Per our review two weeks ago, we decided that we needed to salvage some kind of remembrance of Espresso Royale, namely their brick oven pizzas. So we decided to head for the next best thing -- Brick Oven.
Nestled compactly in the Rio Hill Shopping Center next to Dick's Sporting Goods, this North 29 outing took some bravery on our parts in the winter wonderland that is C-ville. But after all the scraping of ice and warming of hands, we were hungry for the best Brick Oven had to offer.
The restaurant itself won't blow you away with its appearance. Not concerned with ambiance, as shown by its large white walls and plain windows, Brick Oven offers decent pizzas as well as a plethora of other popular Italian dishes in a welcoming, family-style setting.
You won't find the most upscale crowd at the restaurant, which makes sense considering the prices and range of entrees. But it's also perfect for dressed-down Wahoos, wanting to get away from the Corner and even Frank's.
The menu includes appetizers, pizzas, pastas and calzones, and prices for all dishes range from $6 for an appetizer to $17 for the largest most lavish pizza.
In addition to the main menu, each day Brick Oven offers a specials menu, including one starter, one featured pizza, one wine, one entrée and several desserts. In the end, we decided to pass on the specials, which included a spinach ball appetizer that "Popeye would go for" ($5.99), the Daddy's Boy!, a pepperoni and four cheese pizza and Echelon Cabernet ($18.00), and the shrimp brio pasta ($10.99).
Instead, we decided on one of the more "wild" pizzas, the Cactus Jack ($11.99), the Cape Cod Spicy Pasta with Shrimp and Scallops ($9.99) and, of course, the salad bar (we'll get to that later).
The pizza was definitely the better of the two dishes. The Cactus Jack came topped with mushrooms, onions, spinach, garlic and tomato sauce with pepperjack and cheddar cheeses. The crust was crisp and tasty, the spinach was cooked to perfection and the onions were not overpowering. Additionally, the mixture of the sauce and the cheeses was unlike most pizzas we've tried
Read More
Top 10 questions to ask on a blind date at U.Va.
By Emily Barrie | 3 hours agoSpice up the “Where do you live?” question by asking your date something a bit more creative.
Treat yourself to these three autumn recipes
By Charley Thomas | 2 days agoThis autumn dinner trio — caper chicken, acorn squash and apple pie — makes for the coziest of October evenings.
Big flavor, small truck — Mod Pod’s Mexican-inspired magic
By Sophie Guettel | 5 days agoThe Mod Pod offers a mix of casual dining with bold, vibrant flavors that make each dish worth trying.
