Austinist: Salvation Pizza Rocks

odam

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:25:04 -0600

another word about CT pizza, for the doubters: http://restaurants.washingtoncitypaper.com/hungry.php?week=20070105 New joint aims to fashion nostalgia from small, pricey pizzas When James Alefantis and Carole Greenwood were deciding on a loose template for their new Upper Northwest pizzeria, Comet Ping Pong, they took a tour of the Northeast for inspiration. In their search for the quintessential American-style pie—“the pizza you grew up with,” as Alefantis calls it—the two sampled versions in cities such as New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. But the pizza of New Haven, Conn., edged out all others. The partners discovered, as had countless Yankees and Yalies before them, that the pizza of New Haven is just that good—particularly the pie at the legendary Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana on Wooster Street. “The closest thing [our pie is] based on is Frank Pepe’s,” says Alefantis, who was taken with the Connecticut joint’s crisp, cracker-bottomed crust and “burnt-toast flavor.” And unlike the simple crushed tomatoes that adorn New York–style pies, Pepe’s sauce is just that—a cooked sauce with garlic and plenty of oregano, he says.

Jon

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:49:34 -0600

apv and zd are still fags who suck

Rick

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:36:03 -0600

Does anybody know of a pizza place in Austin that is similar to Monicals pizza in Illinois/Indiana (I think Indiana). They are thin pizza's that are crispy and bubbly. Rounders seems to be the closest I have found, the but crust isn't thin enough or crisp enough (and too much toppings).

Jodi

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 15:12:08 -0600

I think it's time for Austinist to host a throw-down pizza ranking party.

Benji

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:02:33 -0600

Mangia isn't truly chicago style because it doesn't use that horrible cornmeal crust, thank god. Gino's East can suck a big one.

Stew

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 18:55:24 -0600

Sometimes nothing beats a good ole oven-pizza from Freschetta.

marty

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:35:16 -0600

#1 any chicago style pizza joint like mangia's #2 east side pies #3 rounders

Spook

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 09:52:31 -0600

I don't know about no goddamn yankee pizza, but Salvation is purty damn good.

citizen Able

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 21:08:21 -0600

I've only had Salvation leftovers. They were spicy but good. Saccone's is good pizza but the strip mall atmosphere is not conducive to relaxed dining. Reale's (a couple of blocks down the road from Saccone's) makes good pie in a more traditional Italian restaurant setting. Flying Tomato on 38th made some excellent pizza. Carry-out only. The location is still a pizza place but under a different name. Worth a try.

Rob

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 20:57:47 -0600

What happened to Rounders?

Benji

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 20:47:41 -0600

Half an English Muffin, Toasted + Kraft M. Jack + Canned Spaghetti Sauce = Better than Homeslice

Josh

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 09:26:56 -0600

the amount of cheese in the homeslice calzones makes me retch. it looks good at first, but that's way too much white goo to successfully ingest.

Jon

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 08:33:53 -0600

I went last night and had a damn good #7 pizza, a surprisingly big greens salad, and a couple pitchers of Live Oak Big Bark. The pizza is about as good as Home Slice, but the variety of toppings, the quality of the salads, and the price are good enough reasons for me to drive the extra 5 minutes north. Home Slice is still the place to go for the quick slice for lunch... and I haven't had a better calzone in Austin. -- (not the same Jon as the above posts)

Stew

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:24:51 -0600

Dudes, The OG pizza buffet at Double Dave's owns all pizzas. As far as I'm concerned good food is a load of crock. It's good for a few minutes but after that it's the same as eating anything else. Honestly, ponder the fact that a $7 pizza compared to a $19 pizza is the exact same 5 minutes after you eat it.

Siana Mahoney

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 23:14:12 -0600

Salvation rocks my f-ing face! Not only is it the best pie in Austin, by a long shot, but the owner's have the cutest kid ever. Vive la Wei Lana

odam

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:38:30 -0600

Saccone's probably is my second-favorite, but i have only been there once, and i don't even know if it is within the city limits. And, yea, you might wanna go strapped; if i remember correctly, this was the place that had the unfortunate sniper incident.

tamponvampire

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:32:31 -0600

Saccone's up north smokes ESP and Salvation. Don't go there if you are trying to start a hell's angel's chapter, though.

odam

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:17:48 -0600

We never declared a particular allegiance. Besides, any declaration of presumed allegiance of which you speak took place well before Salvation opened. we still frequent Home Slice, mostly because of its proximity and the fact that it offers slices. But their quality has gone down a bit of late. Also, too greasy. As our friend put it the other day after eating at Salvation, HS, et al are good if you specifically want pizza. But they are not good enough to make you crave them specifically. Salvation on the other hand...

Anon

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 20:48:35 -0600

What happened to Austinists' allegiance to Homeslice? Bunch of bandwagoners.

pd

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 19:54:54 -0600

this is asinine. I knew that when it went from pizza in Connecticut to anal induced orgamsms that the point may have been lost somewhere. lets just stop.

zd

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 19:05:45 -0600

Jon, you just won't shut up. Do you really care that much about Connecticut pizza or are you just talking shit in between your anal induced orgasms as you watch gay porn on your computer? I'm gonna go with the latter. Or you could satisfy both of your jollies and do an internet search for "pizza porn".

Jon

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:51:39 -0600

ZD comment #1 'all of you yankee snobs/wannabe's are defending your connecticut pizza as if a ban on gay marriage was just proposed' ZD Comment #2 'my previous post was simply a commentary on how a post about Salvation Pizza turned into the biggest/lamest debate on pizza in history' Get your shit together. You bring fags into the debate then back pedal like a little bitch trying to make nice. Stay with the normalized diet of chicken feed.

lori 16mmm varga

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:21:01 -0600

In my opinion- their pizza rocks so hard, it's just insane to not go there and have a good time... for lord's sakes- you'll miss out , if you don't give them an honest try. They have the coolest men's bathroom in the city- their Patio is spacious- and the #7 Pizza is heaven! Ask for the Live Oak! They are fun...why don't you just see the fun times ahead on their New Saturday rock-art-band line-up? Huh>?

Stew

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:03:51 -0600

Ohhhh Pizza on Earth.... Idea: Austinist Comment Posters Party catered by Salvation Pizza?

zd

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 14:54:58 -0600

after sleeping it off in my double wide at the trailer park, i've come to these conclusions: APV obviously didn't know anything about the history of Connecticut pizza, as most of us who've never been there wouldn't, and seemed to be posing an innocent question about it in a joking manner. jon: my previous post was simply a commentary on how a post about Salvation Pizza turned into the biggest/lamest debate on pizza in history, in which you were the main instigator. learn to let it go or call me at 512-468-4292 and i will gladly lend an ear to your pizza opinions. stew: you're hilarious odam: good post. i've been wanting to check out Salvation Pizza since i have heard several good things

Benji

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 12:00:55 -0600

Clarification: I got a 20" Guiche from ESP last night-- it was pretty f'n close to amazing. Even better for breakfast.

Benji

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 11:59:45 -0600

I don't think I've ever had a truly amazing pizza in Austin. Just like all the other food here: great service, nice bonus that there are options to heart-clogery (spinach, wheat crust, soy cheese, whatev)-- but overall bad cuisine. Yet every pizza I've had in NYC has been a lot worse. I love North Beach Pizza in SF and Blondie's in SF/Berkely. Yet my Texas friends can't fathom why. Conclusion: all ya'll's pizza preference is basically the same as your preference of tap water-- it tastes better where you grew up, or, barring that, the first cool place you moved to.

john G

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 11:37:57 -0600

yes yes yes. pizza is yummy. there are pictures of the wonder jamz twinz are up over at www.partyends.com

Mike

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:20:25 -0600

I like Salvation quite a bit, though the white pie is a little too garlicky. I will say that in my experience, the service there has been - well, let's say indifferent. Or spacey. Or totally fucking high. This includes the guy at the counter who took my order and stared at the register trying to remember my change on a credit card purchase, and the guy who tried to hang up on my phone order before I finished making it. It's funny, because my experience at Foodheads has been the same - great food, incredibly disorganized (if very friendly) service. Anyway, I haven't been to Eastside, or the new Southside Flying Pies, but Salvation's pizza is among the best in town.

Stew

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 02:24:11 -0600

WANTED: Salvation Pizza delivery driver Qualifications: Must be able to deliver shitty pizzas that are overated and actually suck worse than the crust at CiCi's pizza. ----------------------------------------------------- Long live the PIZZA NIZZA renaissance!

Jon

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 01:58:20 -0600

ZD: You think all yankee snobs are in favor of gay marriage? Is that what is on your mind Mr. Red State/Blue State? Sounds like suppression. Maybe you belong in the West Village waving rainbow flags rather than pretending to be some stupid cowboy hick. Sleep it off at your double wide in the trailer park.

odam

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 23:38:29 -0600

Everybody just take it easy. When I said that Ms. Mahoney's parents owned one of the best pizza places in CT, and that was saying something, it only meant that CT has some really good pizza places and that to be among the best was saying something. It would say something even if it was the best in another state. I never claimed it to be the pizza capital of the US or the world (I lived in the pizza capital of the world for goodness sake). The entire point was innocuous and not the gist of the post, which is Salvation Pizza is damn good and they now have live music and avant garde films on Saturdays in December. As for it being Napolitana,sure, Cippolina probably has it beat when it comes to being more strictly nap. with regarding to thickness and crust, but Salvation's is a much better pizza all the way around. As for your initial point being tongue-in-cheek, APV, i guess just be careful not to stir up a crazed hornet of CTans by dissing their pieces and then profess to have been making jokes. Apparently they take it pretty seriously. Now, for those of you in Austin, go try SP and then tell me if it's not the best in town. East Side, 2nd place in my opinion. Sorry.

apv

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 22:08:25 -0600

Wow, where to begin... M-beres, based on the inanity and incomprehensibility of your posts, I don't think you need to worry about anyone mistaking you for a "Yalie" anytime soon. And Jon, your posts do not fare much better--"Good vibe and friendship doesn't follow you wherever you go?"--to what can this possibly be a reference? "I guess that would be tough since shit is still coming out of your mouth after all these years." Are you kidding, is this really where a tongue-in-cheek debate about pizza has led? I will, however, give props to the acronym creation, but speaking of virginity, how much play have you internet trolls gotten lately?Desperatly waiting for new Britney Spears muff shots doesn't count.

Stew

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 22:02:35 -0600

I hear Salvation Pizza is owned by ChuckECheeze Enterprises TM. spread the word.

zd

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 21:50:35 -0600

all of you yankee snobs/wannabe's are defending your connecticut pizza as if a ban on gay marriage was just proposed. native austinites don't know or care about how good connecticut pizza is. we'll just judge for ourselves on how good salvation pizza is once it goes or doesn't go out of business. regarding m-beres comment: you should be (e)m-beres(ed) on how lame your shit talking is.

m-beres

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 20:04:10 -0600

east sider, Where's Snoop Dog? I have no strife with Austin, "A Pizza Virgin" APV needs to be taught a little respect and have a little knowledge before he flaps his gums, cause that's all he's got (gums) if he's talking that much shit!! Probably lost it's teeth crossing the border to eat some West Virginia Pizza and walk it's doggie!! m-beres

east sider

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:56:26 -0600

Whatever, everybody knows the best pizza in Austin is at East Side Pies!

m-beres

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 19:36:21 -0600

APV, Wooster St., BIRTHPLACE of APIZZA, APV properly pronounced (ah-beets) has the best pizza hands down in the country. Besides Pepe's and Sally's my personal favorite, there are over a half dozen high quality Pizza Places on and around Wooster Street. This ain't no Yalie bullshit, this is from real New Havenites who know what's up. Bow down, but it already sounds like Jon served you!! What does APV stand for "A Pizza Virgin", taste buds from the gutter! m-beres

Stew

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:56:33 -0600

I'm in agreement with apv on this one. As far as Connecticut being known for pizza? That is like knowing that West Virginia is the #1 state to walk your dog. Pretty obscure and highly questionable.

odam

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:47:58 -0600

Cippolina's quality has taken a real hit over the past year or two, just not what it once was. I used to think it was the best pie in town but it has been some time since that was the case.

Jon

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:39:51 -0600

APV: Easy answer to easy question because your birthplace was a Port-A-Potty where you had to get pulled out of Baby Jessica style. That's probably where your taste development began. "non-native cuisine in such a forgettable state" Sounds like it's more of an issue with the State rather than the pizza. Ah, interesting. Good vibe and friendship doesn't follow you wherever you go? I guess that would be tough since shit is still coming out of your mouth after all these years.

Stew

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:17:00 -0600

For my dollar, nothing beats 2 hours at the Gatti's buffet. p.s. Mr. Gatti's is local. p.p.s. Gatti's has $2.99 pitchers of beer.

apv

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:09:08 -0600

haha mark, like Joe Lieberman and NYC suburbanites? Feel free to go back to them, Yankee biatch. And I was sort of kidding at first, I thought it was funny that it was assumed that people in AUSTIN would somehow have any knowledge of/appreciation for non-native cuisine in such a forgettable state. Hey Jon, I'd better know you...what's a "broken punk" and why a Port-A-Potty specifically?

junky

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 18:06:40 -0600

Hold up. Maybe I went on a bad day, but Salvation tossed out an overcooked, bland crust that was saturated with minced garlic and an watery sauce. To call this Napolitano pizza would truly piss off a big chunk of Italy. Do yourself a favor - roll over to Cipollina and let me know if there is ANY comparison.

jSteve

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:30:41 -0600

Jon, you only gave APV 28 minutes to respond, you are truly a huge computer nerd who probably does nothing other than eats the pizza-like cheese collects under your scrotum.

Stew

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:23:40 -0600

I agree with APV, other than Pizza Classics in Hartford, Connecticut pizza pails in comparison to South Dakota pizza. Ohh no, the Pizza Wars have begun. You know that's what split up Northern Italy from the South.

Jon

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:20:19 -0600

I bet APV is just a broken punk who couldn't taste the difference between a quality pie and a prison pie. Clearly this loser just comments without knowing jack. Go find a Port-A-Potty and relieve yourself.

Jon

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:04:26 -0600

APV: Answer the question i asked or shut your stupid mouth.

mark

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:59:27 -0600

hey, APV, there are more people and things in New Haven than just Yale, dipshit.

sally's fan

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:58:34 -0600

According to Tony Consiglio, co-founder of Sally's, if Frank Sinatra was in New York he sometimes would have his "driver go to New Haven and pick up a few pizzas from Sally's... Mozzarella with pepperoni was Frank's favorite, but once in a while he'd have one with clams." (One way from New York to New Haven is almost 2 hours!) (Franz Douskey, Yankee Magazine July & August 2000)

apv

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:56:43 -0600

Ahh...Ivy League elitism, say no more

Jon

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:52:31 -0600

apv: what parlors in CT have you found to be a joke or that just an ignorant comment?

odam

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:44:43 -0600

it may not be new york, but I guess you've never been to Pepe's or Sally's in New Haven? you can't beat that pizza. you must be joking.

apv

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:38:37 -0600

"And if you know Connecticut pizza, you know that’s saying a lot" That has to be a joke...