(indiepizzeria.com) – Madison Park
How I heard of this place: Through my friend Shawgi who suggested it after seeing a deal on Living Social Deals.
Type of cuisine: Pizza, libations and apertifs. Simple. Limited selection.
Ambiance: A cozy space that feels like your personal enclosed backyard patio. Floor to ceiling windows alongside two full sides of the restaurant, which is triangular in shape. A stone wall along the top point of the triangle adds a sleek, modern feel to the space. Limited table seating, and one couch with a coffee table for lounging-style dining.
What I ordered: Three of us enjoyed our first meal at the Independent Pizzeria and chose to order three different pizzas to share family style. The Twin Peaks ($9) with tomato sauce, ontina cheese, crimini mushrooms and sage, the Parma, called Norwalk on the online menu, ($12) with tomato sauce, fiore di latte cheese, prosciutto di Norwalk, rocket and grana, both also recommended by our server. The third pizza we ordered was the Syracuse ($10) with tomato sauce, grana, green olives, Mama’s Lil peppers, capers, and garlic, with the optional addition of anchovies. Because pizza needs to be consumed with a soda-like beverage, I went with Virgil’s diet cola ($2 for the bottle) and my dining companions ordered Crater Lake root beer, on tap ($2 per glass).
What I loved: I loved the Parma most! A given based on the fluffy mountain of arugula (rocket) which topped the freshly baked pizza. The soda was one of the most flavorful, tasty sodas I’ve consumed, and with only 6 calories (for those calorie-conscious) it’s hard to go wrong. One dining companion agreed with my selection of best-of-three pizzas. My second dining companion, who prefers the basic American style pizza (tomato-based sauce, cheese, etc.) most preferred the Twin Peaks. Admittedly, the Twin Peaks was a very close second by way of flavor and combination of ingredients.
Why I loved it: The space is very comfortable and inviting, cozy and sleek. The pizza delicious (even the next morning, cold, for breakfast). The service friendly and the food fresh and home-made tasting.
Cost: Mid to high ($8-$12 per individual-sized fancy pizza)