Ok time for another pizza review. We have a few firsts in this review including two places never before reviewed on the One Bite app and one place that I had to run away from.
I wanted to review some pizza on Barton St because there just has to be a good one somewhere right? I go to Italian Quality Pizza and Wings at the corner of Barton and Kenora. I walk in and it’s empty. No patrons. No servers. No pizza counter that I can see. Just bars on all the windows. I’m gonna get whacked, I’m gonna get whacked, I’M GONNA GET WHACKED!! Before the wind chimes on the front door do their job and alert the pitbulls or some guy with a sawed off in the back, I am outta there faster than you can say gimp. I don’t wanna know what it’s like to wear leather and have a ball gag in my mouth.
The score - Is this technically a 0.0 or an N/A?? I think it’s a 0.0. I didn’t even get a pizza let alone my foot in the door.
Time for an audible. I head down a few blocks to Lazio Pizza and Wings near Barton and Ottawa St. North. Lazio is a good name. I probably won’t die here. Let’s give it a shot. I order two slices of pepperoni and a coke, it’s $6.50. There is an old guy in front of me ordering a slice. The lady behind the counter, likely the owner, just gives him a slice and they exchange cash. No words spoken. This guy eats here every day I’m thinking. Good sign.
The slices are large, thin crust, looks promising. Wow this is pretty good! Immediate crunch. Although I did get a reheat I imagine all their pizza has a good crisp. The sauce has an oregano kick but not much sauce. Not much cheese or pepperoni either. This pizza is all about the crunch. There is good flavour though. There is a slight smokiness and a bit of a sweet caramel taste too which is weird but good. I don’t think the oven is wood or coal and the sweetness might be coming from the cheese but I can’t tell. The oven and crispness is giving this all of it’s flavour. This is the closest thing in Hamilton I’ve had to a New York slice. Large, thin crust, minimal toppings, good taste from the oven. Low cost. This is tough to score, a really good slice.
The score - 7.4. Really good downtown Barton St. slice on any given day or time. New York style in Hamilton.
If you don’t hear from me next week, tell the police I am in some pizza dungeon somewhere and start the search.
