12.20.07
I forgot my camera, but you should go to Pizzaiolo anyway
Alas, there’s no photographic proof of my delicious dinner at Pizzaiolo, only my happy belly and a food-coma smile. And yes, I know the restaurant is not new, but it hasn’t been around that long, just long enough for the line to have died down enough that you can walk right in at 6:30 on a Wednesday and be seated immediately.
First, I wish their bread had been less good. I like places with slightly stale bread, because I’m not compelled to eat it. Pizzaiolo’s bread was moist and sour with a crispy crust and creamery butter. Yum.
My friend and I shared the squid, which was tender and flavorful. There are a lot of ways squid can go wrong, and all pitfalls were avoided. We followed that with a wood-fired pizza topped with black trumpet mushrooms and a side of sage-flecked butternut squash. The pizza was a little crispy for my dining companion, but I thought the thin crust was perfectly done, crisp around the edges and hearty enough to feel like a meal.
From the squash, I learned a couple of things: 1. I don’t use enough butter at Thanksgiving, and 2. I don’t use enough salt at Thanksgiving. Slather on these ingredients and the butternut sings. The sage and brown butter added enough to make half a bowl of what is basically baby food remain interesting throughout.
The one miss was the panna cotta. The panna cotta itself was sweet, but not that interesting, and it was topped with a spoonful of marmalade, which was tart and not that interesting. It was tasty, but definitely the least noteworthy part of the meal.
Overall, I loved the warm, inviting atmosphere. The bar was full of diners and everyone seemed happy. The staff was polite and attentive, and I left feeling like I would return very soon. Here’s hoping!
Oh, and I also had a yummy Scoff Law cocktail. I can’t remember the ingredients, something with rye..?
pizzaiolo
5008 telegraph
510.652.4888
