Comments on: Pizzeria Bianco – Phoenix http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169 "When Zagat meets Sex and the City..." Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:04:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dale Novak http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-1610 Dale Novak Sat, 21 Apr 2007 07:22:04 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-1610 I would definitely put Pizzeria Bianco at the top of my list - the list of the most over rated places in the US. I don\\\'t dislike PB for what it is (the pizza is good enough), but for what it isn\\\'t. First of all, you hit the nail on the head by saying you wouldn\\\'t wait 2 hours to eat there. Waiting 2 hours to eat in a small, cramped hole in the wall isn\\\'t my idea of a good time. Also, the selection is so limited that there is very little that even appeals to me (and no pepperoni?!? Who are they kidding). I think the earlier Soup Nazi reference hit the nail on the head. You can have it their way or no way at all. I once tried to get mushrooms added to my Wise Guy pizza. After a dirty look, I got a gruff nod. When my pizza finally arrived, it was sans mushrooms. When I pointed this out, I again got the snake eye and a grumble. After a while, I received a small bowl of lukewarm mushroom slices to add on myself. I\\\'m sorry, but slightly heated mushrooms do not come close to mushrooms cooked on top of the pizza in a wood fired oven. From what I\\\'ve heard, this is far from an isolated occurrence, either. I don\\\'t regularly watch Oprah, but I was channel surfing one day and they were reviewing pizza restaurants in Phx, so I left it on for a while. Oprah\\\'s friend, who was the food critic of the moment, went to PB and had a less than hospitable experience. Mr. Bianco actually insulted her on national TV when she suggested making one of his precious pizzas slightly different to suit her taste. Later, when she asked him why he didn\\\'t have pepperoni, he said, \\ I would definitely put Pizzeria Bianco at the top of my list – the list of the most over rated places in the US. I don\\\’t dislike PB for what it is (the pizza is good enough), but for what it isn\\\’t.

First of all, you hit the nail on the head by saying you wouldn\\\’t wait 2 hours to eat there. Waiting 2 hours to eat in a small, cramped hole in the wall isn\\\’t my idea of a good time.

Also, the selection is so limited that there is very little that even appeals to me (and no pepperoni?!? Who are they kidding). I think the earlier Soup Nazi reference hit the nail on the head. You can have it their way or no way at all. I once tried to get mushrooms added to my Wise Guy pizza. After a dirty look, I got a gruff nod. When my pizza finally arrived, it was sans mushrooms. When I pointed this out, I again got the snake eye and a grumble. After a while, I received a small bowl of lukewarm mushroom slices to add on myself. I\\\’m sorry, but slightly heated mushrooms do not come close to mushrooms cooked on top of the pizza in a wood fired oven.

From what I\\\’ve heard, this is far from an isolated occurrence, either. I don\\\’t regularly watch Oprah, but I was channel surfing one day and they were reviewing pizza restaurants in Phx, so I left it on for a while. Oprah\\\’s friend, who was the food critic of the moment, went to PB and had a less than hospitable experience. Mr. Bianco actually insulted her on national TV when she suggested making one of his precious pizzas slightly different to suit her taste. Later, when she asked him why he didn\\\’t have pepperoni, he said, \\

]]> By: Professor Salt http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-706 Professor Salt Wed, 25 Oct 2006 03:01:28 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-706 Great post. Loved the photo illustrations of a place so heavily written about. This will be my first stop if I ever make it out to Phoenix. I appreciate the fresh seasonal produce, and the everything-roasted-in--the-wood-oven approach. A similiar approach is practices at A16 in San Francisco, whose food you might also enjoy. Great post. Loved the photo illustrations of a place so heavily written about. This will be my first stop if I ever make it out to Phoenix.

I appreciate the fresh seasonal produce, and the everything-roasted-in–the-wood-oven approach. A similiar approach is practices at A16 in San Francisco, whose food you might also enjoy.

]]> By: Kelli http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-705 Kelli Tue, 24 Oct 2006 22:49:48 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-705 I think PB is a great place to go on a second date -- when you think you want to get to know the other person better and want LOTS of time for conversation. Otherwise, I'd take Barro's pizza over it any day of the week. It's great pizza without the arrogance. I think PB is a great place to go on a second date — when you think you want to get to know the other person better and want LOTS of time for conversation.
Otherwise, I’d take Barro’s pizza over it any day of the week. It’s great pizza without the arrogance.

]]> By: Seth Chadwick http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-702 Seth Chadwick Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:59:53 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-702 melati, Cibo has ribs?? melati,

Cibo has ribs??

]]> By: melati http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-699 melati Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:08:00 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-699 O, my darling, I never ever EVER anticipated that I'd be served CHARBROILED crust pizza. Cibo's did that all by themselves. I have nothing else to torture you with, so until you do something truly awful, you'll have to live with the occasional Cibo's rib. O, my darling, I never ever EVER anticipated that I’d be served CHARBROILED crust pizza. Cibo’s did that all by themselves.

I have nothing else to torture you with, so until you do something truly awful, you’ll have to live with the occasional Cibo’s rib.

]]> By: elmomonster http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-697 elmomonster Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:56:48 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-697 Wow. If there were places like this in Orange County, I'd love Italian food a lot more. Instead, I usually make do with Costco pizza. I loved your horse racing comparisons to restaurants! Wow. If there were places like this in Orange County, I’d love Italian food a lot more. Instead, I usually make do with Costco pizza. I loved your horse racing comparisons to restaurants!

]]> By: O http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-693 O Sat, 21 Oct 2006 16:46:03 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-693 Ugh. Melati's never going to stop using Cibo's against me. Never mind that she was biased against Cibo's way before she ever set foot in the place. Gah. Ugh. Melati’s never going to stop using Cibo’s against me. Never mind that she was biased against Cibo’s way before she ever set foot in the place.

Gah.

]]> By: Chubbypanda http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-692 Chubbypanda Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:20:36 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-692 Those pizzas definitely look amazing. I've always had the same problem you do with posh versions of what was originally street food. I twitch when I see $18 prawn pad thai and cringe when a restaurant offers a $25 Kobe beef satay. The pizza looks great, but I just can't stand restaurants that yuppify what should be cheap, soulful, and homey food. - Chubbypanda Those pizzas definitely look amazing.

I’ve always had the same problem you do with posh versions of what was originally street food. I twitch when I see $18 prawn pad thai and cringe when a restaurant offers a $25 Kobe beef satay. The pizza looks great, but I just can’t stand restaurants that yuppify what should be cheap, soulful, and homey food.

- Chubbypanda

]]> By: Geggie http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-691 Geggie Thu, 19 Oct 2006 21:05:46 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-691 I haven't been to Cibo yet, but I have been to Grazie. I was really impressed. I have to say, it's pretty close to PB. The toppings aren't as interesting, but it's a darn good pie and their wine prices can't be beat! I haven’t been to Cibo yet, but I have been to Grazie. I was really impressed. I have to say, it’s pretty close to PB. The toppings aren’t as interesting, but it’s a darn good pie and their wine prices can’t be beat!

]]> By: melati http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169&cpage=1#comment-688 melati Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:20:53 +0000 http://feastinginphoenix.com/?p=169#comment-688 Vindicated!!! Omer has tried to taint me with his "Cibo's is way better than Pizzeria Bianco" schtick, but I held fast. Grazie's tries to lure me in with their decent replication of PB, but I remain steadfast in my opinion. PB is great fun, great pizza. And I would gladly wait an hour to be seated. That's why God invented wine and cigarettes and some good conversation. Vindicated!!!

Omer has tried to taint me with his “Cibo’s is way better than Pizzeria Bianco” schtick, but I held fast.

Grazie’s tries to lure me in with their decent replication of PB, but I remain steadfast in my opinion.

PB is great fun, great pizza. And I would gladly wait an hour to be seated. That’s why God invented wine and cigarettes and some good conversation.

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