Attempt #31 - Maggie's Farm, Wood-Fired Pizza

Menu

Venue (Inside)

Venue (Outside)

The Venue

1100 3rd Street SE,

Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

(319) 364-4606

This pizza is served only when the New BO Market is open (Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays).  They are named after a very smart dog named Maggie.  There is limited seating since the location is a trendy indoor market.  Since there are other vendors, seating can run a little tight at times...depending on the time of the day.  The booth is very clean, and technologically advanced.  When you pay via credit card you sign your name with your finger on a tablet, and you receive a tiny ticket with your order (eco friendly?).  If you want something to drink, waters are $1, and I believe they have bottled regional beer available.  You can find their menu online at:  https://www.facebook.com/MaggiesFarmWoodFiredPizza/app_117784394919914

The Pizza

Chicago Style:  No

Crust Thickness:  Thin

Personal (10"), Chicken Bianca, Thin ($11.00)

Our group consisted of 8 participants; so we ordered 6 pizzas.  They currently serve eight different styles of toppings for their pizzas, of which we ordered six different ones.  Each pizza only came with only one crust, which is thin-perfect for making a pizza while taking only about 8 minutes of time!  We ordered them in the only size, a 'personal' sized 10".  Each pizza cost roughly $10.00.  The pizzas were: 

Pizza Margherita - Fresh basil, crushed tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella, parmigiano-reggiano ($10.00)

Blue Cheese & Onion - Caramelized onion, blue cheese ($10.00)

Personal (10"), Blue Cheese & Onion, Thin ($10.00)

Pepperoni - Pepperoni, mozzarella, crushed tomatoes, parmigiano-reggiano ($11.00)

Prosciutto - Prosciutto, mozzarella, crushed tomatoes, parmigiano-reggiano ($10.00)

Chicken Bianca - Garlic, mozzarella, pecorino, parmigiano-reggiano, chicken (11.00)

Pesto - Pesto, tomato and mozzarella ($10.00)

The Verdict

Personal (10"), Pizza Margherita, Thin ($10.00)

Personal (10"), Pesto, Thin ($10.00)

The thin crust pizzas were cut into triangular-shaped pieces.  The crust was thin, since they have a wood-fired pizza oven, this is clearly the draw.  The turnaround time from order to dining was very fast, only 8 minutes!  As for the sauce it was a bit on the light side, however, the toppings were about right...not too many not too few.  The pizza was neither crisp nor bready, yet not soggy, so I think the crust is about right for their style of pie.  Since we have 6 pizzas for 8 participant adults, some of us felt a little hungry afterwards...then again that's what you get with thin crust sometimes.  It would be nice if they offered a thick style of crust.  The topping diversification was great...it reminded me a bit of Cibo Fusion's gourmet pizzas.  The Chicken Bianca came up as the undisputed favorite of the group.  Although the price may be a little high, you should be comforted to know that you are supporting a small, local business.  These pizzas are perfect for lunch, so if you are in the area stop by the New BO Market and try one out.  (My favorite was the Pesto, oddly enough!) .    

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            6.75

Cheese            6.50

Sauce               6.13

Topping           7.38

Crust                6.13

Venue              4.88

Personal (10"), Prosciutto, Thin ($10.00)

Personal (10"), Pepperoni, Thin ($11.00)

Attempt #30 - Hunt Brothers Pizza

Venue Inside

 

The Venue

502 E Avenue NW,

Cedar Rapids, IA 52405

(319) 364-4606

Venue Outside

Large (12"), Veggie, Thin ($9.99)

Large (12"), Pepperoni, Regular ($9.99)

This pizza is served currently within the Cennex gas station off of E Avenue, on the west side of Cedar Rapids.  Hunt Brothers has over 7,000 locations nationwide, and they are based out of Indiana.  This location is the first one in the area (to my knowledge).  Because of the location (within a gas station), there is no seating available, so for this attempt, we met at a nearby friends house to dig in.  You can find their menu online at:  http://www.huntbrotherspizza.com/menu

The Pizza

Chicago Style:  No

Crust Thickness:  Thin/Regular

Our group consisted of 11 participants; so we ordered 6 pizzas.  We ordered them in the only size, a large 12" size.  Each pizza cost $9.99, regardless of how many toppings were loaded on it.  They offered three specialty pizzas (Veggie, Loaded, and Lotsa Meat); nothing too out of the ordinary.  The pizzas were: 

Loaded - Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Beef, Bacon, Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions, Black Olives, Banana Peppers and Jalapeno Peppers (Large, Regular Crust [12”], $9.99).

Lotsa Meat Pizza - Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Beef and Bacon (Large, Regular Crust [12”], $9.99).

Veggie - Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions, Black Olives, Banana Peppers and Jalapeno Peppers (Large, Thin & Regular Crust [12”], $9.99).

Pepperoni - (Large, Thin & Regular Crust [12”], $9.99).

The Verdict

The thin crust pizzas were cut into small rectangle shapes, since the dough was prepared in a large rectangle.  The regular crust pizzas were circular, and cut into triangle shapes.  The dough is frozen, but the toppings were fresh.  The worker (manager) even went out to get fresh tomatoes for our order on the Loaded (they normally don't have that available).   The pizza cooled quickly, but while it was hot it wasn't too bad.  The 'Loaded' was the favorite among the participants, although I enjoyed the regular crusted pepperoni.  Pepperoni came in second, and no other votes were cast for the Lotsa Meat nor the Veggie.  The sauce was light, but the rim of the regular pizza was nice and bready.  This wouldn't be a bad place to pick up a slice of pizza if you are in a hurry on that part of town, but I would not advise making a special trip out on it. 

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            5.44

Large (12"), Veggie, Regular ($9.99)

Large (12"), Lotsa Meat, Regular ($9.99)

Cheese            5.67

Large (12"), Pepperoni, Regular ($9.99)

Large (12"), Loaded, Regular ($9.99)

Sauce               5.11

Topping           5.89

Crust                6.33

Slices

Venue              0.00

Re-Attempt #4 - Tomaso's Pizza World

The Venue

3234 Center Point Road NE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

(319) 364-4313

Venue

Cedar Rapids based online community group Hoopla awarded Tomaso's the best pizza place over the last five year (2008 it received 2nd).  After trying their unique Detroit crust, it is easy to see why, since the caramelized cheese is a great finisher off each piece.  The staff consists of mainly high school/college kids, which in a sense is refreshing to see someone putting our kids to work these days.  The pizzas are prepare in an open kitchen, so you can see exactly what the preparers are doing when creating the pizza.  I noticed that after each pizza is cooked, the pizza gets taken out of the pan (or cast iron pan for the Detroit/Chicago style crusts), and then entered back into the oven for another 3-5 minutes.  This provides some durability to the crust which although it is crispy, it is also bready!   Some locations have been known to serve a more consistent pizza - Marion, and Center Point Road (in Cedar Rapids) are the ones which I would recommend.  The Hiawatha one is a bit spotty, although the restaurant is much nicer inside.  Each patron gets his/her own drink and plate/silverware, which is nice since you don't have to wait for a waitress.  Although you can find pizza specials from their mailing list, there is no nightly deal from my knowledge.  Their menu is posted online, you can find it here:  http://www.tomasospizzeria.com/#!locations/cfin.

The Pizza

Chicago Style:  Yes

Crust Thickness:  Thin/Regular/Bready Thick

Out of the Oven!

Our group consisted of 4 participants; so we ordered 2 pizzas.  We ordered them in the large 16" size.  Overall, with tip it came up to about $11 per person, with few leftovers.  They offered seven specialty pizzas that vary in their toppings-but nothing too out of the ordinary (I'm not sure how Great Garden really tastes different from the Veggie Combo).  The pizzas that we ordered were basic, but favorites: 

Pepperoni - (Large, Detroit Deep Dish Crust (no lip, instead caramelized cheese on the edge) [16”], $21.24)

Italian Sausage - (Large, Chicago Style (Same as Detroit except with a lip) Crust [16”], $21.24)

The Verdict

This pizza was awesome, with the only drawback being the price and lack of delicious sauce.  I had to ask for a side of extra sauce, since I like my pizza a bit more saucy.  They serve the sauce on top of the pie, usually in a swirl fashion.  I sometimes wish they were more generous with the toppings, but being a single topping pizza, they hit it just right.  One of the best parts of Tomaso's is that the cheese blends in beautifully with the bready crust, making each bite a tasty treat.  The pieces were cut into triangular-shaped slices.  Although the participant size was small, the vibe was pretty positive on the pizza itself.  One participant even commented that this "pizza is still crispy when it's cold".  The Pepperoni-Detroit Crust was the winner with 3-1 votes.  If you are in the mood for a good pizza, try the Detroit Pepperoni!

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            9.25

Cheese            9.50

Sauce               8.75

Topping           9.63

Crust                9.75

Venue              6.50

Large (16"), Italian Sausage, Chicago Style Crust ($21.24)

Large (16"), Italian Sausage, Detroit Style Crust ($21.24)

Attempt #29 - Union Station

Outside Venue

The Venue

1730 16th Ave SW

Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

(319) 364-2779

Quite a few locals tend to suggest Union Station because of their consistent, widely offered pizza on the South West side of Cedar Rapids. In fact, they have a Union Station Pizza (carry out only) place right next to the bar.  Their wait staff was extremely friendly, and helpful.  They had high chairs and booster seats for the little ones, a basketball hoop with a few arcade games, and a few pool tables.  The bar/restaurant itself is a bit dated; however, you get the cozy sense while you're there. Pizza specials are on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays which entail that a two-topping, 14" thin crust pizza is just $9.  You can find them online at:  http://www.unionstationcr.com/

Menu

The Pizza

Chicago Style:  No

Crust Thickness:  Thin/Regular

Our group consisted of 6 participants; so we ordered 3 pizzas.  All three consisted of specialty pizzas.  We ordered them in the larger 14" size (with 10" was the smaller size available).  Overall, with tip it came up to $7.75 a person, with leftovers.  They offered six specialty pizzas that vary in their toppings-but nothing too out of the ordinary.  The pizzas were: 

Taco - Beef, Italian Sausage, Covered with Lettuce, Tomatoes, Black Olives and Fresh Grated Cheese (Large, Thin Crust [14”], $13.50)

Fire Eater - Meatballs, Mushrooms, Onion, Red & Green Peppers, and Mozzarella Cheese (Large, Thin Crust [10”], $12.00)

Large (14"), Fire Eater, Thin ($12.00)

Combo - Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Ham, Black Olives, Mushrooms, Green Peppers and Onions (Large, Regular Crust [14”], $15.00)

The Verdict

Large (14"), Taco, Thin ($13.50)

The thin crust pizzas were cut into small rectangle shapes, but the regular Combo pizza was cut into the familiar pie shaped triangles we've all grown to love.   Each pizza had a distinct sauce...the Combo had a Smokey flavor, the Fire Eater had a strong  spicy bang to it, and the Taco was a bit on the sweet side.  Each pizza was good; however, I think that the regular crust was much better than the thin.  I noticed that the Taco and even the Fire Eater (both thin crust) were soggy in the middle.  The Fire Eater was the spiciest pizza we've had to date...I've done the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazing Hot Wings Challenge and the Nuclear Wings Challenge (at Beef 'O' Brady's [current time record holder]), and I almost felt that the heat was a little much for enjoyment; unless you are like me and love spicy food.  Each pizza scored evenly with two votes each, so there was no clear winner in this month's pizza review.

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            7.17

Cheese            7.67

Large (14"), Combo, Regular ($15.00)

Sauce               7.67

Topping           7.83

Crust                7.17

Venue              5.50

Taco Slice

Combo Slice