Yeah, this sounds pretty outrageous, doesn't it? The ideal candidate
to make this judgment is the man or woman in Kansas City who
has eaten at least one slice of every single specialty pizza prepared
and sold in the city. That would not, mercifully, be me -- though I've
eaten a hell of a lot of Kansas City pizza over the past 25 years.
That number would include a popular pizza variation that I had successfully avoided for decades: one topped with pineapple and Canadian bacon. The very idea of it was repugnant to me, since it had absolutely no connection to the Neapolitan roots of this dish. Pineapple? Ham? A few weeks ago, I was tricked into tasting a piece of Canadian ham-and-pineapple pie. Not bad, but I'd never have it again -- or add it to a list of favorite pies.
5. Kelso's Billy Martin. Jeff Kelso isn't just the son of a former professional athlete and pizzeria owner -- the late Bill Kelso. He's also a former athlete himself. Most of the specialty pies served at Kelso's, his sit-down restaurant at 300 Armour Road, are named after famous sports figures, including the Billy Martin, named for the iconic New York Yankees manager Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin Jr. (1928-89). At first glance, this pie appears to be a vegetarian creation: It's topped with mushrooms, onions, green peppers and black olives (sauteed with garlic). But there are circles of pepperoni scattered on top, too. Thus, the Billy Martin seems to be a lot more healthy than it really is. That's my kind of pie.
4. PizzaBella's Margherita. This classic pie may be the very first "specialty" pizza ever created; Italian chef Rafaelle Esposito created the first combination pizza of fresh basil, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes -- the colors in the Italian flag -- to honor Queen Margherita. The version prepared in the wood-burning ovens of PizzaBella in the Crossroads isn't just visually beautiful. It tastes as if it's been prepared for royalty.
3. Waldo Pizza's Tex-Mex. File this pie under "Now, For Something Completely Different." The least Italian pizza around, this Tex-Mex creation is topped with either taco meat or chorizo, onion, black olives, lettuce, cheddar cheese, Roma tomatoes, salsa and roasted corn. No other pizza in town tastes quite like this one, even cold.
2. Next Door Pizza's Hope and Garlic. Next Door Pizza, reviewed this week in The Pitch, just introduced a new menu featuring several new offerings (including a "Bacon Explosion Pizza" for daredevil diners who don't give a damn about cholesterol) and a new meatless creation. The Hope and Garlic is an enticing new pie -- offered in thin-crust and deep-dish models -- topped with artichoke hearts, roasted garlic and spinach.
1. Spin's Salsiccia con Mela. There's no pizza quite as erotic as this one, made with three of the historic aphrodisiacs -- spicy Italian sausage, candied walnuts and tart apples -- that also happen to be artistic (and slangy) metaphors for a love connection. At the various Spin Neapolitan Pizza joints in Kansas City, this is a popular choice for a first date. Think about it.
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Rosatti's hands down!!!! The Bronx not too bad. I wish we had a Monicals pizza place, love the thin crust. Also, we need the real Chicago style pizza. Waldos, yuck!!!!
Rosatti's, Papa Keno's, Villa Capri and Stonewall would be on my list but I have to agree with Pizza Bella, Waldo, and Spin is good but so are Pizza 51, Mi Mama's Cucina, and Grinders. Damn hard to narrow it to 5-cause some truly good pie will always be left off.
That list is laughable. That foo foo garbage is not pizza; it's pasta recipes on a crust. Try some real pizza: Rosatti's, Papa Keno's, Villa Capri, Pizza Man, Stonewall, Original Pizza, and the place in the back of Kelly's are all way better than any of those five.
Serious??? I am guessing you have never been to Old Shawnee Pizza? Not are we the oldest restaurant in Shawnee we have the BEST pizza in KC hands down!
Here is the original recipe for Next Door Pizza's (Hope and Garlic). Yes, it's a variation of my suggestion. They do it better.
Mine is way more spicy/garlicky and not suited for the masses. My wife and I love it.
http://craighope.com/wordpress...
recordBar's specialty pizzas are top-notch.
Don't miss The Breakfast in America served at Sunday Brunch only. Best hangover food ever. Sausage Gravy, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese and bacon on our thin crust.
Also, our vegan Ian MacKaye will flip your lid. Hummus, roasted red peppers, roasted garlic, kalamata olives
And my personal favorite The Appetite for Destruction--Alfredo sauce w/ Canadian bacon, spinach and Gorgonzola.
As a longtime KCK-er, I was thrilled to see Italian Delight finally found a new home. I'll bet their dinner business will thrive. A slice of sausage pizza there is heavenly - it's just blanketed with meat!
However, I will say that my favorite is Old Shawnee Pizza (61st and Nieman in Shawnee and 34th and Gibbs in KCK). The pizza is really, REALLY good, with lots of specialty ingredients to go with the usual ones. Lots of choices for cheese and sauce as well. I've ordered from them for get-togethers and people have called me months later out of the blue to ask where I got the pizza.
The two other posters are right. Italian Delight in KCK (not the one in Johnson County) is the best pizza in town. It just moved from Indian Springs to 82nd and State.
Pizza Oven at 80th and State Line is fantastic! The crust is perfect- not too thin, not too thick... perfectly crispy, as well.
Blue Grotto in Brookside has some exceptional pizza, as well.
And, by the way, are there really any BAD pizza places?? Pizza is just sooo damn good.
You left out two of my personal favorites:
Pizza 51 and Mi Mamas Cucina in Brookside.
5. Spin (yeah, it's local)
4. Minskys (Overpriced, but I've never had a "bad" pizza)
3. Waldo (Honey Wheat crust FTW)
2. Grinders (Probably best tasting/toppings, but I like a thicker crust)
1. Papa Kenos (Overland Park location has been kinda spotty in the past couple months but it's been good for years prior)
Haha,
Funny stuff for a joke blog.
I gotta go with Grinder's "Le Hog" as the undisputed #1 pizza in town.
Hell, even Grinders Sunday 2-fers are better than all of these places food.
And I don't know WTF is up with the hipster love affair with Waldo Pizza. Pizza that looks and tastes like Wheat Thins crackers is crappy pizza.
If you're gonna pimp that shitty STL style crap you should at least go with the place that has the best version in K.C., Leo's on Englewood Rd.
Waldo Pizza is second-rate.
I'm just sayin'...
Give us your top fives, @Tony, @Cassandra, @Abe. You obviously have thoughts on this very important discussion; let's hear them.
Uh, no Miss Cassandra, you're quite wrong. Spin! Neapolitan Pizza is a local company with four restaurants. It is not a national chain unless four restaurants constitute a "chain."
The #1 isn't even a local company, but a national chain! Great job, Pitch. Did they pay the writer anything for this plug?
I've only had Waldo's so I can't comment on the others but I love Papa Keno's Tuskeno pizza. Chicken, sun dried tomatoes basil, and cream cheese(!).
And at least one Grinders Pizza should be on there. Goldberg or Bengal
Get out much?
Except for PizzaBella, the rest of these joints are serving up cardboard. Take the time for some real journalism and get back to us.
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