Attempt #39 - Ruby's Pizzeria

Venue - Outside

The Venue

223 2nd Street SW

Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

(319) 200-4800

Ruby's Pizzeria is a new and promising restaurant in downtown Cedar Rapids. Its sleek and trendy decor includes high and low top tables, booths, and outdoor seating on the street.  The wait staff was friendly, and the place was pretty busy for a Monday night.  They currently do not offer specials during the week.  Expect to pay around Tomaso's prices, with possible Tomaso's (or better) yields.  You can find their pizza menu here:  http://www.rubyspizzeria.com/pizza/.

The Pizza

Chicago Style:  Yes, No

Crust Thickness:  Thin, Average, Thick

Large, New York Crust, Queen Margherita ($16.95)

Our group consisted of 9 participants, so we ordered four large pizzas (16").  They currently serve five specialty pizzas, each with their own recommended crusts; we ordered all of them except the veggie.  The pizzas were: 

Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza - Our Chicago crust, but pressed thin and topped with ground beef, bacon, diced tomato, pickles, mozzarella and cheddar cheese (Large, Chicago Crust [thin], $22.60).

Meatball Pizza - Ruby's homemade meatballs, onions and green peppers on our New York crust (Large, New York Crust, $22.60).

Taco Pizza - Our New York crust topped with seasoned ground beef, refried bean/salsa sauce, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, shredded lettuce, nacho chips and sour cream (Large, New York Crust, $22.60).

Large, New York Crust, Meatball ($22.60)

Queen Margherita - Fresh mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil on our New York crust (Large, Detroit Crust, $16.95).

Pepperoni - (Large, New York Crust, $17.95).

The Verdict

The pizzas came out in triangular-shaped pieces. 

The cheese, sauce and toppings were all excellent.  The cheese-to-topping ratio was just right, and the interesting and creative sauces were a hit (from ketchup on the Bacon Cheeseburger to a spicy bean spread on the Taco).  One participant quoted, "Ruby's rivals Tomaso's as the best pizza joint in town." Everyone rated Ruby's very highly; the lowest ratings were a few 8s, which tells you that Ruby's knows a thing or two about great pizza.  The owner of the restaurant was working in the back to make these masterpieces!  Ruby's is the #1 place thus far, so the next time you want to go out for some great tasting pizza, head to Ruby's Pizzeria!

Large, New York Crust, Taco ($22.60)

Large, Chicago Crust, Bacon Cheeseburger ($22.60)

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            9.50

Cheese            9.97

Sauce               9.38

Topping           9.50

Crust                9.50

Venue              9.88

Menu

Large, New York Crust, Pepperoni ($16.95)

Bacon Cheeseburger and Taco Slices

Attempt #38 - Casey's

The Venue

2020 7th Ave

Marion, IA 52302

(319) 373-3281

Casey's is a gas station / convenience store chain very popular in Iowa.  You can find their pizza almost any small or large town in the state.  Being an Iowa company, Casey's has built up quite a reputation among the local native population. The newer stations offer limited seating where you can enjoy your pizza, however most people simply pick it up and eat it at home.  You can find their Facebook page here:  https://www.caseys.com/menu.

The Pizza

Venue

Chicago Style:  No

Crust Thickness:  Average

Our group consisted of 9 participants; so we ordered four large pizzas (16").  They currently serve typical eight specialty pizzas; supreme, veggie, taco, etc..., you can request any toppings desired.  So we ordered a variation of classic favorites alongside a selection of make-your-owns.  Each pizza only came with only one type of baked crust, which was neither thick, nor thin.  The pizzas were: 

Beef, Green Pepper, and Olive - (Large, regular crust, $13.74)

Pepperoni - (Large, regular crust, $10.00)

Supreme - Pepperoni, beef, mild sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, black olives, Casey's pizza cheese (Large, regular crust, $15.99)

Taco - Refried beans, salsa, beef, Casey's pizza cheese. Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and nacho chips added after cooking (Large, regular crust, $15.99)

Large Supreme ($15.99)

The Verdict

The pizzas crusts only came in a triangular-shaped pieces.  The cheese was evenly spread, despite the shaky transportation from my back seat.  Toppings were a little on the light side, along with the sauce, but not too far off from being just about right.    The Beef, Green Pepper, Olive make-your-own pizza was the groups favorite followed by a tie between the pepperoni and the supreme.  As far as gas station pizza goes, this is the king of pizza, and overall it is pretty good pizza to try.  Look out for the coupons, and you'll save even more...for instance on caseys.com, there is a coupon for $5 off when you order two gourmet pizzas.

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            8.11

Cheese            8.11

Sauce               7.78

Topping           8.00

Large Taco ($15.99)

Crust                7.89

Venue              0.00

Large Beef, Green Pepper, Olive ($13.74)

Large Pepperoni ($10.00)

Attempt #37 - Red's Public House

The Venue

112 2nd Street SE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

(319) 363-0275

Red's Public House has been located in downtown Cedar Rapids for a few years.  Not to be confused with Red's Alehouse (in North Liberty), Red's Public House still has a good bottled beer selection.  On Wednesdays, pizzas are only $6. 

Jerk Chicken ($6)

The seating is plentiful, since the bar is located on one side, while the seating is located in another section of the venue.  It appears that at one time they were two separate venues, until the wall came down, and then combined when Red's opened up shop (possibly?).   Red's has a website that is not set up, so their Facebook page is the prime way to contact their owners.  As of 6/19/14, they do not have a menu posted.  You can find their Facebook page here:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reds-Public-House/111042532275571?sk=info.

The Pizza

Chicago Style:  No

Crust Thickness:  Thin

Pepperoni ($6)

Our group consisted of 5 participants; so we ordered three pizzas (the only size available, so let's call it a large).  They currently serve no specialty pizzas; however, you can request any toppings desired.  So we ordered a selection of make-your-owns.  Each pizza only came with only one thin baked crust. Each pizza costs roughly $6, since Monday's were $6 pizza nights.  The pizzas were: 

Pepperoni - (large thin crust, $6.00)

Jerk Chicken - (large thin crust, $6.00)

Onion, Green Pepper, and Tomato - (large thin crust, $6.00)

The Verdict

Onion, Green Pepper, & Tomato ($6)

The pizzas crusts only came in a rectangle shape matching on a rectangular plate.  They were cut into rectangular-shaped pieces.  The cheese was heavy considering the crust was very thin.  The sauce was light as well as the toppings.  If we were to return, I would consider ordering with more toppings on the pizza.  Some of the crust was a little too burnt on the sides and corners, which left a undesirable taste in our mouths.  The Jerk Chicken was not very spicy, which suited well for our group.  I do recall the jerk taste from my honeymoon in Jamaica, and they did a "sweeter" variation of it, with a hint of more of a BBQ flavor.  The veggie pizza (Onion, Green Pepper, Tomato) turned out to be the groups favorite.  The flavor was well balanced from the use of fresh vegetables.  So if you are downtown and hungry for some pizza and a beer, head over to Red's Public House. 

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            7.20

Cheese            7.80

Sauce               7.20

Topping           7.60

Crust                4.60

Venue              7.20

Attempt #36 - Bob's Your Uncle

The Venue

Menu

2208 North Dodge Street

Iowa City, IA 52245

(319) 351-7400

Bob's Your Uncle has been around a long time, especially for a college town like Iowa City where businesses change almost at the blink of an eye.  Located right of Iowa Highway 1, lies a pizza joint as you head into Iowa City after passing interstate 80.  The restaurant offers a Gluten-Free menu in addition to their normal menu, with lots of options; however, Pizza is their main specialty.  The pizza prices are a bit pricier than some of the other local places, but they offer a thin/medium/thick crust with over nine specialty pizzas.  Each one of these pizzas is named after a famous University of Iowa athlete in the menu.  A short segment is written about the background of the pizza along with its paring with the particular athlete.  The venue itself consists of a bar area, a patio, and plenty of tables and booths for their patrons.  They had no trouble getting a party of six in for a Wednesday evening; however, the weekends may be a different story.  It would be best to call ahead for reservations, especially during football season or homecoming weekend.  Check out their menu online here:  http://www.bobsyourunclecomfortfood.com/menu.html

Large (16") Thick Crust,
Meat (Bobby Hansen; $24.95)

The Pizza

Chicago Style:  Yes

Crust Thickness:  All

Our group consisted of 4 participants; so we ordered one 10"pizza (medium) and two 16" pizzas (large).  They currently serve 2 specialty pizzas (a all meat and a veggie), so we ordered a selection of make-your-owns.  Each pizza only came with only one thin baked crust. We ordered them in the only size, 9"..  Each pizza costs roughly $10.  The pizzas were:

Taco (Jennie Lillis) - Refried bean & taco sauce instead of pizza sauce, ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes and taco chips (10" medium crust only, $15.95)

Medium (10")  Average Crust,
Taco (Jennie Lillis; $15.95)

Meat (Bobby Hansen) - Ground beef, Italian sausage, pepperoni, bacon and Canadian bacon (16" large thick crust, $22.95)

Supreme (Matt Gatens) - Supreme: Pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushroom, green pepper, black olives and onion (16" large thin crust, $22.95)

The Verdict

Large (16) Thin Crust,
Supreme (Matt Batens; $24.95)

The personal pizzas were cut into triangular-shaped pieces for the medium Taco and the larges were cut into rectangular-shaped pieces.  The thick crust was excellent, with plenty of bready goodness on the rim of the crust.  The sauce and toppings were good, but each of the three pizzas we ordered was a bit overcooked.  Our group preferred the Taco to be the favorite with the other two pizzas each receiving only one vote.  Most of us felt that the pizza was good, but a little on the pricey side.  I could easily see this place serving proud UI alumni, parents, and locals, but it seemed a little on the high end for the typical broke college student.  The upside is that the pizzas were filling.  So if you are in the area, and are hungry give Bob's a try.

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            7.75

Cheese            8.75

Bobby and Jennie Slices

Sauce               7.00

Topping           9.25

Crust                7.75

Venue              8.00

Attempt #35 - A & A Pagliai's Pizza

Menu

Venue Outside

The Venue

302 E Bloomington St

Iowa City, IA 52245

(319) 351-5073

Large (14") Black Olive, Beef, Green Pepper ($18.45)

The atmosphere at Pagliai's Pizza is quite a throwback of a classic New York pizza joint.  The store is lined with several college-aged guys, tossing pizza dough and preparing pizzas while wearing classic white paper hats.  The restaurant has booths, and several smaller tables.  They offer frozen pizzas that you can take home, perfect for the University of Iowa crowd.  They do not take reservations, nor do they offer specials throughout the week.  Check out their menu online here:  http://www.pagliaisic.com/menu.html

The Pizza

Large (14") Broccoli, Shrimp ($16.70)

Chicago Style:  No

Crust Thickness:  Thin

Our group consisted of 7 participants; so we ordered 3 14"pizzas.  They currently serve 2 specialty pizzas (a all meat and a veggie), so we ordered a selection of make-your-owns.  Each pizza only came with only one thin baked crust. We ordered them in the only size, 9"..  Each pizza costs roughly $10.  The pizzas were: 

Black Olive, Beef, & Green Pepper (14" crust, $18.45)

Large (14") Palace Special ($20.20)

Palace Special - Sausage, Beef, Pepperoni, Mushroom &, Onion (14" crust, $20.20)

Broccoli, Shrimp (14" crust, $16.70)

The Verdict

The personal pizzas were cut into triangular-shaped pieces.  The crust was on the thin side, yet having a firm, crisp bottom.  The sauce was light, and the toppings were a bit on the sparse side.  The pizza was good, especially being thin crust.  It is easy to see why this pizza place is consistently voted as being Iowa City's #1 pizza restaurant year after year.   

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            8.86

Slice

Cheese            7.86

Sauce               8.14

Topping           8.57

Crust                8.71

Venue              9.29

Attempt #34 - Backpocket Brewery

The Venue

903 Quarry Rd,

Coralville, IA 52241

(319) 466-4444

Backpocket Brewery - Venue

The Backpocket Brewery is located in Coralville, Iowa directly between two hotels and a up-and-coming swanky shopping district.  Beside from offering tours, they have a kitchen that is open until about 9pm. Seating can be difficult to find, so call ahead and make a reservation.  This is a very popular hotspot among many of the college students at the University of Iowa.  They have one section of high bar tables (about 6, seating four each), and another section of normal lower dining tables.  They also have an outdoor gas fire pit, lawn chairs around a few large outdoor tables, and two sets of bags on hand for the patrons.  They offer 'flights' which is a sampler o  A bit hoppy for my taste, but then again, I'm a Hefeweizen kind-of-guy. 

Inside the venue - Bar

f their in-house brew that they offer as well.

The Pizza
Chicago Style:  No

Crust Thickness:  Thin

Our group consisted of 9 participants; so we ordered 9 personal pizzas.  They currently serve 12 specialty pizzas, so we ordered a selection from among the twelve.  Each pizza only came with only one thin brick oven baked crust. We ordered them in the only size, 9"..  Each pizza costs roughly $10.  The pizzas were: 

Margherita Extra - Fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato ($9.00)

Meatza - Bacon, pepperoni, sausage, & meatball ($9.00)

Solid Combo - Sausage, mushroom, roasted yellow pepper & onion ($9.00)

Yo Adrian! ($10.00)

Weekly Special - Spicy! ($10.00)

Drunken Clam ($10.00)

Dessert Pizza - Nutella and powdered sugar ($8.00)

Yo Adrian! - Sausage, pepperoni, meatball, provolone, & giardiniera ($10.00)

Drunken Clam - Clam, bacon & lemon ($10.00)

Weekly Special - Spicy! Jalapeños, ham, sausage, chicken, onion, feta cheese ($10.00)

The Verdict

Solid Combo ($9.00)

Meatza ($9.00)

The personal pizzas were cut into triangular-shaped pieces.  The crust was on the thin side.  The sauce was light, and the toppings were a bit on the sparse side.  However, the pizzas were meant to serve one person.  They were baked in a brick oven, so the crust had a distinct take of being baked on brick.  Since this is in the Iowa City region, and this is a brand new trendy place to visit, right next to two hotels, I felt this was a little bit on the expensive side.  The Yo Adrian! was the most popular pizza amongst the 9 participants, and it is the most popular pizza overall, according to our waitress.  Cibo fusion in Cedar Rapids seemed to offer a wider selection of pizzas that were also cooked in the same manner, and yet it was a bit cheaper.  Others in the group loved the atmosphere, being able to order a smaller of various beers that are brewed in house.  After eating the pizzas, I was  not quite full, so , I would highly suggest ordering pizzas from Backpocket over lunch at some point with a brew. 

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall            8.06

Cheese            7.44

Sauce               6.33

Topping           8.44

Crust                8.56

Venue              8.78

Margherita Extra ($9.00)

Dessert Pizza ($9.00)

Dessert Pizza Slice ($9.00)