Pizza's Gone EXTREME!
Written: Oct 19 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: good pizza
Cons: must pizza be extreme also?
The Bottom Line: Extreme Pizza - very good.
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| megugrrrl's Full Review: Extreme Pizza |
When I was a kid, everything was "to the max." Matching legwarmers, boys and the like were either "grody to the max" or "tubular to the max." These days, if something's intense, it's EXTREME! - And it's not just for the typical sexy hotties or the gigantic fiesta, - it's for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, (soda, sports, TV channels, toothpaste.) The word has gone beyond adjective status to a way of life (EXTREME sports.) It was co-opted by mainstream advertising and MTV, and of course now experiencing a backlash. (Did you see Harold & Kumar?)
I didn't really mean to start dissecting the use of slang, but if you're going to name your pizza joint "eXtreme Pizza" I'm gonna have to say something about it. I suppose in a market flooded with pizza places you've gotta stick out somehow. The owners of this small chain are obviously extreme sports fans (the large framed photos of kite surfers and people juming out of planes was a hint), but other than those photos and the names off the menu - there's no EXTREME! pizza. I thought there'd be at least a 3-foot pizza offering or a two-inch layer of pepperoni smothered with cheese. Nope. However, the pizza here is rather wonderful.
The Pizza
They offer pizzas in five sizes and a deep dish pizza. Their pies are thin, but not too hollow and crispy like the wood-fired oven kind, and their sauce is good - a slightly sweet tangy yet robust good - and they don't glob it on. The carefully smooth on a thin layer.
Like any good gourmet pizza joint, you can go for something off the menu like the Everest (all meat madness of sausage, pepperoni meatball, salami), or something a little more interesting like the Peace in the Middle East (hummus, olives, onions, pepperoncinis, fresh basil & feta.) There are a dozen or so creations on the menu with clever EXTREME! names that are self explanatory (Mr. Pestato Head - with pesto and potatoes.) They named their pizzas the way I would have.
One thing that is EXTREME! is their version of the Hawaiian pizza, which has been tricked out with Mandarin orange wedges in addition to same old ham and pineapple. Their toppings obviously are different from the norm - you can go crazy with your own toppings (aka Going Freestlye here at eXreme Pizza) with things like black beans & salsa, roasted red peppers, shredded bbq pork, sage, green chilies - and even soy cheese. (Pie prices range from $6 for the "Indee" for one to around $25 for an 18" "Huge")
I am a supporter of the interesting toppings, but I tend to order my pizzas simple - one or two toppings max so I can enjoy the simple tastes - toppings, sauce, and crust. This only works well if the mushrooms or spinach is fresh. Their veggies are EXTREMELY! fresh - and tasty - they've picked their veggie suppliers well. Their meats are also quite deluxe - the pepperoni and salami are noteable. As mentioned earlier a thinner, lighter crust showcases the tasty sauce and toppings - and is very good - the right blend of chewy and crispy.
They also have salads - the kind most Calfornia bistros carry - Caesar, Spinach, Thai Chicken Salad, and other creations that have things like artichoke hearts. With fresh ingredients, these salads are also good, and the non-garden ingredients (like the chicken) are prepared with culinary care and attention. (Salads hover around $7, half salads around $4.)
Other menu items that I may try one day are calzones, subs, wings, "Extremely Twisted Sticks", and their desserts (chocolate torte, cheese cake, and tiramisu.) Which may never happen as I'll probably eat too much pizza to try antyhing else here.
The Scene
The locations I've been to have a clear chain/fast food feel - there's really nothing rustic, casual, or homey about this place. Although the food doesn't really reflect it, the place looks pretty cookie-cutter. You order from the cashier who is standing behind the register, which is incidentally also in the kitchen. They call your name (or maybe your number) and you already know the rest.
They've had a few writeups here and there (this includes a Best of the Bay for pizza award...), and have slowly been expanding (mainly up here and Southern California) despite their seeming lack of marketing. I think it's because their food is good.
Watch out for these guys.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
megugrrrl
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Location: Oakland
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