.
snethen at 2:55PM on 09/18/08
@worldcupfever: LOL. 34/M/Brooklyn
Adam Kuban at 3:08PM on 09/18/08
I'm with everyone else in saying Apizza Scholls. It got a lot of press when it was featured on No Reservations. Seriously amazing pizza- I might even say better than the pizza I usually have while in NYC. The crust is made by hand and cooked in a brick oven and is absolutely perfect. No more than 3 toppings on a pizza, perfect crust, and wonderful sauce. The only problem is that you have to usually line up at 4:30 to get in- once pizza sells out, it's gone for the night!
breadandhoney at 3:41PM on 09/18/08
This will be less helpful, but when you travel to Cannon Beach on the coast (AND YOU SHOULD!!!), go to Pizza a'Fetta. It's insanely good.
PB - New Jersey
pbelardo at 3:49PM on 09/18/08
As a current Reed student and native New Yorker, my advice is to just avoid Portland pizza so as to not tarnish your cherished memories of Brooklyn. Although Apizza Scholls is, as everyone seems to agree, very much worth a trip or five, I haven't yet had a decent slice (as opposed to a pie.)
ZackF at 4:35PM on 09/18/08
Hey, PB, I'm so with you on Pizza a'fetta. Whenever my son came to visit me in Portland, he had to go to Cannon Beach also just for the pizza there. It's a small little joint, but definitely worth the drive. Apizza Scholls in the best in Portland, but as mentioned, get there before they open or it is a long wait.
kalajo at 5:53PM on 09/18/08
Hey hey now, where's the love for HOTLIPS pizza? Sure, it may not be N.Y style, but it's my fave slice purveyor in town.
cheese_eater at 6:25PM on 09/18/08
I don't think they have slices, but for a whole pie (and the experience) go to Apizza Scholls in Hawthorne.
Further down the valley... "Apizza" in Stayton is getting some buzz. Lefty's in Salem is a good bet.
Heading East? Pizza Mondo in Bend is my favorite.
And for an extended road trip head out to Baker City and try the slice of the day at Paizano's. OM NOM NOM! They are making some outstanding pizza way out there in Eastern Oregon...
fiveforefun at 7:42PM on 09/18/08
I will also vouch for Hotlips. I'm saying this from a less affluent student standpoint, but they have great local and organic topping combinations that keep me coming back. It may not be N.Y. but it's worth at least a try for a few bucks. They also have awesome sodas.
Keebz at 9:26PM on 09/18/08
Apizza is good but unless I'm mistaken, they don't do slices!!! I loved their pie but they are a bit too uppity for me to wait in line. I wait in line for very little.
Pizza is one of the 5 food groups in our house and the gold standard is John's in NYC. Bleecker st is the preferred location.
Now that I've given my credentials, my vote is for Tributes in NW portland http://portland.citysearch.com/profile/8459556/ . It's no John's but it's not about hype, location or anything other than being a east coast pizzaria transplanted to the northwest.
mingala at 4:08PM on 09/19/08
There are no great NY style slice joints to be had in Portland. Escape from New York Pizza is pretty mediocre. Their crust is a little on the thick side and they are heavy handed on the cheese. Hot Lips can do a decent slice, but isn't better than your average New York corner slice.
The best places in PDX are no-slice establishments—whole pie or no pie. Apizza Scholls takes the cake for east-coast style large pies. Ken's does a great neapolitan-style pie. Carboni's on MLK, which doesn't seem to get any press, makes a good pie. They imported their wood-burning oven from Italy and seem to take their pizza pretty seriously. Their dough is handmade and their crust has a nice char. Their large pizzas are 16" though, which is not-quite NY sized.
egadman at 5:47PM on 09/19/08
NY NY on Barbur off the Terwilliger curbs is run by a true NY import and has the closest to the real thing I've found. He got written up in the local pages back in '01 I think for having the largest pie in town, thus requiring a dine in only because they couldn't make a box big enough. Slices are massive and topped to order.
hemanhasamullet at 2:47PM on 08/13/09