Marcellina, Enfield

Marcellina
362  Main North Road, Enfield

Pizza Ordered: Marcellina Special (12") 

Date: 26/08/10

Time of Day: Lunch

Price: $18.90

Ingredients: Tomato, cheese, ham, capsicum, mushroom kalamata olives & anchovies.

After attending a meeting on this side of town, on the way back to the office we decided to get some lunch. Some time ago, this particular store had been 'Pasta Pot' which we had ordered take away from a few times. But what an amazing makeover the new owners have done inside. It's not a very large store but clean, nicely set tables, some with booth seating are now set up complete with table menus, which means - table service. 

Our waiter was very polite, and served our drinks quickly. The pizza took a while to cook, and once we got it the base was a little dry. However it was loaded with a generous layering fresh ingredients and topped with fragrant basil.The ham looked mysteriously like large rashers of bacon, but never the less it was very tasty with a perfect amount of cheese and topping ration.


Rating: A-

Grotto Pizza-Teca, Norwood

Grotto Pizza-teca
61B  Edward St, Norwood SA 

Pizza Ordered: Grotto (12") & Grotto Plate

Date: 26/08/10 

Time of Day: Dinner

Price: $21.50

Plate Price: $11.50

Ingredients: Roasted Chicken breast, smokey bacon, Sliced roma tomatoes, topped with cos lettuce and seeded mustard mayonnaise.

What was on the plate: Feta, bocconcini, sun dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, prosciutto, salami & ham topped with rocket and drizzled olive oil.

Walking into this tucked away pizza bar, just back from the parade, we were met with an inviting greeting from the behind the counter by presumably the owner.  The interior is full of long dark wooden tables and stools, and has a warm, unassuming vibe. We decided to order the grotto plate as a starter, which was fantastic. It came served on a white dish complete with miniature tongs to serves oneself. Everything was deliciously tasty.

Next came the pizza, and although we did wait longer than normal, and the place wasn't busy at all, it was definitely worth the wait. The pizza base was very thin and cooked well. The ingredients tasted fresh and nice large pieces of chicken were used. The crisp shredded lettuce and mustard mayo was added after the pizza came out the oven and gave it a nice balance. It was very more-ish and next time I think we will be ordering the next size up. Although it was expensive for the size, the ingredients were definitely quality.

Rating: A

Also if you print off the second page from the menu off the website, you get a 10% discount when you pay with cash. We did this, and then put all our change into the large tips plate on the counter.

http://www.grottopizzateca.com.au/

El Dorado Pizza Bar, Hawthorn

El Dorado Pizza Bar
206 Belair Road, Hawthorn SA

Pizza Ordered: El Dorado (12")
Date: 22/08/10
Time of Day: Afternoon
Price: $11.5


Upon first walking upto the counter in this pizza bar, we were met by a staff member who was folding boxes, presumably for the nights pizzas. Although we made eye contact, and I am pretty sure I said hi, we were ignored and left standing there unserved. There were 3 visible staff members in the immediate counter area, but it wasnt until a young lady popped her head out from out the back that we actually acknowledged and then served.
 
When we finally got this pizza, it wasn't what we were hoping for. All the toppings were dry, singed and burnt around the edges. There were clumps of topping that looked as though they had been thrown hurridly on the pizza. One piece that I picked up was pretty much half green capsicum, which in large amounts is really bitter. Even thought the top was all dry, the actual base dough was not cooked through, and was raw through the middle. Perhaps what looked like a conveyor belt oven they had was turned up too high, in an attempt to get the pizza's cooked quickly.
 
Rating: D

Cafe Verde Pizzeria, Fairview Park

Cafe Verde Pizzeria
325 Hancock Road, Fairview Park.

Pizza Ordered: Verde Special (12")
Date: 17/08/10
Time of Day: Dinner
Price: $16.5

After getting a hot tip from the regional manager at work, we decided to make the trek to Fairview Park and try out Cafe Verde. We walked into a super clean, well lit cafe, and sat down to a truely delicious looking pizza. Both red and green capsicum was used, and it was clear a lot of thought had been put into the presentation as well as the combination of flavours. The base was great, and cooked to perfection, and there was a nice even layering of toppings. All the ingredients tasted fresh and were bursting with flavour. Proper Ham was used! Hallelujiah! The italian salami was also really tasty. If you picked off any of the toppings and ate them on their own, you could taste the quality.

This pizza ended up being very resonably priced, considering what we actually got. We noticed on our way out that there was a separate section purely for take away pizza. Brilliant. It was complete with ottomans and small tables. The whole place was really clean, and well run.

Rating: A

Miro's Pizzeria & Snack Bar, Gepps Cross

Miro's Pizzeria & Snack Bar

750 Main North Rd, Gepps Cross SA 5094

Pizza Ordered: Miro's Special (9")
Date: 16/08/10
Time of Day: Lunch
Price: $9.5

First off this pizza came with extra ingredients that were not listed on the menu, nor were they asked for.
The base was very nice and cooked well, it wasn't doughy which was good. There was a LOT of topping piled on this pizza, and it didnt taste all that fresh. Perhaps prepped the night before, or left out in open containers through out the morning to dry out. "Fritzy" ham was used again in excess.
The service here was good, although staff behind the counter were trying to do a million things at the same time, so be prepared to wait patiently to be served. Prices was great for the size, but when it comes to quality it seems you get what you pay for.

Rating: C+

Johno's Pizza Restaurant Victor Harbour

Johno's Pizza Restaurant
72 Ocean St, Victor Harbor, SA 5211 

Pizza Ordered:  Large John's Special (12")
Date: 15/08/10
Time of Day: Afternoon
Price: $22.5

After driving all the way down here, we were pretty hungry for pizza. The ingredients listed on the chalk menu board looked promising, even though the shop was completely deserted, well except for Johno sitting watching the cricket behind the counter. Inside the shop was drab and dirty looking, with ratty furniture and a broken dusty jukebox.

The Pizza was big, and the topping went right to the edge, with no real crust as such. The base was cardboard like, and reminded me of a McCain's pizza base. If it was, although i highly doubt, made in store, it was not fresh. The pizza itself was loaded with cheese, and pools of oil had began to form on the surface before we had even taken our first bite. Gross "fritzy" ham was used in excess amounts along with soggy mushroom and limp capsicum. 

We actually felt sick after eating this pizza, and we didn't even get through most it.

Rating:
F