This is probably my favorite place to eat pizza in the St. Louis area.* It's a cool establishment at the end of the Delmar Loop, it's open late (until recently, 3 AM), and they have a decent beer selection, including my favorite, Rochefort 10. The first time I ate a pizza at Cicero's, it was 2 AM, I had just stumbled in from some bar with my girlfriend, and I had one of those "They have pizza here? I may as well try it." moments. And I was blown away. I was curious if this was just a one time experience, so I went back to Cicero's again and again. While the quality does vary slightly, I would say that it varies from great to exceptional. It really is good pizza.
You wouldn't think that a Jack-of-all-trades bar/restaurant/musical venue would be the best at anything, but they definitely come through at Cicero's. Someone there has a passion for pizza, which brings joy to my heart. Cicero's offers thin or thick crust pies, with a solid offering of toppings on the menu, as well as specialty pizzas like the "Hawaii Five-O", which includes ham, pineapple, onions, and cream cheese.
I first had the thick crust pizza, and it was so good, I had to go back about five times before I could bring myself to order the thin crust. Both are equally flavorful, but I prefer the thick. The pizza at Cicero's gets so many things right. The crust is one of the better crusts you will find anywhere. It is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, like a good loaf of bread. This is topped with the perfect amount of sauce, and a slab of delicious mozzarella cheese ( the thin crust contains provel in addition to mozarella). It can be a bit on the oily side**, but everything is spiced very well, creating a delicate interplay of flavor and texture. The overall effect of this pizza is soft and smooth, but each slice is firm enough to hold in your hand without it bending or spilling out.
I've never had a pizza at Cicero's that wasn't great, but the quality does vary to some degree. On my most recent visit, some of the pepperoni seemed to not have been cooked as long as others (or maybe they were stuck together?), but it didn't hurt the pizza. Your choice of size on pizzas like this affect the experience as well, because the ingredients pool differently, changing the proportions and how the pizza cooks. I personally prefer the larger sizes.
The sun sets on my final slice.Cicero's Italian Restaurant & Entertainment Venue
http://www.ciceros-stl.com
6691 Delmar Blvd.
University City, MO 63130
(314)862-0009
Sunday 11:00 AM - 11:15 PM
Monday - Saturday 11:00 AM - 12:45 AM
* Full disclosure: Cicero's is one of the few St. Louis restaurants that I have on speed dial.
** I would advise, from personal experience, to not set your carryout box on anything that is dry clean only.
No comments:
Post a Comment