Pepperoni Pizza
I’m a little wary when my fellow bloggers and reviewers get into the “Best Pizza” debates. Let’s face it, pizza is like sex. Even “bad” pizza isn’t all that bad, and what’s enticing to one person may just not do it for the next. Some like it thick. Some thin. Some saucy. Some meaty. And yes, we’re still talking pizza here.
So I’m not here to initiate the battle for the ‘Burghs best pie. For starters, I haven’t sampled what everyone’s got to offer—the classic case of too many pizzas, too little time. Mineo’s is always a good choice. And Vincent’s (although there’s ongoing confusion and debate over which Vincent’s is the “real” Vincent’s) is a perennial favorite. You can’t go wrong with either. But you really can’t go wrong with a number of other places, either, because as I’ve already pointed out, it is pizza, after all…how bad could it be? What I will do for you--because you are entitled to an informed opinion on where you can get a great pie and a nice, casual atmosphere; and you may not immediately run across the name if you Google “Pittsburgh pizza”—is recommend Pepperoni’s in Bethel Park.
Pepperoni’s is charming. The restaurant is a converted Cape Cod on an assuming street off the main road that runs past South Hills Village Mall. So, it’s not in the middle of nowhere, but it is situated a bit away from the shopping scene. For those of you staying in the city without a car (or not wishing to drive out to parts unknown), there’s a “T” stop just behind the restaurant. Hop on any train reading “South Hills Village” out of town, and you should be there within 45 minutes.
With around ten tables inside the modest dining room and a few more outside on the year-round deck, seating is limited. Pepperoni’s doesn’t take reservations, so larger parties may want to go early enough (or late enough) to avoid a problem. Having said that, my wife and I have often visited on Friday and Saturday nights (as well as weeknights), and we’ve never had a problem getting a table. In fact, I’ve found that one of Pepperoni’s charms is the fact that while I’ve always been able to get a seat, I’ve never felt like my wife and I were the only ones in the joint. There’s always a pleasant mix of families and couples (all local to the South Hills) to keep you company.
Adding to the charm is Pepperoni’s wait staff. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced bad service. The waitresses (I’ve yet to see a male server in the place) are all friendly and attentive. As the young ladies pop from table to table, serving the locals the great pizza, I can’t help but recall the eponymous “Mystic Pizza” from the 1980s Julia Roberts vehicle. Pepperoni’s really does have that kind of we’re-all-family-even-if-we’re-not vibe. Of course, a good vibe is all well and good, but it ain’t much if the food isn’t up to snuff. But no worries here.
Pepperoni’s offers three styles of pizza—Neapolitan, deep dish, and Sicilian—with a variety of toppings you’ve come to expect from a pizza place. Specialty pies range from Steak & Portabella Mushroom to BBQ Chicken, but you’re always welcomed to have your pie topped as you like. I’m a thinner-crust kind of guy, so the Neapolitan’s always my favorite, and what can I say, maybe it’s because it is “Pepperoni’s” after all (or perhaps it’s my general lack of adventure when it comes to what I choose to ingest), but I usually go with plain, old pepperoni. Although, Pepperoni’s pizza is far from being plain…or old for that matter. There’s never a delay from oven to table. So trust me when I advice you to take a second for the pizza to cool before digging in (please, do as I say, not as I have done).
One thing that won’t burn your mouth, but that is equally fresh, is Pepperoni’s garden salad—a generous helping of various greens mixed with garden vegetables and topped with olives and cheese. I really can’t recall having had a nicer salad anywhere. I’m never concerned the server will set down a plate of half-browned leaves as I have often experienced at more upscale restaurants. And although Pepperoni’s offers a number of dressing choices, for me, it’s the house Italian every time. What can I say, I like the classics.
And around here, Pepperoni’s has rapidly become a classic itself.
Pepperoni’s is located at 28 Donati Road, Bethel Park, PA 15241. Their phone number is 412-854-7400. Parking is ample, and it’s BYOB (although, at times, they’ve been known to serve complimentary wine on the weekends).
