Those iconoclastic dough spinners at the best pie joint in town, Apizza Scholls (although Tastebud is coming hard), who have also been called "One of the Top Five Pizzerias in America", and are also equally famous for their our-way-or-the-highway approach to special requests and to-go orders...both will be met with a fake friendly "Sorry", which I kind of like...and their proclivity for running out of dough and closing early have actually expanded their hours! Shockingly, they are now celebrating "Sicilian Sundays" from 4:00-8:00pm every Sunday. They've been doing it for 3 weeks and when w and I were in last night our server said it has been rocking, and their Sunday-only sandwiches (another WTF?! expansion of their menu), a Classic Italian Hero with Genoa salami, cappicola, mortadella, provolone, and the usual garnishes; and their Classic Meatball Parm Hero with house made meatballs, mozzarella, and parmesan are reputed to be awesome. I'll be reporting back to you all soon, I promise! Besides those two temptations the menu also includes a Sicilian Pizza (cheese & tomato) with your choice of 1 or 2 toppings off a list that includes sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, anchovies, mushroom, olive, onion, or ricotta. And you can also add garlic and basil for a buck each.. Their regular pizzas aren't available. You can also grab a House Salad or their Caesar (for my particular palate one of the best in town). Now here's the REALLY shocking part: people who walk-in (no phone-in orders) can also order to-go!! The end of days must be near, because with this seismic business shift and the opening of Por Que No Taqueria my edible life on upper Hawthorne is getting too good!picture from slice.seriouseats.com
4 comments:
Wine Guy - I have a slightly different take on this place. I've been boycotting it for over three years because of several visits where the service was simply too condescending to be tolerated. That fake 'sorry' you mention is really not something we should be paying for (much less encouraging), is it? My fiancee and I often go to your Friday night flights and would be shocked if you treated us that way. And you, too, are quite busy but you manage not to forget that yours is a _service_ establishment. No amount of culinary nous justifies that kind of treatment. And frankly I wish Portlanders were a little more discerning on this score. Let me add that I run a small business as well, and I know how demanding and unreasonable people can get when they don't get what they want, right then and there. However, adopting an attitude of disdain for your customers is simply unacceptable. If you don't like your clientele, resent working 14 hours, whatever, then find another industry to work in. These guys might know pizza but they know diddly about running a good restaurant. Looking forward to trying Tastebud (Nostrana and Ken's are great too; both very busy establishments without the 'tude, IMHO) and hope the extra competition instills some sense of professionalism into this place. Perhaps that's why they have been attempting these changes you have noted?
mo....appreciate your comments, and agree with there is never an excuse for condescending service. I always appreciate the people who come into VINO no matter the frenzy. But as you know from running a business it can be trying, but you just deal. I do think the attitude has calmed down and become more customer friendly at Apizza in the last couple of years. You might try it again...I think you'll notice a difference.
I think my pizza hierarchy here in Portland would be
1-Apizza
2-Tastebud
3-Ken's
4-Castagna Café
5-Nostrana
You'll love Tastebud, especially their ultra-friendly servers. Again I appreciate your thoughtful commentary!
BB,
Ah, I meant to hit up this place when I was in PDX last month but no time. Next visit then.
Thanks for visiting my blog! Does that mean you're Jewish reader #4? :P
No, unfortunately you're still stuck on 3 members of the tribe for readers. I was married into the faith in a previous marital incarnation.
Sorry you missed Apizza. Crazy pizza! The big drawback is there is usually an hour (or more) wait to satisfy the craving. Luckily we live 2 blocks away, so we go put our names on the list, go back home for a cocktail, then head back down. Works perfectly!
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