Pizza by George - Review
My first pizza review is a bit of a surprise. I wasn’t expecting to start will pizza in Flagstaff, but circumstances just worked out that way.
Disclaimers: This review is based on only one visit, also, I will also not normally review pizza served as a lunch buffet, but, as my time in Flagstaff is limited, it was unavoidable.
The restaurant is located just south of I-40 on exit 201 in a little strip mall. It’s decorated in a taseful faux-Italian style with lots of grapes painted on the windows. The in-house music system was belting out Italian opera - that’s a new one on me. Style counts for no points in my rating system, but I wouldn’t be embarassed to take someone to dinner here.
The Pizza
I had a total of 8 pieces of pizza, 2 cheese, 6 pepperoni. I had both cheese slices and two of the pepperoni slices immediately after the pizza was served and would consider them to be fresh. The other four pieces were cooling, but consistent with later slices of a single large pizza.
In a strange way, Pizza by George made me feel good. Here was a pizza that is very similar to pizza I make at home. Unfortunately, I would never consider serving my pizza in a restaurant, and that about sums it up: It’s ok, but it isn’t good enough to serve in a restaurant. My wife says mine is much better.
Crust: The crust consistency was too much like a roll, not stiff enough. It is Possible the dough had insufficient gluten content. I’m also not going to eliminate the possibility that the 7,000 ft altitude might impact the ability of dough to rise. There was a hint of powdery flour to it, tending to mean the dough was somewhat dry.
Sauce: I liked it, nothing special.
Cheese: Particularly noticeable on the cheese pizza, the cheese had a strong, not entirely unpleasant flavor. This could be an indication that it contained some of that non-cheese cheese, or, more likely, it was a cheese-blend of some kind. It was strictly all white cheese, possibly a mozzarella/provolone combination.
Overall, I couldn’t recommend Pizza by George for a second visit.
Pizza By George
5200 E Cortland Blvd
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 - 9337
(928) 526-0500
Technorati Tags: Food, Pizza, Restaurant, Review, Travel
December 29th, 2005 at 1:02 pm
i got to tell you when i read your review of PIZZA BY GEORGE i agreed with it whole hardedly… right on the mark.. but that was then and this is now… i’m staying at the marriot residence inn next door to the pizza place and they have happy hour served in the lobby… the pizza was excellent… i asked “where did this pizza come from?” they said its ‘pizza by george’ SO i guess things have improved.
i will be ordering one for new years eve
April 2nd, 2007 at 10:33 pm
I visited Pizza By George last night (4/01/07). I was VERY disappointed. The chicken marsala was so tough I could not cut it with the table knife. I managed to peel some strands away with a fork and taste it. I could not completely chew it up. The marsala sauce was “different”, to say the least. The pesto linguini needed to be salted at the table. The salad was not fresh. We drank the iced teas but did not eat the entrees. We told our server and I showed her how I could not cut the chicken with the table knife. She offered a STEAK KNIFE. A steak knife for chicken?? Hmmmm We refused to pay but they charged us for the iced teas anyway. (tacky) The server was very sweet and I tipped her for that. Also, the men’s room was filthy and there was no soap for hand washing.
Here’s the kicker… I called this morning to let the owner/manager know so they could improve. Better to tell THEM, than everyone else. I calmly explained what was wrong with the meal, only to be told “You are wrong!!”. The man on the phone, claiming to be the owner, said every complaint is checked thoroughly and the chicken was tender and peeled away. I tried to explain that I lived nearby and tried this place for the first time and am telling them so they could improve and stay in business. He would not let me talk; just kept shouting over and over and defending his product. I finally hung up on him.
I have read some favorable (and not so favorable) reviews about the pizza. Maybe it’s good and quite possibly that’s how they are staying in business. Unfortunately I will never know because I will not return there, even to give them a 2nd chance after being treated that way by the “owner”.
I can only hope the REAL owner reads this because I am suspecting the chef/cook intercepted the call. That person should not be working there. I cannot imagin an owner speaking to a customer this way.
I do NOT recommend Pizza By George in Flagstaff Arizona.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I just wrote a review on you other web site in regard to Pizza By George, I have been a loyal customer for almost 4 years and i love them. They have always been friendly and nice to us and their food is the absolute greatest. I say this as an X-New Yorker who is very picky regarding Italian food. We have had the pizza, calzones, sandwiches and a number of the entrees and everything we have had has been wonderful and reminds me of home.We both dine in and have delivery to our home in Lakeside Acreas and enjoy the atmosphere. It is clean, warm and friendly and I enjoy siipping a glass of fine wine while we wait for our food. Yes, it is true that we sometimes have to wait a while for our delivery when they are very busy , especially weekends, but we just call a little sooner than normal and besides the wait is worth! it!! My husband and myself have told many of our friends and neighbors and now they are also loyal Pizza By George fans. Keep up the great job.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Well, to the above commentary: speaking from the advantage of being a former employee, everyone should know that there are NO sanitary measures being taken to prevent the spread of germs in the kitchen or on the tables in the restaurant. DO NOT eat there because soap just does not exist. The same rag that washes the surfaces is the same rags the employees use to wipe thier hands. The salads are being prepared with bare hands, meat and vegetables are prepared on the same surface. I am in the process of reporting this restaurant to the correct authorities. If any of you citizens believe in sanitary conditions, I also do not reccommend telling Omar or any of his other employees and let the chips fall where they may, so that in the future no one becomes ill from his obvious disregard for our safety.