(getbambinos.com) – North Downtown
How I heard of this place: I have walked by it numerous times, on the way to Yellow Leaf Cupcake Company, or around the corner to the Tilikum Place Cafe. But this first venture out was thanks to my friends Jerome and ReHana (and the visit of their sweet mother, Angelique).
Type of cuisine: Simple, rustic, classic Italian pizza. A place to enjoy simple, Italian cookery, unceremonious service served with a passionate and homely flair.
Ambiance: Simple, Italian pizza place, with heavy wooden tables and stools. A large window across the front of the restaurant, exposed brick walls with high open-in windows surround the large plain sight pizza-making counter. The chef rolls the dough through flour only after an order has been placed, then tops it with ingredients of your choice. The pizza is freshly baked with a slightly smoky flavor, crisp edges and soft dough inside.
What I ordered: I ordered the individual sized 10″ Gostosa ($11.80) with tomato sauce, smoked mozzarella, chicken, sliced Portobello mushrooms and just-spicy-enough cherry peppers. Our meat-eating dining companion ordered the Calorosa ($11.80) made with tomato sauce, smoked mozzarella, Italian sausage, pepperoni and bacon. Our vegetarian created her own pizza, starting with the margherita pizza base ($8), topped with the additions of artichokes and roasted garlic ($1.85 per topping). The fourth in our party ordered his own creation, which I missed, but noticed later the crisp, curled pepperoni lining the pizza. Our fifth dining companion ordered the Nostrana ($11.80) prepared with olive oil, mozzarella, chicken, roasted garlic, spinach and ricotta cheese (no tomato sauce).
What I loved: I loved the hints of burnt dough giving each pizza the woodfire, smoky flavor. I loved the cherry peppers and most of all I loved the pepperoni. My favorite of the three pizzas I tried (Calorosa, Gostosa and artichoke one) was, surprisingly, the meat-infested one.
Why I loved it: The staff is friendly, the space is large and the food unpretentious, yet delicious. It seems that this is a pizzeria that is unassuming, but offers greatness! It truly delivers what it has set out to offer – a place to call home, a place where our customers will be our extended family and friends.
Cost: Average to high ($10-$14 per individual, 10″ specialty pizza)