From New York's thin crust to Chicago's deep dish -- people everywhere have their own (at times rabid) opinions about what pizza is the best. Some insist on family-owned Italian authenticity, some know just what they like at Pizza Hut or Domino's and then there are those content to eat anything that offers cheese on crust.
Charlottesville is no exception. While big chains get their fair share of late night delivery orders (and many still mourn the passing of the Pokey Stick), Frank's, Sylvia's and the famous Christian's on the Downtown Mall all have their devotees.
But we've discovered something better; something crispier, something fresher, a little piece of heaven right here in the Blue Ridge: Crozet Pizza.
Okay, we didn't exactly discover it ourselves: for over 25 years, Crozet Pizza has been serving up piping hot pies that have consistently ranked among the best in Virginia, if not the U.S.A. Such fame has also made it the only place we've ever heard of with mandatory reservations -- heed that warning, because they do fill up fast.
Despite the restaurant's blue ribbon pedigree, Crozet Pizza is nothing if not humble. The main dining room is so minuscule that a "crowd" of 15 might be a fire hazard, not to mention the enormous oven clearly visible in the open kitchen. The walls are covered with browned and worn business cards of patrons past, and the entire menu is hand written on a chalkboard.
And what a menu: in addition to standards like pepperoni, ham and sausage, you can top your pizza with anything from peanuts to fresh spinach, from meatballs to snow peas. It's a selection for everyone, from meatheads to vegetarians.
Or if you're overwhelmed, go for one of the seven house specialties: classic combinations of tastes and flavors but with a special Crozet Pizza twist.
We decided to have a bit of both. Since you can divvy up your pizza by quarters, even a single diner can try a number of toppings. Our choices were the Great White, the Special, the Maui and our own concoction of feta, shitake mushrooms, green peppers and fresh tomatoes.
It's hard to decide what to talk about first when discussing a slice of Crozet Pizza: the crust or the toppings. Both are superb. As far as the toppings were concerned, eating our own combination of veggies was like eating an incredibly fresh salad: Everything came out of the oven not in a soggy mess, but with flavor and texture intact.
Even though it would be hard to go wrong with constructing your own pie, we highly recommend trying the house creations. You might need to chew a pack of gum after sampling the Great White -- a sauceless pizza of onions, fresh garlic, olive oil and mozzarella -- but it's worth it, because these fragrant elements balance each other surprisingly well. The cheese was brown and blistered on top, helping it stand up on its own to the other powerful ingredients.
While the Maui Pig is basically just a Hawaiian pizza, this was by far the best we've ever had. The ham was thick, the pineapple was fresh and everything was liberally doused with oregano. Even Ann, who normally steers clear of all things fruity on her pizza, proclaimed this her favorite. James was blown away by the Special, which was loaded with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, sausage and pepperoni. The sausage was exceptional, sweet and distinct while complimenting the other ingredients. It is Crozet Pizza's answer to the supreme, and you guessed it -- it is supreme.
But a pizza is ultimately only as good as its foundation. Crozet Pizza knows this and, accordingly, the crust is the star. Brown and crunchy, and falling in that nebulous area of not-too-thick, not-too-thin, it's some of the best we've ever had. Even when piled high with toppings, it doesn't get soggy -- this crust bites back. While other pizzerias might have to stuff their crust with cheese or slather it in thick sauces, at Crozet Pizza the dough itself is delicious enough to stand proudly on its own. There were definitely no forgotten crusts left behind when the plates were cleared.
So if you pride yourself as a connoisseur of all things pertaining to pizza, then run, don't walk, to Crozet Pizza. Actually, you may want to drive -- Crozet is about 10 miles from Charlottesville, so although it's a reasonable distance, it's farther than we're used to going for a slice of the cheesy stuff. And don't forget those reservations.
Our one gripe is with the price. Although we only gave it two stars, reflecting its overall low price, we still thought we were shelling out big bucks for just pizza. A small (12 inch) pizza starts at $11.50, a medium (14 inch) is $12.50, a large (16 inch) $13.50 -- and that's just for bread and cheese. Topping add-ons vary in price from $1.75-$2.50. And if you're going for one of the house specials, be prepared to shell out the big bucks: a large Special goes for over $20.00. This isn't to say Crozet Pizza prices itself out of the market -- it's just a warning that this is no place to go searching for a deal.
The cost is well worth it for a little slice of heaven.
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