(Relatively) new pizza in Cincinnati

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Originally posted by TJ Jackson

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Originally posted by carlton pierre

While you're there, you might want to check out Richards. Another mile beyond Chesters, on Rt 4 on the left. Excellent steak sandwiches, and pizzas. I always get a steak sandwich. Their specialty.

I finally got up to Richard's for a steak sandwich yesterday, and I concur with you wholeheartedly. Great recommendation. Huge and tasty, loaded with onions, wonderful. The roll was toasted, has a nice crusty bite to it with soft innards. The garlic butter added a certain something, very nice.

I tried a small pizza as well, found it to be passable, nothing nearly as good as the steak sandwich.

Going to have to get me another Richard's fix soon, thanks for addicting me! :-)

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Originally posted by carlton pierre

Richards steak sandwich is what I grew up thinking was a steak sandwich. A ground meat patty, rather elongated, covered in pizza sauce, or something akin to it, and cheese with mushrooms on a hoagie style bun.

Mushrooms and cheese are (as the menu says) both extra. I tried it with cheese but no mushrooms. If you order the standard sandwich, the sauce is a steak sauce, but you can specifcy pizza sauce. The sauce on the small pizza I also tried was fairly unremarkable, so I'd always go with the steak sauce on this sandwich.

Lord, I've never seen so much sliced onion on a sandwich :-)

Well, if we're talking steak hoagies, you have to try Parker's Pizza in Georgetown, Ohio. Of course, you may not have a reason to be that far in the sticks (28 miles outside 275 loop on 125 (beechmont avenue). It's a haul. But it's a nice little town for growing up, and that's what I did. My mom and brother still live there, though I now live in NKY near the airport. Whenever I go home to visit, I get a stromboli (their name for a steak hoagie). Sometimes I get fried mushrooms or fries to go with them. Or we order a pee-wee deluxe pizza - perfect 6" size. I never truly appreciated the heaven that is a steak hoagie until I moved and realized that nobody else on the planet knows how to make one. The one at Pasquale's in Erlanger is respectable, but it's not Parker's. Also, the one from Spinner's in Burlington is pretty decent. Still not Parker's. There is no substitute. If you're ever out there, give it a try. Next time I go, I'm going to take pictures and do a real review on this site. I would love for other food lovers to discover the beauty of the humble steak hoagie.

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Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Hmm, how odd

man, I used to LOVE Godfather's! My dad would always bring one home on Friday nights when we were kids. We lived in Georgetown, OH, and he would pick up a pizza from the Cherry Grove location on his way home from work (he worked at the post office downtown). This is about a 40 minute drive, and that pizza was STILL good. I wish I could find one in my travels.... I have the luxury of trying lots of good food because of my job, and whenever I come across a beloved food, it takes me home. Of course, there is alot to be said for trying new places and new foods too!

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Originally posted by flyingfoodie

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Hmm, how odd

man, I used to LOVE Godfather's! My dad would always bring one home on Friday nights when we were kids. We lived in Georgetown, OH, and he would pick up a pizza from the Cherry Grove location on his way home from work (he worked at the post office downtown). This is about a 40 minute drive, and that pizza was STILL good. I wish I could find one in my travels.... I have the luxury of trying lots of good food because of my job, and whenever I come across a beloved food, it takes me home. Of course, there is alot to be said for trying new places and new foods too!

Godfather's pizza always tasted best to me when the ingredients had been given time to mix properly and meld together. My delivery customers said the same thing to me on many occasions. The Combo and Humble Pie were the pizzas that they most often mentioned when expressing this opinion.

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Originally posted by flyingfoodie

Well, if we're talking steak hoagies, you have to try Parker's Pizza in Georgetown, Ohio. Of course, you may not have a reason to be that far in the sticks (28 miles outside 275 loop on 125 (beechmont avenue). It's a haul. But it's a nice little town for growing up, and that's what I did. My mom and brother still live there, though I now live in NKY near the airport. Whenever I go home to visit, I get a stromboli (their name for a steak hoagie). Sometimes I get fried mushrooms or fries to go with them. Or we order a pee-wee deluxe pizza - perfect 6" size. I never truly appreciated the heaven that is a steak hoagie until I moved and realized that nobody else on the planet knows how to make one. The one at Pasquale's in Erlanger is respectable, but it's not Parker's. Also, the one from Spinner's in Burlington is pretty decent. Still not Parker's. There is no substitute. If you're ever out there, give it a try. Next time I go, I'm going to take pictures and do a real review on this site. I would love for other food lovers to discover the beauty of the humble steak hoagie.


Okay, you talked me into it. Weather permitting, I'll give Parker's a try tonight. The wife and kids are "otherwise engaged" so I'm on my own for dinner. I also like the drive out that way.

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Originally posted by vwman80

Anyone eat at Pizza Plus in Silver Grove?

No. What am I missing? I'm down that way a lot, but for some reason I've never given it a try.

hey there macs!!!

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Originally posted by macs

as we are looking more in clifton and there really are no good burgers there we are seriously considering haveing the pizza (still very good in my opinion...including a variation of the old standby zinover) and adding a version of the "build-a-burger" with unlimited toppings for one price.
rather
burger $3.25
burger plus 1 3.75
burger plus 2 4.25
unlimited 4.75

see you soon, around july 1 at this rate

do you have a projected opening day yet? we're all looking forward to it!

I just tried the pizza at Harry's on Main just a bit north of downtown Cincinnati

Excellent pizza

Scroll down the page a bit after clicking this link to see my comments and pics
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6637&whichpage=5

Turns out there is a Marathon gas station just about a mile west of downtown Cincinnati, and inside they have a little food stand that cranks out Noble Roman's pizza and Broasted chicken.

Very limited hours, it seems - pretty much lunch only near as I can tell.

Kinda been on a pizza jag lately.....

Tonight, I had a couple 7" indivdual pies - one cheese, one italian sausage - at Isadore's pizza, which is just across the street from the nigh-legendary Camp Washington Chili. I had never been in there before.

Pies were decent, and the place seems very roadfood-y in appearance, and definitely family-run. Prices were reasonable. I'll have to stop in again for a second try.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Kinda been on a pizza jag lately.....

Tonight, I had a couple 7" indivdual pies - one cheese, one italian sausage - at Isadore's pizza, which is just across the street from the nigh-legendary Camp Washington Chili. I had never been in there before.

Pies were decent, and the place seems very roadfood-y in appearance, and definitely family-run. Prices were reasonable. I'll have to stop in again for a second try.

I remember this place. One of my friends would meet his wife for lunch there when she worked down on Spring Grove years ago. He always recommended it highly, but the timing was never there for me. I'll have to adjust my timing and give it a shot.

Hey, my family and I went to Portobello's with another family after Mass at St. Veronica's last Saturday. I have to say I was favorably impressed.

I had the portobello mushroom hoagie, which was superb. The saratoga chips were perfectly done -- light and crisp, not cardboardie and oily like at the Montgomery Inn. My wife had the multiple-meat Italian Sub. Our son and the other Dad had the pizza; the Dad's veggie pizza looked particularly good to me. A pitcher of beer was huge and ice-cold.

It's certainly not the best restaurant of its ilk I've ever been to; that would probably be Geno's East in Chicago. But it was a cut above a lot of other places in Cincinnati. I really like it a lot.

Bottom line: We'll be back.

Have you been to the newly built Mios at the corner of Clough and 8 mile?

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Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Have you been to the newly built Mios at the corner of Clough and 8 mile?

We have. It was awful. I'll stick to the Mt. Washington location. It's not as pretty, but at least the food was edible. That was almost the end of Mio's for us, because we had the same experience at the Ft. Thomas store years earlier, but we gave it another try. It might have just been a bad night for them on Clough, but it's what I'll forever associate with them.

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Originally posted by Wallyum

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Have you been to the newly built Mios at the corner of Clough and 8 mile?

We have. It was awful. I'll stick to the Mt. Washington location. It's not as pretty, but at least the food was edible. That was almost the end of Mio's for us, because we had the same experience at the Ft. Thomas store years earlier, but we gave it another try. It might have just been a bad night for them on Clough, but it's what I'll forever associate with them.

Wow. We've thought about going there. Thanks for the tip.

Maybe "quality control" isn't a going concern at Mio's. When Gary Burbank's barbecue places were all over, I always thought the original Sharonville location was the only place that was reliably good.

Fairly new "New York style pizza" joint opened in northern Cincinnati, specifically Sharonville

Roc-A-Fella's
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051110/ENT01/511110306/1026

quote:

Originally posted by Wallyum

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Have you been to the newly built Mios at the corner of Clough and 8 mile?

We have. It was awful. I'll stick to the Mt. Washington location. It's not as pretty, but at least the food was edible. That was almost the end of Mio's for us, because we had the same experience at the Ft. Thomas store years earlier, but we gave it another try. It might have just been a bad night for them on Clough, but it's what I'll forever associate with them.

That's funny, I had the same experience at the Florence location as well. Maybe it's something that doesn't transfer well without proper oversight. Something like the franchised Izzys a few years back.

Odd.

I have neve ever had anything but a good to excellent experience at the Mios in Mt Washington, and can say the same for the two visits we've made to the Mio's in Milford near the new Cinemas

In Hamilton there is a place called Millilos. A little carry out joint that has the best pizza I have every had. I live in Fort Wayne, IN and every chance I get I'm chowing down on Millilos pizza. Anybody else tried it??

Any chance this is located on Nilles in Fairfield?

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Originally posted by wesleyman

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Originally posted by TJ Jackson

double woo and welcome, wesleyman!

I too live in Mt Washington, in the Deliquia subdivision.

Nothing scary about Pizzaville except how does he manage to stay in business? Tell Len (the owner and sole employee) Tom Jackson sent you :-)

Thanks for the welcome. I too live in the deliquia subdivision! Small world. I'll check out Pizzaville as soon as I can convince my wife.

Finally tried Pizzaville. Had a hoagie, wife had a calzone. Impressed with the taste and the price. spoke with the owner for about 20 minutes while he made our stuff. Interesting guy. talked about pizza, advertising and the history of Apple Computer. Will go back soon to try a pie.

quote:

Originally posted by wesleyman

quote:

Originally posted by wesleyman

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

double woo and welcome, wesleyman!

I too live in Mt Washington, in the Deliquia subdivision.

Nothing scary about Pizzaville except how does he manage to stay in business? Tell Len (the owner and sole employee) Tom Jackson sent you :-)

Thanks for the welcome. I too live in the deliquia subdivision! Small world. I'll check out Pizzaville as soon as I can convince my wife.

Finally tried Pizzaville. Had a hoagie, wife had a calzone. Impressed with the taste and the price. spoke with the owner for about 20 minutes while he made our stuff. Interesting guy. talked about pizza, advertising and the history of Apple Computer. Will go back soon to try a pie.

I need to get back to try the calzone and to see if the pizza I had previously was the result of a misguided sauce experiment. My wife also loves calzones, and the kids are pizza fiends, so it shouldn't be too hard to arrange a return visit.

Just my personal opinion, but living in Cincinnati myself, I think the best pizza around is Marion's (6 or 7 locations in the Dayton area...closest one is at the Dayton Mall exit off I-75). There is only one style of pizza, thin crust cut into little squares. Lots of toppings, and particularly good sausage. They are known to be a little overpriced, service is sometimes subpar, and it is usually rather noisy, with lots of kids running around...but the pizzas are absoultely AMAZING.

By the way, Marion's is an all cash operation--another example of how the place could be much more well run. BUT, if you are looking for an outstanding pizza, look no further.

On another note, to comment on the burger discussion, I think Quatman's in Norwood has the best in town, hands down. But there are a lot of good burger places around!

quote:

Originally posted by dcorn

In Hamilton there is a place called Millilos. A little carry out joint that has the best pizza I have every had. I live in Fort Wayne, IN and every chance I get I'm chowing down on Millilos pizza. Anybody else tried it??

TJ,

I believe, unless they've opened a new location, Milillo's is on the west side of Hamilton. I could take you there but can't remember the street names anymore. Cross the High St bridge, beyond Tom's Cigar Store (most amazing "hardware" kind of store" and then out towards Hamilton High school. They only had the one location when I lived there.

millilios is in Hamilton; from Cincy take SR 4 north, i dont know the name of the street but there is a walgreens on the corner and you take a left on go thru downtown hamilton. It is on the right side of street, just a little carry out place. If you go they have a can of soda called "Ale-8". You gotta try it also.

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre[brI believe, unless they've opened a new location, Milillo's is on the west side of Hamilton. I could take you there but can't remember the street names anymore. Cross the High St bridge, beyond Tom's Cigar Store (most amazing 'hardware' kind of store' and then out towards Hamilton High school. They only had the one location when I lived there.

As a former resident of Hamilton who has had Milillo's pizza, I can tell you where it is.

Heading west (and north) from downtown, it is at 1010 Main Street (OH 177) near the railroad tracks where Haldimand Avenue goes right (northeast) and McKinley Avenue goes left (southwest). Keep straight on this road; the intersection with Eaton Avenue and Millville Avenue/OH 129 is tricky. Get ready once you pass the Citgo station outside the strip mall--look right. If you see a Marathon gas station on your left heading west, you've gone too far.

Oh, and Hamilton High School is not on this road; HHS is on Eaton Avenue.

Check out this map from Yahoo!: http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps2.py?Pyt=Typ&name=Milillo%27s+Pizza&desc=(513)+893-8956&csz=Hamilton+OH+45013&country=us&cs=9&ed=wVWV.a160SwIfa5lRqgMhdelzkM.XP5QUVK05lv6xPJgCUdlyRJDx4DOWfhylAY-
(you'll probably have to do some cutting and pasting--sorry)

quote:

Originally posted by Wallyum

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

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Originally posted by hatteras04

I grew up on this back in Indiana eating at the now closed Noble Romans chain. And I was surprised to find out after moving away from there that this is not a common dipping sauce for breadsticks. Most places just have marinara or maybe garlic butter.

quote:

Originally posted by Wallyum

The Noble Roman's chain is no more? Bummer. That was one of the high points of any trip through Indiana for me. They never went over in Cincinnati (and cost us our Godfather's franchise,) but the difference between the Cincy/NKY Noble Roman's and the Indiana stores was like night and day.

Are you two absolutely certain Noble Roman's is out of business?

I look at http://www.nobleromans.com/premier/premier_main.htm and http://www.nobleromans.com/ and it would seem that they think they are still in business, particularly with press releases like this one: http://www.columbusconventions.com/pr_nobles04.htm

I am all but certain they are gone from Cincinnati (they don't have a locator/locations link on the website) but I am not sure the whole chain is gone.

No, I just took what Hatteras said at face value. I haven't seen one in Indiana in quite a while, but I haven't really been looking either. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Noble Roman's is alive and well! There are two locations in Cincinnati and 33 locations in Ohio. There are many, many more in Indiana and throughout the rest of the US.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Fairly new "New York style pizza" joint opened in northern Cincinnati, specifically Sharonville

Roc-A-Fella's
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051110/ENT01/511110306/1026

Greetings pizza-enthusiasts! Just tried Roc-A-Fella's in Sharonville and I must say that they make darn-near-authentic NY-style pie.

I got the 2-slices and a coke combo which ran 5.99...a little over-priced if you ask me...I am used to getting the same combo in Boston for 3.10!

I was impressed with the dough but in retrospect, I should have had them cook the slices a little longer to brown the center. It also was a tad thick for NY pizza.

I expect to eat there more and more in the next months (I live in Blue Ash), So I will report back on the steak subs that I have yet to try.

Welcome to the forums, fellow Cincinnatian :-)

It's been a while since we heard from[url='http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=24150']macs[/url]......

If you read this entire thread, you'll note that back in February of 2005, he posted

quote:

Originally posted by macs

for the pizza entusiasts here in cincinnati keep an eye out for a place called macs. will be in clifton in few months.

nothing like anything currently available in cincy.

Over the next few months, he offered up some fairly frequent commentary on Pizza in Cincinnati, including tidbits about when and where he'd be opening. His last comment was in late April, indicating he'd probably be opening his pizzeria in late July....

July came and went, then the fall, and we still hadn't heard from him.

Well, today, I opened my Cin Weekly (local free paper) and read that Mac's had opened! 205 West McMillan in Clifton. I had to stop by :-) They don't have a link online yet, but I will post it when I get it.

I had a cheese pizza which was very, very good, and got to talk with Mac and his wife for about an hour and a half. There's too much to cover everything, but here's some highlights

1) He's been open for about 3 weeks, on a limited menu at the moment.

2) He wasn't aware of the mention in Cin Weekly, and was pretty happy I had brought it with me :-)

3) He's buying dough at the moment from Giminnetti's in Walnut Hills, but is strongly considering making his own on the premises. I told him his crust (a very thin crust with a crispy outside and good chew throughout) was very good, made even better by the fact that they baste the edges with garlic butter before it hits the oven, but he wants to improve it. :-)

4) His space is H U G E. Enormous. Cavernous. I was thinking he was goig to open a tiny carryout only place with little more than an oven, a counter, a register, and a place for customers to stand and wait, but he's got a lot of seating space and a bar, with a lot of sports-bar-like decor. You won't think "pizzeria" when you go in there.

5) His menu is pretty diverse, again giving the impression that the pizza is a sideline. He feels there isn't a good burger in Clifton, and so he's out to offer the best in his place. He wants to match or exceed Zips and/or Quatman's.

6) He has some students from the Culinary School at Cincinnati State working for him in the kitchen, and is very pumped about the creative and ideas they have been bringing in. They crafted a bbq pizza he's particularly excited about.

7) He was once an employee of the old Zino's chain, and has worked hard to reproduce the signature item from that old chain, the Zinover - albeit his version is called the Macover. I assured him I'd be back in to try it soon.

he gave me his card as I left, which lists his website as

www.macspizzapub.com (There's not much there yet except for his logo and email address, though)

Y'all got to get down here and check this place out. I think you'll be very impressed.

I'll do a full review with pictures as soon as time permits.

Update 12/08/2005: Cinweekly finally put the tidbit about Mac's online today at http://www.cinweekly.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/a1/20051207/ENT0105/512070339/1026/ENT01

TJ, nice review/report. Sounds like it's going to be a good joint. Let us know more, and some pics would be great.