ZUB'S

Where: Zub's, 684 N Freedom Blvd, Provo

Who Went: Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: 2 (.5)

What We Ordered: New York Sandwich, Greek Pizza, Apple Pie Pizza

What It Cost: $13.99 (for two entrees)

What We Thought: 

FRESH BREAD. One of the best smells in the world, isn't it? Zub's, which started out in Springville, has decided to open another location in Provo in what I sometimes refer to as the "doomsday stretch" of restaurants along Freedom Blvd (I swear restaurants are in and out of there ALL the time). They've taken over Shirley's Bakery, but still bake up something delicious -- fresh bread and pizza dough from scratch that is seriously divine. 

The original Zub's location in Springville is a take-out only, with no restaurant seating. They kind of did the opposite here at the Provo location - it almost feels like there is too much seating, especially when they aren't very busy. It can feel a little awkward. But honestly, I am a little surprised that this place isn't more busy yet....

We first ordered the New Yorker sandwich, and immediately, the bread to meat ratio made me scratch my head. It sure looked like a lot of bread for a puny amount of filling. But when you bite into that ultra fluffy bread with a slightly crisp exterior, you get it. At Zub's, they do subs right. I had my doubts, but when I stole a couple of bites from Owen's reuben-esque sandwich, I found I couldn't stop myself. And I don't even like reubens! But the bread is just sooooo good, and the fillings are fresh and flavorful, and really, this may be one of the best sandwiches I've ever had!

Next, my Greek pizza. Same story here. Ultra delicious, homemade crust that is wayyy better than any homemade I've ever made...Fresh, light toppings full of flavor and deliciousness. The pizza was a good size for one person - I ate three pieces and felt pretty full, and you know I always love taking one home for lunch the next day :) When I saw that the Springville location was so highly rated on Urbanspoon, I was a little confused about what could be so great about pizza and subs. But this place really does live up to the hype, my friends. 

NOW - my only problem. When I was reading the menu and reviews for the Springville site, my heart skipped a beat when I read about the apple pie pizza (pictured above). Owen is an apple pie fanatic, and I am always a sucker for a dessert pizza, so I knew we HAD to try it. But guess what? They only have it at the Springville site!! I was SO MAD! We obviously went to the Springville store and ordered one to go, so I could see if it was truly worth making a big deal of, and um yeah. It is. This apple pie pizza is seriously scrumptious. And I don't get why they don't make it at the Provo store?!

What You Should Do: My only reservation from giving this the full-fledged four-star review is that dang apple pie pizza. Add it the Provo menu, and I'm all-in. But nonetheless, Zub's proved to be a great little spot with killer sub sandwiches and pizzas. We tried the taco pizza and turkey/avocado sub on another trip, and they were equally delicious!

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FIORE

Where: Fiore Wood Fired Pizza, Food Truck

Who Went: Chelsey, Owen and Aaron

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: New Yorker Pizza and Sweet & Spicy Pork Pizza

What It Cost: $18

What We Thought:

Oh food trucks. We humans are such suckers for them. What is it about food coming from such a tiny space and waiting in a long line that just makes food so appealing? 

I have to admit, I kind of feel like I can't make a super accurate review of this place seeing as I waited in line for 1.5 hours for it, and probably anything would taste amazing at that point. But, here we go anyway...

I have to admit, this food truck was one of the more fun ones I've seen - they have a nice industrial design and all of these clear glass panels, so you can watch them making the pizza while you wait in line for forever! So tantalizing! Actually, I was pretty impressed (and shocked) that they actually hand rolled the dough for EACH pizza as they were ordered - very fresh!

You know a place is good when literally every pizza on their menu sounds delicious! Sorry it's kind of hard to read with the mountainous reflection on the glass, but we ordered the New Yorker, which had tomato sauce, mozzarella, ricotta, pepperoni and sausage, and their special of the day, the sweet and spicy pulled pork. But seriously, any of the options looked incredibly delicious (on other days, their special is sweet corn and bacon. Um YEAH that sounds awesome!) Also, don't be deceived -- it says that the pizzas cook in 90 seconds, but it definitely does not mean that 90 seconds after you order, you will get a pizza. HA! Maybe on more slow days (this was definitely probably on their top 10 busier occasions I think), but yeah, it was more like 45 minutes after you ordered. Popular place! But....was it worth it?

The answer --- YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, the above pizza is the New Yorker. A good amount of toppings, and WOW, some of the best crust I've ever had! It was super light and airy, chewy and amazing. I am really on a ricotta kick right now, so that was obviously delicious, and I loved how crispy the pepperoni and sausage were. In essence, this was one of the top pizzas I've ever had! Of course, it could be the lengthy anticipation, but yeah, it was amazing.

Ooooh, and the sweet and spicy pork. Hunks of some of the best pork I've ever had, pineapples and peppers, and an amazing creamy cilantro sauce. The only disappointing thing was that they didn't really cut it very well (considering their whole 90-seconds per pizza thing haha), so it was a little hard to pull apart and kind of messy. But that was only an issue since we were splitting it amongst 3 people - if I had hoarded it all to myself, it would be no problem :)

What You Should Do: Yep, another food truck that's worth tracking down! Hopefully you can find them at a less busy location, because the pizza is fantastic! I don't want to be too bold, but it may be some of my favorite food truck food yet! They have fresh ingredients, perfect flavor combinations, and some seriously incredible crust. I can't wait to try it again!

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PIER 49 PIZZA

Where: Pier 49 Pizza, 3210 N University Ave, Provo

Who Went: Chelsey & Family

Number of Visits: 3

What We Ordered: Regular Pizza -- half Ghiradelli with alfredo and half Telegraph Hill

What It Cost: $16.70 

What We Thought:

There's just something about picking a local pizza place that you're loyal to. That's Pier 49 for us. Not because they are the best pizza, most creative or unique or trendy. They are dependable, never busy (which is why I've hesitated posting about them here!), and make the kind of pizza you want when you're REALLY CRAVING pizza.  

Thick and flavorful sourdough crust, just enough cheese to be delicious without overwhelming everything, and scrumptious toppings. The ghiradelli flavor is your basic Hawaiian, which we tried with white sauce this time - a little weird. Stick with the zesty tomato sauce - it's good. On the other side, we had the Telegraph Hill (might not be on the menu, but ask for it!), which has a Rajin' Cajun sauce on it (spicy barbecue!), southwest chicken, red onion and mozzarella. Ask for it extra spicy!

What You Should Do: Though I don't want them to get TOO busy, you should definitely check out Pier 49 pizza. They have locations all throughout Utah, and some of them aren't doing very well which makes me so sad! They are really good! I think the one in Provo just has a bad location -- you should really try it. The staff there is super friendly, they get the pizzas out quick, and they are the perfect pies to fix your craving. We dig it.

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SETTEBELLO

Where: Settebello, 260 S 200 W, Salt Lake City

Who Went: Chelsey, Owen and Aaron

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Involtini di Prosciutto, Settebello Pizza, Vico Pizza, and Pizza Special 

What It Cost: ~$50

What We Thought: 

People, people, people. 

THIS PLACE is what it is all about.

Pizza like it should be. Its seriously so good. Well unless you don't like thin, authentic-style Italian pizza which I won't judge you for of course. But I will probably feel very sad for you, because this stuff is so wonderful and amazing. 

We started with a little appetizer, with goat cheese, prosciutto, a reduced balsamic dressing, and microgreens. It was pretty good, served on a cute little wood block which was adorable, and altogether a nice way to start the meal off...but really not the most important thing here...let's get to the pizza.

The crust is so chewy and good, and the ingredients are all fresh and so flavorful -- I could eat this pizza every day. I know, I know, its in Salt Lake, and you will all cry at me that its so far away, but seriously, its so worth the drive. My pizza, seen above, had super tasty sausage, fennel, red onion and fresh basil. A warning -- it doesn't have sauce. Heathens, I know. But trust me, you won't miss it with all this goodness going on.

This pizza was the special of the day -- can't remember everything on it, except lots of cheese, some parsley, a spicy oil, very peppery meat, and a fried egg on top! If you haven't had a pizza with a fried egg on it my friends, you are missing out on something truly special.

Owen ordered the restaurant's namesake pizza, with pancetta, sausage, roasted mushrooms, and toasted pine nuts. If you're into a more traditional tasting pizza, this one would be an excellent choice, with a crushed tomato base and sensational toppings. Its really hard to rave about pizza, since its like already the perfect food. But somehow, Settebello really manages to take it the next level in a way you'll be thinking about for weeks after. 

What You Should Do: Drop all other pizza commitments and try Settebello next! If you love that authentic Italian pizza taste, I have it on good authority (former missionaries from Italy and Italians themselves) that this place is the most legitimate Italian pizza in the state, and besides that, its just amazing. And I wish I was eating it. Right now.

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BRICK OVEN PIZZA

Where: Brick Oven Pizza, 111 E 800 N, Provo, UT (just east of the tennis courts on BYU campus)

Who Went: Chelsey, Owen, Devynne, Mom, everyone from BYU...

Number of Visits: Many 

What We Ordered: We've tried a bunch -- buffalo pizza, meats-a-pizza, BBQ chicken and pineapple, make-your-own. Also, spinach & artichoke dip, lasagna, and something amazing which we will get to later...

What It Cost: ~$40 for three people

What We Thought: 

Brick Oven - a BYU-classic since 1956! I know a lot of people think that Brick Oven isn't that great, and that's it's a little overrated and just has a good location. Though they may not have the best pizza in the whole world, I love the classic and cozy environment, friendly staff, consistent food and great memories at Brick Oven.

Um yeah, a pile of cheese and spinach and artichoke. YUM. I have to be honest, I don't think that there has ever been a spinach and artichoke dip that I ever didn't like, so this may not be the most discretionary dish to order. But if you're looking for comfort food that's close to campus because that organic chemistry test didn't quite go as you were hoping...yeah, this fits the bill.

I normally refuse to order any type of pasta at a restaurant because it's so easy to make pasta and always seems insanely overpriced. But lasagna is the one exception, since it's such an ordeal to make at home! Their lasagna is pretty great - I mean, it has mushrooms (not a personal favorite), but I still like it! Also, look how much lasagna that is. Yeah, definitely good for dinner and lunch the next day.

One thing I like about Brick Oven is their flexibility and how nice (usually!) their staff is. They are always willing to substitute out a topping if you don't like mushrooms (or anything else :) and the service is generally pretty quick, even though it can get super busy. They have a great blend of cheeses on their pizzas, the sausage is super flavorful, and I'm a big sucker for fresh tomatoes on pizza!

Obviously none of these pictures are very great, since I took them on my phone, but this one above especially does not do proper justice to the amazing dessert that it is. So on their menu, they have a baked cookie with ice cream on top (a pizookie, for those who like the funny term), and it's pretty good. But, after talking with a friend who used to work at Brick Oven, I learned about the Sasquatch, a secret menu item which is the ultimate dessert -- two cookies with a brownie baked in between. Yeah. Its so, so, so amazing. And super intense, so get it to split!

What You Should Do:  Like I said before, I'm not going on the record saying that Brick Oven Pizza is the best in Utah County, but I have to admit, every now and then I get a craving that can only be satisfied by this classic BYU campus establishment. Even though its so close to campus, I love that it's big enough that you can almost always get a table within 15 minutes, even on a busy Friday night. They have a ton of cozy booths, they don't ever rush you, and they have great options if you want to share a meal (check out the pasta and pizza meals for two -- it's enough food for at least two meals!). Another perk -- nearly everyone knows where it's located, so it's super easy to meet here with friends! Plus, the Sasquatch. I'm telling you. I have dreams about the Sasquatch.

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Pizza Pie Cafe

Where: Pizza Pie Cafe, 2235 N University Parkway, Provo

Who Went: Chelsey, Owen, Devynne, many cousins & other family members

Number of Visits: 5

What We Ordered: Pizza Buffet

What It Cost: $8.25 per person

What We Thought:

All the Utah County culinary snobs are probably going to disown me forever after this post, but I have to get it out in the open - I like Pizza Pie Cafe!

I know, I know.

NO, I do not think that it is THE BEST pizza in Provo. But I do think that it has a fun atmosphere, is great for families and large groups, and is certainly the best pizza buffet I've ever been to! 

I normally try to avoid buffets (the whole germ thing kind of worries me....) but Pizza Pie Cafe is moving through pizzas so quickly that you really have little to fear for here. If you are trying to feed a picky group on a budget, Pizza Pie Cafe is great because they have so many different options that are sure to please everyone. They have a decent salad bar, always at least seven types of pizza, and a pasta bar as well! The pasta and salad bars are included in the normal buffet prices, and you can pay for access to the soda machines as well. Good luck restraining yourself is all I have to say. Shown above are two white pizzas - chicken ranch and white chicken supreme. Yum to both!

I've never actually wasted stomach space on the pasta bar, but Owen decided to try it this last time we visited and was pleasantly surprised. They have at least four different sauces (which all are great as dipping sauces for your leftover pizza crusts!) and various pasta that are all pretty decent. Still, I'd go for the pizza...

My weakness here is definitely the cheese sticks. When I was growing up, my mom never allowed us to order cheese sticks as any restaurant because they were so easy to make at home on our own. But when they are free?? I can't help myself. Cheese and bread...does it really get any better? They also have a tasty barbecue pineapple pizza that is one of my favorites.

Dessert pizza? Um, yes please. Most places that offer dessert pizzas usually have one or two pathetic choices, but Pizza Pie Cafe is well equipped with six different choices, including three fruit (I am especially partial to the peach crumble!). They also have an Oreo pizza (soooo indulgent), cookie dough pizza (perfect for super-sweet lovers like me), and a simply delicious cinnamon pizza with cream cheese frosting. Really, where else can you get salad, dinner, and dessert for under $9??

The one complaint I have about Pizza Pie Cafe is their excessive use of bacon. I know it's a "thing" right now, but they put bacon on too many pizza for my personal liking, and it is always a very strong flavor presence. Usually I just shake off some of the bacon crumbles, and then I am much more satisfied. I like Pizza Pie Cafe because they try to keep it interesting, with fun options like this pizza with potato slices on top - I've never heard of such a thing, but it's surprisingly good!

What You Should Do: If you're feeling indulgent and have a pizza craving that must be satisfied, or if you're taking your football-playing cousin out to dinner, or if you are taking a large party of picky individuals (especially kids!), then Pizza Pie Cafe is a fun and delicious choice. I have to warn you - you will probably regret your stomach for the rest of the evening, but it will be worth it! Just please eat one of those silly cheese sticks for me!

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Vinto

Where: Vinto, 418 E 200 S, Salt Lake City

Who Went: Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Blackberry Italian Soda, Roasted Vegetable Piadine, Tuttabella Pizza, Butterscotch Budino, and Nutella Gelato

What It Cost: $40 (including tip)

What We Thought: 

Located in both Salt Lake City and Park City, Vinto offers casual Italian food with a modern atmosphere. Though they were pretty busy the night we went there, the service was pretty quick if not overly-friendly. I really liked the interior decor of the restaurant, and thought it was a fun place to eat (though I wished we had been seated in the comfy-looking circular booths!)

I was feeling a little daring, so I ordered something that I didn't know what it was - the roasted vegetable piadine. It was basically like a really messy, open burrito. The "warm, tender unleavened flatbread" was more like a crispy dry tortilla that cracked and fell apart as you tried to eat it, but at least the inside of the sandwich (??) was interesting. The arugula was some of the most mild greens I've ever had, and there was a great variety of roasted vegetables that were all super tasty! I just wished that it was served in something that was more malleable, but that's probably less "authentic." In any case, if you vegetarian, then Vinto has a lot of delicious choices.

The pizza was very delicious, but only after we realized that the little dish of seasonings on the side was intended for the pizza! The pizza comes with a little plate of parmesan, red chili flakes, and dried oregano, which are really necessary to bring out the flavor and savoriness of this tasty pizza. The sausage was plentiful and delicious, and the roasted red peppers were colorful and wonderful as well. Owen isn't a huge fan of caramelized onions, but the ones on this pizza were not too overpowering and added greatly to the pizza. This is definitely a pizza I would want to repeat in the future.

They surprisingly had a lot of dessert options I actually wanted to try, so we had to go for some! The butterscotch budino was a chilled pudding with a salted caramel topping and whipped cream. It was so indulgent and SO goooooood. Owen and I kept fighting for the spoon to have a go at it, and I wished that we had ordered two! The salted caramel had rather large crystals of salt, which were a fun surprise while eating the smooth pudding, and the biscotti was wonderful when dipped in a little pudding!

Unfortunately, the meal ended on a sad note with this exceptionally overpriced and pathetic gelato. The gelato was served far too cold, so it had more of an icy quality than the smooth texture you normally think of with gelato. The Nutella flavor was barely noticeable, and I thought it was pretty teeny for "two scoops" of really expensive ice cream. The cookie on top was cute and tasty, but it didn't make up for my disappointment with the subpar gelato.

What You Should Do: Go for the pizza and budino - everything else was only just alright. I thought the atmosphere was fun, and the Italian soda was actually one of the better ones I've had (not pictured). The pizza was definitely delicious, and they have many other flavors that sounded equally interesting and appealing. Budinos are really time-consuming to make, so I would also recommend getting this scrumptious dessert if you're in the mood!

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Tenney's Pizza

Where: Tenney's Pizza,  282 East Sr 73, Saratoga Springs

Who Went: Chelsey & Devynne

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Medium Backyard BBQ Pizza 

What It Cost: $8.62

What We Thought:

If you decide to go up to those new outlet malls and need a quick bite on the way home, Tenney's Pizza is a great choice for some fast and delicious pizza nearby! 

We decided to go here because I was seriously craving pizza and Tenney's was the closest place. We took the scenic drive there through some interesting country roads to find this place, but the good news about a place that is a little harder to find is that they were not busy at all! We got a hot and fresh pizza in about ten minutes, made especially for us. It had all of the delicious flavors of your typical BBQ chicken pizza - sweet barbecue sauce, diced pineapple, thinly sliced red onion and green onion, plenty of chicken, plus something new...sweet white corn! It added some nice textural variety and a delicious sweetness. I originally didn't think I would like the crust when he brought it out to us, but it ended up being more delicious than we expected!

What You Should Do: If you happen to be in the Saratoga Springs area (or Sandy where they have another location), I would definitely recommend checking out Tenney's Pizza! They have a special gourmet flavor every day, where you can get a medium sized pizza for five dollars, and the medium pizza was definitely large enough to feed three people. They have some delicious other flavors, like buffalo chicken, pesto, and taco pizza, that I will definitely want to try in the future!

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California Pizza Kitchen

Where: California Pizza Kitchen, 575 University Parkway, Ste B28, Orem

Who Went: Owen & Chelsey

Number of Visits: 3

What We Ordered: Avocado Club Egg Rolls, Pear and Gorgonzola Thin Crust Pizza, and Habañero Carnitas Pizza 

What It Cost: $36.00 including tip

What We Thought: 

I've hesitated writing about CPK for a long time now because I am positive that it will ruin my credibility as any sort of blogger who knows things about food, but I cannot hide my love for California Pizza Kitchen any longer! I know its a chain and that it is slightly overpriced, but they have a few menu items that have just won my heart and will keep me coming back for more. 

Even thought it's located at the mall, California Pizza Kitchen is really good about getting you in as fast as they can. If you don't want to wait at all to eat, they are usually quite open if you get there before 6, and if there is a wait, then they will give you a pager and let you go shopping all over the mall until your table is ready! Much better than sitting on that patch of grass outside Olive Garden, which I've seen way too often... Every time we've been there, we've had fairly good service, even when they are super busy, and the wait is just about what I would expect. 

Even though it will surely lead to a heart attack one day, we always have to start with these avocado club egg rolls. They are SO GOOD! Stuffed with tomato, chicken, cheese, bacon, and large slices of avocado and deep fried in a wonton wrapper -- these babies are the stuff of my dreams people. They are served with this "ranchito" sauce...I have no idea what that means, but it's heaven when drizzled over these egg rolls. My arteries are probably getting clogged just by looking at this picture, but I seriously can't help myself with these.

One of my favorite parts of CPK pizzas is their crust. It's pretty thin, but still chewy and flavorful and almost has this unique tangy taste - I don't know what it is, but I love it! Sadly, this thin crispy crust pizza was, well, crispy, and wasn't as amazing as the normal pizzas to me. I liked the flavor of this pizza however. The gorgonzola cheese wasn't too overpowering, and the pears paired nicely with the arugula on top. I was worried that it would be too difficult to eat and that leftovers would be no good because the arugula would get soggy, but neither of these two things turned out to be a problem. The pear was a little drier than I would have personally liked, but overall, it was a fun deviation from the normal pizza options.

We love spicy food, and Owen almost always orders the Spicy Chipotle Chicken pizza, but this time I convinced him to try something new and we were not disappointed! The carnitas were succulent and in good supply on this pizza, and even though our waitress warned us about the spiciness of the habeñero salsa that was served on the side, we found it to be just right. The cilantro pesto base added some nice flavor to the pizza, and we thought it was delicious! 

What You Should Do: Even though it's a chain and many people may turn their noses up, I definitely think California Pizza Kitchen is worthy of your time and money. We've tried a variety of items here and have been satisfied and happy after every visit. Though I normally prefer the original crust pizzas, if you want to go thin & crispy, I would recommend the Jamaican Jerk Chicken pizza too! I love all of their unique pizza flavors and can never get enough of those darn avocado egg rolls...they've got me hooked. I've never tried any of their pastas or salads, so I can't vouch for them, but the pizzas are great and if you order two, there is almost always enough left over for lunch the next day - awesome! 

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Pizzeria 712 - Update

Where: Pizzeria 712, 320 S State Street #185, Orem 

Who Went: Chelsey & Devynne

Number of Visits: 2

What It Cost: ~$35.00

What We Thought:

I have to admit, I am primarily doing this review for very personal reasons -- I am so embarrassed by the horrible photographs from my first review of this restaurant that I just had to redo it. Plus I think Pizzeria 712 is delicious, so any excuse I can come up with to justify the price is good for me! 

The fact that they serve pita bread as a starter for pizza still makes me laugh a little bit (Team Carbs!) but just because I'm anticipating more bread later on does not mean that I can restrain myself from the delicious hummus and pita bread they serve. The hummus has a delicious texture, rich flavor and vibrant color, and is irresistible with the soft fresh pita bread. Plus, you know, anything served on a slab of wood just automatically tastes better if you ask me. 

This little dish is probably in my top three favorite plates ever. Tender juicy braised beef short rib is served on top of a little polenta cake that is more delicious than any polenta I've ever had! The polenta is sourced from the local Anson mills, prepared to perfection, and then sautéed so there is a crispy top that is incredible. It is all served with savory au jus and a spicy amazing horseradish cream that brings it all together. Normally I'm not a huge horseradish fan but it paired so well with the luscious and appetizing short rib that I just couldn't get enough!

Their pizza was delicious as usual - this specific combination of toppings is no longer available, since they typically rotate their menu seasonally. This particular pizza came topped with toasted walnuts, kalamata olives, and fresh parsley, and our server recommended that we try it topped with speck (smoked prosciutto) as well. I wish she had told us that there was an additional charge for the meat - I guess I should have assumed there would have been, but the casual way she suggested it made me surprised when I saw the bill. Nonetheless, it was delicious and left us feeling great after the meal -- good quality food = good feeling afterwards!

The dessert met mixed reviews at my table - it was a bread pudding served with honey almond granola, lavender, and a homemade crème anglais. I liked the crème anglais but thought the overall dessert was kind of bland and that the granola gave it a weird texture. Devynne, on the other hand, thought it was amazing. She loved the delicate lavender flavor and consistency of the bread pudding. So I guess you can decided if you want to take the risk on this one - for us it was either a love it or leave it dessert.

What You Should Do: Well, I think my opinion of Pizzeria 712 has been sustained during this visit - they consistently produce tasty food, have a fun and trendy atmosphere, and are still pretty pricey. I don't think that I want to spend around $14 a person when going out to pizza all the time, but for a special occasion or treat, Pizzeria 712 brings fresh and wonderful flavors right here in Utah County. So check them out!