Trip Report: Flagstaff Fly By

Destination Worthy Pizza

Me: Ay Ron, you guys wanna grab dinner?
Ron: Sure.  Where?
Me: Pizzicletta
Ron: Uh...isn't that in Flag?
Me:Yessir! Yes it is!!

When we decided to cruise up to Flagstaff yesterday it was 113 in Phoenix and 83 in Flagstaff.  Any further questions!? I am committed to doing everything in my power to get the HELL out of here as often as possible when it's hot.  So, destination worthy pizza beconned up amongst the pines.  Just over 2 hours north, Flag is a great day trip and a better overnighter.


Lumbardyard Brewing Company:

Lumberyard Brewing Company

When we arrived I settled up to the bar with a pint of delicious Lumberyard IPA and my wife looked at me like I had 8 heads.  She rebuked me with, "It's 78 degrees outside and YOU want to sit at the bar!?"  Touché!  I promptly followed the brains (and the looks) of our family outside.  Lumberyard is especially great because while there was a wait for a table outside there is ample outside seating for people who just want a DRANK (us!). 

Lumberyard Brewing Company

  

Mother Road Brewing:

Mother Road Brewing

Intimate microbrewery with beer snob worthy beers.  Killer outdoor patio with live music. I went with a delicious Lost Highway Black IPA.  G went with a super solid Roadside American Pale.  This place needs to be in the rotation of every valley beer connoisseur.

Pizzicletta:

Pizzicletta

40 Minute wait for a 4 top at 7 on a Friday Night...Not bad!! (ergo, Mother Road pre dinner beers...it's literally next door). This tiny, charming place can, maybe sit 20 in and 10 outside...perfect!  We started with a Salumi and Formaggi plates; rotating meats and cheeses with olives and focaccia to round it out.  I'm not sure I've had more fresh nosh outside Italy...ever!  

Marinara with Sopressata

The quality of EVERYTHING was through-the-roof!  From here we moved on to some ZA!  One Margherita, One Marinara (add sopressata), and One Special (Fontana White Pizza with Ripe Fresno Chili's...Hawt Hawt Hawt!!). 

Fontana with Fresno Peppers

The inevitable comparisons to another famous Arizona Pizza Joint WILL be made by some...not me!  Let me just say that these were among the best pies any of us had ever had...anywhere...nuff said.


We opted to stay for the night.  Grabbed a room at a very new Marriott Courtyard a couple miles from downtown Flag.  Finished out the night enjoying the gorgeous 70 degree weather  and a wonderful Aroma De Cuba Cigar.  Sprinted back down the mountain this AM with zero traffic.  Spied a couple other newish restaurant that will make our next trip back up happen sooner than later.  Hungry and tired of the heat? Put a quick run to Flag on the list!

Thanks for Reading

Doc Jay

Pizzeria Bianco at Town and Country : The wait is OVER...literally.

Bianco at Town and Country

I remember a cool fall day back in 2002 when a friend casually suggested, "Hey, let's grab a pizza at that Bianco place."  We walked over to the 1/3 full Pizzeria Bianco and opted, for pure novelty, to check out bar Bianco first.  We had a couple of drinks and then, at 830pm on a Friday night, walked, unhindered, right into Bianco and were sat...wait for it...wait for it...IMMEDIATELY.  This, kids, is the stuff of unicorn legend.   Alas, this was the way it was back in the day.  Then THIS happened ... and THIS. Now if your wait is less than 2 hours you brag to your friends about it the next day!  "Went to Bianco last night and I ONLY waited an hour and a half...I'm a big deal...people KNOW me..."  Well people, your wait for THE best pizza in the country is OVER! Before I tell you how let's examine this whole "best" idea. 

A16

A16 and Flour and Water in San Fran are two of my favorite restaurants anywhere and their pizzas and pastas are destination worthy.  

flower+water

Mozza in LA is also high on my list of goto pizza spots. 

Pizzeria Mozza

Similar to Bianco, they are all thin in the middle with a chewy crust.  The cheese and other ingredients are of the highest quality but Chris Bianco just pulls it together in a way that can not be rivaled. The Sonny Boy and Wise Guy alone are life changing. THE BEST.

The Wise Guy at Bianco

Enter Bianco at Town and Country (20th and Camelback).  When Chris Bianco first opened it, it was called Italian Restaurant.  They served pizza's but not The Sonny Boy or The Wise Guy and no Spendini (prosciutto wrapped around fontana cheese then fired crispy in the oven...help me Jesus!!).  They were more focused on pastas.  NOW, it's Bianco at Town and Country, with all the pizza's from the downtown location PLUS killer pasta offerings AND they even do the Spendini!  

Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé and Robert Sinskey POV

On top of that, they upgraded their wine list and stemware (it is not cute to drink good wine from water glasses...half the enjoyment of wine is what your nose is telling you...proper glassware is ESSENTIAL).  But here is the kicker....almost NEVER ANY WAIT!!!  Kicker number 2....James Beard Award Winning Chef Chris Bianco is often in the hezzy (fo sheezy)...might even make you a pie.  Win-Win-Win-Winning!! Bianco at Town and Country is, essentially, the only one we go to now.  The pastas alone are destination worthy.  San Fran has it's A16 and Flour+Water and LA has it's Mozza but WE have our Bianco and I'd put it up against any pizza/pasta joint ANYWHERE!


Thanks for reading!

Doc Jay