October 2009

Pizza - 3 Meals in One Day in Clearwater / St. Petersburg Florida

Posted Thu, 2009-10-29 21:45 by tsliker

I did it.  Three meals in one day.  Pizza for every meal.

I didn't plan it, it just happened.  It started at Mike's Pizza & Deli where I picked up some breakfast pizza.  As noted previously, that was yummy.  For lunch, it was Sardo's over in Largo.   

When it was time for dinner I thought about my options, and decided to try two more pizza places:  Zeko's Pizzeria on Gulf-to-Bay and George's on Belcher.  Zeko's was not bad.  George's I would not recommend.  I would not consider either of them New York Style.  

Sardos in Largo - You Want Some %$@*#in' Pizza?

Posted Mon, 2009-10-19 20:43 by tsliker

While in the Clearwater / St. Petersburg area of Florida, the subject of pizza came up, and one of my colleagues, Steve, asked me what kind of pizza  I liked.  "New York Style," I said.  

He looked at me quizically.  "What does that mean?  How do you know if it's the right kind?" 

I then proceeded to enumerate the Sliker Rating Scale:

"It has to be thin crust," I said.   "Check," he responded.

"It has to have pizza by the slice."   "Check." 

"Large slices."  "Check."  (Excitement was building.  We were 3 for 3.)

"Traditional pizza ovens.  No conveyer belts."   "Check. Check." 

"They have Sicilian.  Square slices."   "Yeah, I think so." 

"Run by Italians."   "Definitely."

"Red & Green or Italy in the theme or name."  "Check." 

"Pizza or Pizzeria in the name."   "Check.   I think we've got a match." 

Mike's Pizza-Deli Station in Clearwater / St. Pete

Posted Thu, 2009-10-15 19:05 by tsliker

My 3-day adventure at Mike's started Monday afternoon, after returning from lunch at La Pizza Mia Pizzeria.  I mentioned to my instructor that I was looking for the best New York Style Pizza in town and she told me, "It's Mike's"   She then expounded her credentials, having grown up on the outskirts of New York City. 

I mad big plans to go to Mike's Tuesday night for a couple slices to eat in my room while I worked.  I arrived at Mike's at 7:30 pm to find them closed.  CLOSED!  What a disappointment.  I checked the sign on the door, which said 7 am - 9 pm, pulled on the door, walked around to the back door and tugged again.  Sure enough, they were closed.   I had to eat at Panda Express - yuck. 

The next day I went buy in the morning to try a slice of their "Breakfast Pizza" but was disappointed again when I found they didn't sell slices of the breakfast pizza.  Instead I ordered a "Breakfast Hoagie" and it was delicious, loaded with eggs, ham, and sausage and covered with american cheese.  A great start to the morning. 

New York Style Pizza in Tampa / St. Petersburg

Posted Tue, 2009-10-13 22:43 by tsliker

I showed up in St. Pete the other night for some training and on Monday at lunch time I set out to find some good pizza in the area.  I am staying and working near the St. Pete airport.  I drove north on #19 then West to Clearwater.  Then I drove south along the beach and east on 686 back to the office. 

I saw two promising pizzerias that were closed-- it was Columbus Day!  Any good Italian-American restaurant is going to be closed on Columbus Day, right?  Maybe, maybe not.   Just a couple miles before reaching my office I spotted a sign across the way that said simply, "Pizzeria."

I crossed several lanes of traffic and did a U-Turn and walked up the steps to a pleasant surprise - La Pizza Mia Pizzeria.   I ordered the lunch special, 2 slices and a coke for under $5.   It was delicious.  The place was run by two Italian women who spoke Italian to one another. 

The slices were perfect!  Just what I wanted.  I didn't do the math, but I'm pretty sure this place ranked 95 on the Sliker Scale (no Sicilian that I saw.)

If you're in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by La Pizza Mia Pizzeria!