This Is Framingham

I’ve done a post on Anastasia’s (12 Union Ave.) before when we got a steak and cheese from there but last night is the first time I’ve had their pizza.

Ethan and his friend had it a few weeks ago so when we were deciding on where to get pizza from he suggested here.  We were kind of pressed for time between just getting home from work and then I had Town Meeting to go to, so when he called, Ethan asked how long it would take to get a pizza delivered they said “No time at all” and it really seemed like it- it was about 15 Minutes from the call that we got the pizza delivered.

 We got half pepperoni and half eggplant.

Personally, I don’t care if a pizza is Greek or Italian style but I thought it was interesting that even though this is a Greek place the pizza was Italian style.  I have to say this pizza was excellent. I just really, really enjoyed this pizza.  At first I thought maybe it was because I was very hungry (I ride my bike to/from work in Westborough and often come home absolutely ravenous)  but then I found myself thinking about how good it was during town meeting, it was just so good. I figured if I was still thinking about it later in the night it must have been my tastebuds, not my hunger that made it so unforgettable.  Here’s a nice deliciously greasy detail:

Mmmmm-mmm!  The sauce, the cheese and the light crust were perfect.  I’m so happy to add this to our small list of good pizza places in Framingham but especially’s since it’s just a few blocks away.

A new Italian style pizza and dessert place opened up on route 30, (661 Cochituate Rd.) called “North End Treats”.
It is a take-out only place that serves pizza, pasta, sandwiches, pastries and gelato.
Inside is small but large enough to serve it’s purpose since there is no seating.

We got 2 individual 9″ pizzas.  One Bourbon Steak Tips with peppers and one Caramelized Onion with feta and pine nuts.
Steak Tips:

Caramelized Onions (they forgot to slice it and the picture is blurry)

The steak was good but I really, really enjoyed the caramelized onion pizza.  It was excellent. The natural sweetness of the onions with the salty feta was a perfect match.   
These are especially good pizzas for people that like crust because there’s plenty of it.  I feel like a plain pizza would be very satisfying as well. 
Of course while I was  waiting I couldn’t help but look at the pastry case:

I decided to bring home a little assortment of a peanut butter brownie, cannoli and mini-lobster tail:

I never had a lobster tail before but it was awesome, pastry filled with whipped and Bavarian cream.  It was light (tasting) and so creamy- a very nice treat!  I’d tie that with the peanut butter brownie which is intense and I recommend letting it almost get to room temp before eating since the top layer of chocolate is so thick.  The cannoli was pretty good two but if I had to choose 2 out of the three, it would be the lobster tail and brownie.  I will be back to try the gelato and some pasta dishes.

This is such a great addition to Framingham pizza/food options.  My only wish is that it was downtown, it would be perfect in one of the storefronts down there! 

Finally Bronzetti’s has opened!
It was like waiting for Christmas (or Hanukkah) but the day finally arrived.  It’s very much a mom and pop kind of place as the waitstaff must be family members and don’t wear uniforms but let you know when you walk in they’re there to serve you.  Our waitress was very nice and another woman (Mrs. Bronzetti?) check up on us as well to make sure everything was alright.
We started off sharing a caesar salad which  they were nice enough to split onto two separate plates and were decent sized even as halves.

Then the piece de resistance: We got a half plain, half onion pizza:

The dough was nice and crispy on the bottom and the cheese perfectly browned on the crust.  It’s just so good and was worth the wait!
Bronzetti’s is at 250 Worcester Rd., behind (but in the same building as) PC Health stop

While I’m waiting for Bronzetti’s to open for business, I had pizza craving and although I knew nothing would be quite the same as one of their pizzas, my uncle and I went out to Bertucci’s (150 Worcester Rd.).
I rarely go to Bertucci’s, I don’t avoid it, but for some reason I just don’t find myself there a lot.  My sister and her husband love it and  I know I can always get them a gift card for a birthday or a stocking stuffer and they’ll be happy.
Inside is decently decorated and I like the open kitchen.

They used to make some chicken and tortellini dish with a lemon-caper sauce that was really good but it has been taken off the menu since I last had it (probably at least 6 years ago)
One of the reliably good things about Bertucci’s are the rolls.  Nice and crunchy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, served with a flavored olive oil, you can’t go wrong!

We decided to get a pizza and salad.  (I forgot to take a picture of the salad)
My uncle doesn’t like “fancy” items on his pizza so we got onion and sausage.

It’d say Bertucci’s is better than some pizza places, but it’s not amazing.  I do like that, much like Papa Gino’s, it is reliably consistent and you get what you expect (or at least I have)

This morning I was on Rt. 9 going by the old Shogun 9 that is now PC Healthstop (holding their seemingly endless grand opening) when all off the sudden I heard angels sing.  I stopped and upon closer inspection saw….THIS:

I couldn’t believe it.  Such a beautiful sight!
It was only last summer that Ethan and I got to know the awesomeness of Bronzetti’s pizza, over by the Temple St. part of Rt. 9, but sadly our new favorite treat silently disappeared in July.  The bar changed it’s name to something generic and, as others have commented, so did the pizza.  Oh Bronzetti’s, we hardly knew ye! 

But now I can look forward to the day I will hold a slice of heaven to my lips once again!  Don’t let the messy looks fool you, with it’s light but chewy crust (and just enough crunch!) and melty goodness all over, this is pizza of the Gods. I normally avoid Rt. 9 but I will try to keep track of this progress and report when I find it up and running.  Maybe they can take over the “Grand Opening” sign from PC Healthstop to let us know.

I used to love Papa Gino’s as a kid then sometime in my early 20’s I became a bit of a food snob and refused to go there.  I remember reluctantly going to Papa Gino’s when Ethan suggested it when we first started dating, I’d roll my eyes and say “if you REALLY want to” but after the first few times I realized that I DO like Papa Gino’s.  There is something comfortably consistent about the pizza and the whole operation.
The smells, checkered tables and sounds of order numbers called through the microphone are reliably part of the whole Papa Gino’s experience.

This trip we went to the Papa’s on route 30 at the “food mall”.  This is where my uncle had his 60th birthday party, they let him make his own pizza and everything : )
We just got a couple of slices of cheese pizza.  As we waited for our number to be called, I thought it might be fun to get a job here just to call numbers really close into the microphone so it’s all fuzzy like “Number FVZE FOOVM” but I think the humor in that would wear off fast, and I’d be a jerk but I wonder if it’s fun to make the pizza especially since little (and big) kids get to watch through the window.  That used to be one of my favorite things about Papa Gino’s as a kid was watching the pizzaguy throw the dough in air and make the pizzas.

Our slices were decent sized and mine flopped down when I picked it up and the sun penetrated right through it like it was paper but it had that reliable familiar taste I become re-acquainted with (after Ethan got me back on track).  I’d also like to note that I think root beer best compliments their pizza.

The only thing I think they could improve on is bringing the tableside jukeboxes back.  Papa Gino’s isn’t the best pizza but that’s okay.  I give it a thumbs up for consistency and nostalgia.
I’m sorry Papa for ever doubting you!

I have heard good things about Bronzetti’s pizza.  I was told they bought the recipe from the Union House and make those pizza’s there and that they’re excellent, so of course we had to try it.

Bronzetti’s is not a place I would normally think of going to, it’s kind of the unofficial restaurant of the Econo Lodge which it seems to be attached to.
Inside is a no frills sports bar, but I really like the lacquered wood bar that includes the tree bark all around the perimeter.  There are pool tables and “4-top” tables with castered chairs to sit and eat at .  I also liked the wood paneled walls and that the place is entirely lit by hanging glass lamps.
(bad cell phone pic of inside)

We got the pizza home and wasn’t sure what to think at first because it was messy looking but it was delicious. 

The dough is crunchy on the edges but just chewy enough everywhere else.  It’s almost like there’s butter in the dough, the sauce and cheese were great too, all together it’s a great pizza!
Ethan was so impressed with the pizza he suggested getting it again the next night, so we did. 
A definite “yay” for the pizzaquest!