Red's Savoy Pizza - St. Paul, MN

Large "Special"

Overall score: 60/70

1. Crust: 7/10 thinner style crust. 

2. Sauce: 8/10 zesty and rich

3. Cheese: 9/10 toasty and plenty layered on top of the toppings. 

4. Toppings: 9/10 Great quality and piled high above the crust - the perfect amount.

5. Atmosphere: 10/10 Hole in the wall restaurant, darkly lit. - You literally walk in through a door in the side of the building and down a dark narrow hall-way to enter the restaurant. Feels like what I would imagine a "speak easy" to be like. I think I even saw John Dillinger sitting at a booth in the corner once. 

6. Novelties: 8/10 the pizza is cut in square pieces - allowing you to eat several and keep reaching for more! Other than that It is the atmosphere that sets the place apart for me. 

7. How are the left overs? 9/10 amazing! Leaves you satisfied both times you eat it. 

Of my pizza journey so far, this is my favorite pizza. It tastes great. The atmosphere is an adventure and I have fond memories of eating there with great friends! It would be worth a trip to St. Paul just to get it. 

Papa Pete's - Longview, WA

Large "The Lumberman" w/sausage substituted for ground beef. 

Overall score: 49/70

1. Crust: 9/10 crispy and bubbly on a light bed of corn meal

2. Sauce: 6/10 thick texture, has a sort of sweetness to it and is tastefully applied

3. Cheese: 7/10 a fine gooey layer

4. Toppings:8/10 quite a lot of "pep" in the pepperoni, a lot of toppings and a little greasy.

5. Atmosphere: 6/10  Large room with lots of seating and an arcade area. It sort of has a feel like there should be a bowling alley or skating rink attached.

6. Novelties: 6/10 The arcade makes it a great place to bring kids. Every time we've been there the room is really empty but most of the tables are reserved for some sort of party which we never see. - Always makes us chuckle a little bit. I'm sure the party comes at some point but they must reserve the tables fairly early! There is also a crazy mural on the wall, which we've had fun with by using it to play "I Spy" while we wait for the pizza. 

7. How are the left overs? 7/10 Warms up fine, seems to have a little more substance and body to it the second time around.

This could be my favorite pizza in town as far as taste goes. I love the crust! It does cost a little more than some other places, but not bad. I've got great memories playing "I Spy" there, but the atmosphere of the room just doesn't add up to some other pizza places. 

Bruno's Pizza - Longview, WA

Large Pepperoni and Sausage - taken to go. 

Overall score: 50/70

1. Crust: 7/10 crispy and crunchy all the way through

2. Sauce: 6/10 light and zesty

3. Cheese: 6/10 buried under toppings but creamy and smooth

4. Toppings: 9/10 plentiful and of great quality, crumbly sausage (which I prefer) 

5. Atmosphere:  6/10 small diner sort of feel

6. Novelties: 8/10 the novelty here is the amount of toppings and the many little pepperonis.

7. How are the left overs? 8/10 - plenty left, tasted just fine. 

This is a man's pizza. It comes with a side of heart burn and It's a meaty challenge that you have to wrestle with and ultimately must conquer. This pizza will bite you back. 

Vernie's - Longview, WA

Large Peperoni and Sausage w/ bread sticks and pitcher of Root Beer. 

Overall score: 51/70

1. Crust: 5/10 - crisp but fluffy inside, about a half inch thick

2. Sauce: 6/10 - average, thick texture with a richness to it.

3. Cheese: 9/10 - thick flavorful and stretchy

4. Toppings: 7/10 - nothing to brag about except maybe sausage which was quality and had a good flavor

5. Atmosphere: 8/10 - race car garage meets pizza cabin

6. Novelties: 9/10 Garlic ranch - great for dipping!

7. How are the left overs? 7/10 warmed up  nicely!

Overall a great pizza, nothing spectacular but if you are looking for a quality "standard" American Pizza Pie at a quality price Vernie's is a great deal! Not to mention the bread sticks dipped in garlic ranch, which could be the thing that keeps me coming back.