Watching Bianco and his crew inspired me to pursue excellence in my own life. Bianco won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2003 and helped spawn a generation of independent and artisanal pizzerias, lending his advice, wisdom, and food philosophies to dozens of fellow chefs and restaurateurs. Why do I have a feeling the people that gave this a lot of stars sono di bocca buona?More, We happened upon this pizzeria while exploring downtown Phoenix, and what a find! We said two and asked if we could be seated outside, and she said no problem, but she just needed to clean a table. You can tell everything from dough to toppings is fresh when you bit into your first piece. best, This place is one of the best in the country for, There was no line on the Tuesday night I went. The wood fired pizza was as good or better than any Ive had. Chris Bianco, one of Phoenix's best-known chefs and restaurateurs, has expanded his local empire with this cozy bistro in the Town and Country Shopping Center. To reach the restaurant, I walked past an herb and vitamin store, and its weird smell pharmacy mixed with dried oregano gave way to the smoky wafts of the pizzerias wood-burning oven. local news and culture. All three were good. We enjoyed our time at the barwith our bartender Dave. The spirit energizing the restaurants team hovered as palpably as the campfire scents. Pizza is very expensive $26 Plus for a cheese and pepperoni pizza that is suitablefor one person. Are you sure you want to delete this question? Reach the reporter at Jonmaesha.Beltran@gannett.com or on Twitter @Jonmaesha. )More, Really great pizza made in two ways - wood fired or stone oven. We walked in the front door, and were promptly greeted by the hostess and asked how many in our party. Service was very good, friendly and accommodating. I ordered the Wiseguy, topped with smoked mozzarella, slices of fennel sausage, and bronzed rings of roasted onions. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. He has written a best-selling culinary book, Bianco: Pizza. We ate at the bar and the staff was friendly. Customer service, wineand other beverages were also taken into consideration. We ended up in Phoenix for six weeks. He has two locations in Phoenix and a newly opened locationin Los Angeles. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant? No reservations. Al dente and hearty, they kept their integrity among hunks of sausage and broccoli. He reached us and we chatted about the pastas he makes and serves only at this restaurant. Our server kept the pace brisk, not unfriendly but certainly with a sense of momentum. The server was great, interactedwith the kids and simply provided wonderful service. This was a very relaxing and wonderful place for dinner on vacation.More, I ended up getting three different pizzas from there. Pizzeria Bianco crouched in the corner of an open air shopping center called Town & Country on 20th Street and Camelback Road. It did Bianco justice. with pistachios be that good. As at other Bianco properties, you can expect to wait on the somewhat secluded patio for one of the handful of tables inside. As we sat and ate, we were checked on regularly and the service was as good as the pizza. Pizzeria Bianco. By then Americas food world knew what it had in Bianco. One size only xtra small for about $20. If you sit outside you may have the pleasure of a visit from the local cat. All rights reserved. Even in an era where exceptional pizza can be found across the country, Chris Bianco arguably remains the most revered pizzaiolo in America. We were seated soon after and water followed immediately. In Arizona, aPhoenix pizza shop and two in Scottsdale joined the ranks. At the latest Town & Country location my experience defied expectation. All of us hated it. Pomo Pizzeria has three locations one in Scottsdale and two in Phoenix. Arizona In surveying the business from a more operational role, he felt confident that he and the team were capable of expansion while maintaining his sky-high standards. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. It forced him to temporarily step away from the kitchen. There is a outside patio but it was raining theday we went so we had to wait under the covered porch of the building next door. The wood fired pizza was as good or better than any Ive had. We were seated soon after and water followed immediately. 6922 E. Main St., Scottsdale, 480-946-0542. Good job!More, We were actually on our way to a totally different pizza restaurant, and my gut kept telling me to go here. Phoenix for Christmas- Where do you recommend??? Not just for the food. The grapefruit-ginger wine cooler is good for serious ginger fans (like me); but the raspberry-lavender's a tad sweet. I'd arrived early. This was the first time Id had this combination, and Ive judged its balance of licorice, citrus, and peppery flavors against all others since. At a local bookstore, I flipped through one of the oblong Zagat guides detailing Americas top restaurants. It wasn't an especially cheap meal, but definitely worth it. They did not stay open later when I was there a year ago. Serves drafts beer that's where we ate, live in an area were there are a number of excellent pizza place.). Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Joe's Diner Serves Perfect Pancakes in the Melrose District, Metro Phoenix Food and Drink Events Happening In August, The 12 Best Places to Eat Pizza in Phoenix, Where Our Food Critic Goes for Everything Italian, Greater Phoenix's Global Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants. 2022 www.azcentral.com. He gave us a list of recommendations in the downtown area and we have almost visited them all! Everything about the pizza was delicious - we had Margherita with pepperoni added. I won't hesitate to return and try their wonderful pizza! NY Times rated this the best, The wait is much longer than usual, but the food and experience makes up for it. Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe Things To Do, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe Restaurants, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe Top Places, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe Travel Tips, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe Performing Arts, 3 Perfect Non-Golfing Itineraries in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was particularly pleased with the nights special ridged cavatelli, a recipe that harkened to his familys roots in Puglia. We received some great bread and olive oil while waiting, and our pizza followed soon after. He began selling pizzas out of a grocery store in the late 1980s. No surprise that Tucson was glorying in its ascendance to pizza royalty. Bland and sparse toppings. The charm of Provence right on your table. Service was very good. We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. Ive put away many superior pizzas over the years and this one ranked strong. The brick oven was imported from Italy. Id wait in lines every day for this. This is a don't miss stop on a trip downtown!More, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Thank you. He partnered abroad with British chef Jamie Oliver on restaurants called Union Jacks. Why do I have a feeling the people that gave this a lot of stars sono di bocca buona? I soon understood. Copyright 1996-2022 GAYOT All Rights Reserved GAYOT (pronounced guy-OH) The Guide To The Good Life - All Rights Reserved - Terms of Use - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy. (Though he checks in on all of his places multiple times a week, he obviously cant be everywhere at once.) Like other industry success stories, hes balancing his longstanding hands-on approach with a newer role as brand-builder and figurehead. The version here, my first of the trip, took me back: the crusts lip was full but not puffy, more Julia Roberts than Angelina Jolie, and the lacy mozzarella, butterscotch-tinged onions, and hunks of fennel sausage showed a generous hand. This Phoenix restaurant really is one of the best in America, Arizonaicons took home major honors at the 2022 James Beard Awards, A mom and her daughters bring 'something from the islands' to Buckeye, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A simple but potent combination of sopressata, aged provolone, and roasted red peppers stood out. Phoenix's independent source of The sandwiches, built on crusty focaccia perfumed from wood smoke, came layered with ingredients both Italian-American and Middle-American: tomato, basil, and mozzarella; chicken salad and tuna salad. The Rosa (red onion, parmiggiano reggiano, rosemary, AZ pistachios) was one of the best pizzas I have ever eaten. Against one white wall, over a mantel and under a pair of antlers, hung a painting of Ace, Biancos childhood dog, painted by his father, whose art appears in each of Biancos restaurants. Florence, at the railroad station no less. more. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. The restaurant is small and crowded, but what more would you expect with this delicious pizza! We received some great bread and olive oil while waiting, and our pizza followed soon after. Service was very good.More. A small, rotating menu of Italian standards and signature Italian-American creations uses the fresh, locally grown ingredients and hits its mark every time with flavor-packed salads, pasta dishes, and entres priced usually between $15 and $25. The harder choice was deciding between wood or stone fired pizza. This crew was young and full of justified pride. Indoor and outdoor seating available. See the recipes. They had a wonderful antipasto salad lunch special and it came with their fresh bread! We use the latest and greatest technology available to provide the best possible web experience.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to continue. ", 401 E Jefferson St (btwn S 4th & S 7th St), "Burgers, corndogs, hotdogs and chicken tenders are amazing!! At night the menu includes a few Italian-American classics: A lusty lasagna smothered in crushed tomatoes and cheese and a side of traditional beef meatballs dusted with Parmigiano-Reggiano proved more seductive than the pizza. The pizza was absolutely delicious! Passing through town in 2006, I marveled at the spectacle that had arisen around the pizzeria. Good choice! As we sat and ate, we were checked on regularly and the service was as good as the pizza. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. In the frenzy Bianco stood steady and center stage head down, ladling tomato sauce on one circle of dough after another, reaching for rounds of mozzarella and the bottle of olive oil, seeking perfection through repetition. Everything about Pizzeria Bianco is great! At first glance, the Tucson outpost had a scruffy hipness that could place it anywhere in the country serving any sort of food. Do you stay open later when there is a Diamondbacks night game ? Check their website and give them a call. In 1996 I was a couple of years out of college, kicking around the country with a musician friend. He began by returning to the Town & Country shopping center where hed first gained fame. I'm sure happy I made this choice!Even though the parking lot was busy, it wasn't hard to find a spot. I can't rate it more highly! Chris Bianco arguably remains the most revered pizzaiolo in America. Believe the hype:This Phoenix restaurant really is one of the best in America. You cant go wrong any way you go. I could afford dinner there, though I wondered what exactly could make a pizzeria in the Southwest worthy of so much praise. Square-jawed general manager Stalloan (pronounced "Stallone") Iacono worked the room, lending a red-blooded charisma that helped fill Biancos absence. Bianco opened a second location in Central Phoenix that has less of a wait, but also less ambience. His massive arms and physical brawn suggested a street fighter, but his calm, enigmatic demeanor more closely resembled Yoda. But most likely, you'll discover that your meal at Pizzeria Bianco was well worth the wait. We tried the Margherita & Bianco Verde, both were delicious but we loved the ricotta cheese on the Bianco Verde. I just don't love the prices, really hurts my pockets", Created by Eater38 items 1,234 followers. DRINK: Escape to Saint-Tropez with these Ros Wine Cocktails. Time can embellish formative memories, but the pizza and the restaurants frisson lived up to my recollections. Dinner at the downtown Pizzeria Bianco flagship on a balmy Friday night felt like a carnival the way I remembered it from nine years ago. day we went so we had to wait under the covered porch of the building next door. A health food herb shop still occupies the mall, and a blast of its medicinal air breezed by as our group of three settled at a table outside. Chris Bianco is the chef-owner of the award-winning Pizzeria Bianco, as well as Pane Bianco and Tratto, all located in Phoenix, Arizona. He also produces a lineup of organic tomatoes, Bianco DiNapoli, and later this year will open a restaurant in Los Angeles, a collaboration with his friend and founder of Tartine Bakery, Chad Robertson. He started a sandwich shop, Pane Bianco, in 2001 as a showcase for the bread baked by his brother, Marco, who by that time also made the pizza dough each day. WINE: Refreshing and Crisp Ros Wines Perfect for a Hot Day. crunch. We walked in the front door, and were promptly greeted by the hostess and asked how many in our party. Two friends and I ordered beers at Bar Bianco and hung out less than half an hour before being ushered to our table at the pizzeria. Located in a tiny old brick building that used to be a Mechanics workshop (according to the bartender) - but it was pretty cool. ", "Sit out front with wine and cheese or prosciutto as you wait for a table at Bianca Pizzaa must!! Fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and the crust was justamazing! His wood-fired thin-crust creations incorporate the finest and freshest ingredients, including house-made mozzarella cheese. (And Ilive in an area were there are a number of excellent pizza place. My half-dozen spears arrived over-roasted and twiggy, though a sunny-side-up egg atop oozed fetchingly. By far and away the Rosa was the best which was just so weird because why would a pizzawith pistachios be that good. 8977 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480-998-1366. Dave was wonderful, genuine and entertaining. Asparagus season begins in Arizona in February (!). All four. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Susan Pool, for many years Biancos business partner, ran the floor. Craft 64. I spotted the Pizzeria Bianco, nearby and decided to give it a try! Not sure there is much more to say. A year later, in response to the crowds, Bianco and Pool launched Bar Bianco in a renovated century-old house next door to the pizzeria. It's where he spends the most time. As we waiting, we were also asked by another staff member to make sure we had been helped. Pizzeria Bianco's interior and Wiseguy pie, Tucson. 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix, 602-258-8300. It looked stunning, the reds of the sauce and the salami strips bleeding into one another, but the crust tipped over to the tougher side of chewy. The pizza is a brick oven fired pie. Make sure your information is up to date. He gave us a list of recommendations in the downtown area and we have almost visited them all!More, Pizza is tiny and way overpriced. Read the article and see photos. Nearly two decades after my first treasured encounters with his cooking, I recently ate at all of Biancos Arizona restaurants to find out. As we waiting, we were also asked by another staff member to make sure we had been helped. It wasn't an especially cheap meal, but definitely worth it. Its a smaller eatery but we were accommodated nicely at the bar even though we had two 8 year olds and a 13 year old with us (it was a very tame lunch crowd). My serious interest in food was budding but I was also broke. Yummm. What time are you open until ? Pizzeria Bianco's owner Chris Bianco recently won a James Beard Award for outstanding restaurateur. Now, to his credit, I think he may have been a managing partner but nevertheless great service! Chris Bianco stood behind the counter wielding a peel with a long handle. RESTAURANTS: Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants. Plan to be there a while-sit outside and drink some, Yes it's worth the hype. I returned for a Sonnyboy pizza. Bianco ambled down a row flanked by tables and checked in on customers. The Brussels sprouts pizza is to die (really!). I signed up for the Rosson House tour at Noon and I had 40 minutes to kill. In that shopping center, Chris Bianco catalyzed the modern pizzeria revolution. The staff was great, and I highly recommend. The pizza was mediocre at best, overpriced at worst and made me long for my 8 euro pizza in my town ofFlorence, at the railroad station no less. But it really really was. His very funny friend Aziz Ansari is obsessed with learning how to make the perfect pizza so Chris shows him how. Major bonus to the multiple locations dispersing business throughout the city: The place still bustled but the wait was just long enough to build anticipation. ", "great place to spend the day, has many things for all ages. Now, to his credit, I think he may have been a managing partner but nevertheless great service! Our waiter was relaxed and kind. The next day I had lunch at Pane Bianco in Phoenix. If you feel like you want to experience getting fleeced, gothere.More, Pizzeria Bianco was a great experience. Like at each of Biancos restaurants, the Tucson menu offers the same half-dozen pizzas: cheeseless marinara, the classic margherita, Sonny Boy (tomato sauce, mozzarella, salami, olives), Rosa (red onions, parmesan, rosemary, crushed pistachios), Biancoverde (a white pizza with arugula), and my old pal Wiseguy. At dinner the menu leans a little more ambitious. A tangled salad of watermelon radishes, fennel, and snow peas sang a tune of spring that most of the country wont hear for at least another month. Pizzeria Bianco's interior and Wiseguy pizza, Heritage Square. Italian experts named three Valley pizzerias among the top 50 in the U.S. 50 Top Pizza, an Italian organization that ranks the best pizza globally, recently released its 2022 list of the best pizzerias in the United States. The misshapen pies sprang from the Neapolitan-American tradition but achieved higher glory under a freethinker's close attention and unusual care with quality ingredients. Even though the parking lot was busy, it wasn't hard to find a spot. But the pizza it rewired my synapses. But it really really was. A plain margerita (tasted burnt, but overall good). Foursquare 2022 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA, "So far, everything's delicious. The harder choice was deciding between wood or stone fired pizza. Ive put away many superior pizzas over the years and this one ranked strong. The New York Times, Rachel Rae and Food and Wine have all raved about the pizza at Pizzeria Bianco, and I have to agree. I didnt return to the restaurant until ten years later. 623 E. Adams St. I ate many meals at Pizzeria Bianco during that stay in Phoenix. A marinara with arugula and prosciutto. Absolutely loved this pizzeria! I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Decent wine list. If you happen to be there on a night that the Diamondbacks have. Check out the lists. Its fun, intimate and the staff is incredibly welcoming. In five minutes, I was enjoying a wonderful lunch! (Obviously this person has never traveled to Italy.) Bianco himself smoked the cheese in the oven each morning over pecan wood. We ate at the bar and the staff was friendly. Phoenix, Join the New Times community and help support A separate sheet detailed five or so daily-changing small plates, and two of these didnt much impress. I peeked inside and saw Bianco, his asthma under control these days, reach for the long-handled peel and slide it under a pizza. I had tasted pizza greatness before in New York, but this was something else. For Arizona, the surveys write-in quotes rhapsodized about the wonders of a two-year-old pizza restaurant run by a Bronx transplant. When my friends from NY come to town this is where they want to eat. GAYOT presents the Wine of the Week, featuring tasting notes as well as history on the vineyards and winemaker. They had a wonderful antipasto salad lunch special and it came with their fresh bread! At first he called the place Italian Restaurant, serving pastas fashioned from Arizona-grown durum wheat as well as antipasti and salads highlighting the bounty of the farmers with whom hed cultivated relationships over the years. And the Rosa. Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix was number 12, whileScottsdale's Pomo Pizzeriaranked 38 and Craft 64 came in at number 50. All photography by the amazing David Loftus. This began the era of the lines, a ritualized wait during which regulars would arrive well before the restaurants 5 p.m. opening and camp out on benches, often self-policing by keeping a list of who arrived in what order. But in 2010, the asthma he suffered acutely as a child flared from prolonged exposure to wood smoke and flour. In five minutes, I was enjoying a wonderful lunch! Then the man himself appeared on the patio, his signature shock of bed head now veering more toward salt than pepper. I'm a fan of thin-crust pizza, so this was perfect. For years Bianco swore that hed never duplicate his pizzeria. Soon enough, he hung up his original Pizzeria Bianco sign and incorporated pizzas into the menu mix. Reclaimed woods and a weathered door help separate the dining room from a tchotchke-filled bar with soda fountain charm. Pizzeria Bianco is our "go-to" in Scottsdale for great pizza, cute atmosphere and tremendous ambiance. The pizza is a brick oven fired pie. We went before the D-Backs game. The restaurants were judged on the quality of the dough and raw materials used for toppings, according to 50 Top Pizza. You might have to wait to eat at this small pizzeria. Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant? There are two locations of Craft 64 one in Scottsdale and another in Chandler. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. The big question looms: Has be been able to replicate the mastery and electric intimacy at each of his businesses? This is a don't miss stop on a trip downtown! Behind a counter lined with pressed tin loomed the telltale centerpiece: a large wood-burning oven, and a young cook shoveling pizzas in and out of its blazing mouth. Need I even say that the pies were transcendent? amazing! 85004, The top 15 rankings from its recent list automatically earned a spot on the global list. All three were good. Pizzeria Bianco will appear on the organization's list of top 100 pizzerias worldwide. Ed Levine named his pies the best in the country in his book, Pizza: A Slice of Heaven; Jeffrey Steingarten of Vogue deemed them the best in the world. 2013 Top 10 Pizza Restaurants in the U.S. Top 10 Phoenix/Scottsdale Italian Restaurants, Top 10 Phoenix/Scottsdale Pizza Restaurants, Best Phoenix/Scottsdale Value Restaurants. Considered by local foodies to be the best pizza joint in this town or any other, Pizzeria Bianco offers great pies prepared with Italian flair by Chris Bianco. About 30 seconds before pulling in the other parking lot, I asked my wife to change course. Pizzeria Bianco and Bar Bianco, Heritage Square: 623 East Adams Street, Phoenix, (602) 258-8300, pizzeriabianco.comPizzeria Bianco, Town & Country Shopping Center: 4743 North 20th Street, Phoenix, (602) 368-3273, pizzeriabianco.comPizzeria Bianco Tucson: 272 East Congress Street, Tucson, (520) 838-0818, pizzeriabianco.comPane Bianco: 4404 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, (602) 234-2100, pizzeriabianco.com, The freshest news from the food world every day, By submitting your email, you agree to our, 20 Years In, Chris Bianco Is Still America's Best Pizza Maker. Her pixie slightness and straight blond hair evoked Ladies of the Canyon-era Joni Mitchell. Yes, Pizzeria Bianco offers takeout services. Pizzeria Bianco's asparagus, Wiseguy pizza, and persimmon cake, Town & Country. We would like to come here to eat after a Diamondbacks night game over at Chase Field. The green pie in stone oven was something different and it was yum. ", "Nutella and Mascarpone Crepewonderfully sinful! Both were great- crust, texture, flavor and taste. Dave was wonderful, genuine and entertaining. A local friend and I waited for an hour and a half, sipping a Valpolicella red on the bars covered porch, before a table came available for us. Are you sure you want to delete this answer? Can a vegetarian person get a good meal at this restaurant? 30 years in the making, a great chef named Chris Bianco has written a great book about making great pizza at home. The crust had yeasty depth, like just-baked bread you cant help but stuff in your mouth in chunks even as it burns your fingers. I let my waiter know right away that I was on a timecrunch. USA, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. Great peeps too!!! The location in Phoenix is small, but, Great place if you're looking for quality, hand-made, brick-oven baked, Smoky pies from the godfather of Americas, The Rosa is amazing! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. See the list. The winners will be announced on Sept. 7 at a ceremony in Naples, Italy. Pomo Pizzeria. Local cuisine, Italian, Pizza, Contemporary, Vegetarian Friendly, wood roasted vegetables, sopressata, bite of cheese, italian fontina wrapped in prosciutto di parma, served warm, local tomato and basil with extra virgin olive oil, tomato sauce, oregano, garlic (no cheese), red onion, parmigiano reggiano, rosemary, az pistachios, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, salami, gaeta olives, fresh mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, ricotta, arugula, wood roasted onion, house smoked mozzarella, fennel sausage, Organic 'la Quercia' Prosciutto Americano, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options, Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service. Hed won the regional James Beard award for Best Chef in 2003. Brooklyn native Chris Bianco became famous for his pizza made with passion in this small establishment on Heritage Square. New York retained its title as pizza capital, with nine restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklynmakingthe list, followed bySan Francisco and Portland, which both had five restaurants make the cut. Without his name out front, customers didnt respond. Eyes looked up at him and illuminated; it was like watching runway lights flicker on at dusk in slow motion. Went with friends, had the Margherita Pizza, it was amazing!! Download Foursquare for your smart phone and start exploring the world around you! We opted for pepperoni stone fired New York style pizza. for one person. with our bartender Dave.