Best and Worst Pizza

[Alice Levitt]

Coming from the New York area, I have pretty fixed ideas about pizza. If it's not New York, New Haven or Sicilian style, fuhgeddaboudit. There are a couple of places in Essex that my boyfriend and his family really adore, but to which I refuse to go.

When people ask for my recommendations, Donny's in Winooski is my go-to. It tastes exactly like my favorite places as a kid and the exquisite Sicilian somehow tastes even better the next day. Plus, if you go at the end of the day, they have discounted slices.

What do you like? And seriously, what do you hate? I'm not naming names, but cakey crusts and bland sauces just don't cut it with me.

[tonyo]

Ah Pizz !  This area struggles with pizza but there are a few decent places.  Ramunto's in Williston is fairly new and makes very good pizza and excellent calzones.  I will have to try Donny's Sicilian as most places precook the dough making it more like bread with toppings. I have had some awful pies here and if I can muster up the intestinal fortitude (literally as I may have to fight off the impulse to vomit), I will list a few.  One was Today's Gourmet (you know the place in Williston that had to change their name from Piecasso's because it was already taken).  Awful ! More to come, good and bad.....

[Morganna]

Ramunto's, a chain pizza place? (not judging, just making sure I've got the right place)

[tonyo]

Yes, there are more than one Ramunto's so I guess it is to be stamped with the label of "chain".  However, I have found the 2 locations I have visited to have the consistency that chains strive for with enough autonomy to be individual. 

[Morganna]

I tried to find a website for Ramunto's, and this is what I found (http://ramuntos.com/location-VT.php), so I wanted to make sure I was looking at the right place. Looks like they have seven restaurants in VT and NH.  When I looked at it initially, I didn't notice the thing for scrolling down the list (man I hate websites the force your experience to a TINY screen), so I didn't see an entry for Williston the first time.  That's why I was making sure.  Glad to know about this place, I'll sure give it a try.

[tonyo]

Ramunto's Williston location is behind The 99 in Tafts Corners. 

[dtp123]

American Flatbread is the best around. They are the only ones who seem to get their oven hot enough to make the perfect crispy crust. There are a couple of other wood fire pizza places that do a good job, but not with the consistency of American Flatbread. Are there any coal fired ovens in VT?

[Alice Levitt]

Ramunto's Williston location is behind The 99 in Tafts Corners. 

Tried Ramunto's on Saturday. Not bad... Really great array of creative pies. Better yet, the slices are varied far beyond the usual cheese and pepperoni. I tried the Meatlover's which was good, but didn't have much personality. The crust is very thin, but strong and pliable enough for the NYC fold. I also tried a piece of Chicken Ranch Sicilian. I was most impressed with the BBQ Chicken. Most pies with barbecue sauce are cloyingly sweet. This one was tangy with a little bit of spice. Really delightful. Extra points for fried chicken instead of grilled. The side salad was fresh and came with homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

[tonyo]

Agree about the BBQ Chicken pizza at Ramunto's.  I had all but written off this particular pie as it always has the gross, sweet, Kraft faux BBQ sauce that ruins the flavor of teh entire pizza.  They get it right with a sauce that kind of reminds me of Dinosaur's BBQ sauce.  Overall, I think they do a good job.

[Morganna]

We definitely have to give it a go.

[JasonFrishman]

I am of the opinion that even bad pizza is truly a treat. I'm even known to go into a few random gas stations/sandwich shoppes and get a day old slice, just because it's pizza.  Those slices are less than desirable for most, but still, it's pizza.  There is a place, though, that i love to get slices from, and if they are still making slices, it's worth a try.  annoyingly, i can't remember the name of the place, but it doesn't really matter, it is a vt liquor store on shelburne road that also does a convenience store business and pizza shoppe.  It is on the left going out of town, and it is wonderful to go and get a bottle of something nice and an above average slice that is less expensive than most as well!

[VTFoodlvr]

I'd have to say for creativity, Bite Me and American Flatbread are really good. They are kind of expensive, but the flavors they mix together can't be beat. For just ordinary pizza, I like Juniors and Marco's Juniors makes a great Greek style deep dish where the dough is crunchy on the bottom, very good! I haven't tried the place in Williston yet, might have to look into that. Sounds like it might be worth a look.

[Rahet7]

I LOVE the Margherita di Casa from New York Pizza Oven (nypovt.com) in Essex Junction and Colchester (and Milton?)-- and I have lost 25 pound in 3 months while eating it once a week for dinner!! Probably due to the marathon training but I like to think it is because of the pizza.

Wost Pizza? I don't enjoy the pizzas/flatbreads at Three Tomatoes-- Luckily I love so many other things on the menu that it is still one of my favorite restaurants!

[Alice Levitt]

Wost Pizza? I don't enjoy the pizzas/flatbreads at Three Tomatoes-- Luckily I love so many other things on the menu that it is still one of my favorite restaurants!

I totally disagree on the Sweet Tomato Pie. You just have to go into it with a different mindset than you would a pizzeria-style pie. I love the thin, crispy crust, the tangy sauce and light covering of fresh mozzarella and basil. Growing up in Connecticut in the late '90s, there were tons of pizzas like that one that I craved mercilessly. Three Tomatoes is now my only source for that slice of heaven.

[Haylley Johnson]

I'll definitely have to try Three Tomatoes pizza then.  I have a question though - what about Manhattan Pizza? I haven't tried it, so I was wondering if anyone could give me the scoop on what kind of pizza they serve before I venture out to give it a whirl.