Pizza & Brew
Good pizza and beer go nicely together though I seldom have beer with my pizza. It’s usually just fresca or diet coke. Anyhow, I’ve mentioned Pizza & Brew (it’s a chain) before and I’ve been going to this particular one (Racanelli’s in Greenburgh, NY) since high school. I think my brother may have been the first one to take me. The place is comfortable. It’s mostly medium-dark colored wood and not very current or modern about its fixtures. But again, it’s a comfy place and people do some serious eating there. Once we ordered a lasagne pizza. This, by far including sicilian pizza, is the heaviest pizza I have ever had. It’s got meat sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. If you’re able to eat two slices, you’re ahead of the game. I almost died trying to eat three once. I took Steve out for one years ago when we first started and he had begun to eat meat again. To this day, he is filled with almost a horror when I mention it. This place is not for light eating though our lunch portions were approximately 2/3 of a dinner entree. And all entrees include either soup or salad (their house dressing: balsamic vinaigrette is really good. I get it every time and even lured Steve away from his usual bleu cheese.)
linguine with red calm sauce
I was in the mood for clams. That’s made obvious by my choices. I decided to start with the Manhattan clam chowder. As a refresher, Manhattan as opposed to New England is in a tomato based sauce. When I heard the waiter say clam chowder, I jumped. Then I felt kinda foolish because as an entree I ordered Linguine with red clam sauce. More clams, yeah. The soup was pretty good and I have little complaint about the linguine. Well, as Steve said, it was a little fishy tasting but it wasn’t too bad and it didn’t bother me. And you knew you were getting real clams and not canned because every now and then you’d get a little grit. As much as I dislike chewing on grit, it’s at times a comfort. You have to understand something though. This place is far from gourmet. You are not going to get top quality food. What you’ll get is good food at decent prices with very good service. Real Italian chefs criticize americanized places like these. At Pizza & Brew, they won’t give you a hard time if you want your salad with the meal or to have some grated cheese with your fish. It just doesn’t matter.
eggplant rollatine
Steve started his meal with a salad with house dressing. There’s romaine lettuce, shredded raddichio, cucumbers, tomatoes & red onion. He said it was just okay. I’ve had it many times and I’ve always enjoyed it. Then for his entree, he had eggplant rollatine. I once blogged about the story of Steve and his aversion to eggplant. I can’t believe he was a vegetarian for so many years and denied himself eggplant parmigiani. For the last half dozen times we’ve been to Pizza & Brew, eggplant rollatine is the only dish he’s ordered. It’s got ricotta, mozzarella and spinach inside. And it’s wrapped in thin slices of eggplant and topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. They don’t cook the spinach to a well done state. They let it wilt just slightly. It gives it a nice texture. Steve, of course, enjoyed his dish and was getting pretty full from the lunch portion. He’s usually in a bit of pain after eating the dinner sized portion.
Another word about service. What occurred was very typical. As soon as the host saw us entering the restaurant, he grabbed some menus and turned his body slightly towards the dining room. He wasn’t rushing us, but was eager to sit us down. Within ten seconds or so after being seated, your waiter comes out and takes your drink orders. (We both had iced tea.) Then when he returns, pretty quicky too I might add, he asks if we’re ready to order. We usually know what we want so we order right away. Then within five minutes or so, you get your salad or soup. Both at optimal temperatures. Soup was hot; Salad was chilled. Then there was about a ten minute wait for our entrees. It felt a hint long considering everything else was flying out of the kitchen. But I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a long time at all. The entrees were hot and tasty. And you definitely don’t have to wait around to get a check and pay for it. It’s a quick in and out meal that leaves us satisfied. I’ve never been unhappy leaving there cause I know exactly what I’m getting.
The best part of this meal? When I was looking up the site for Pizza & Brew, they had printable internet coupons. I got a buy one, get one entree coupon. Yes, the second meal was free. We got $10.95 taken off the bill. Our total bill was $18.90 including drinks. That was a beautiful thing. We made sure we tipped the waiter really well based on the full price of the lunch. On our way out, we ogled the desserts in the rotating case.It’s the kind that every diner uses to showcase their sweets. I had my eye on a chocolate mousse cake but decided to leave it for next time but I usually don’t get dessert from there. I’m always too full. Okay guys, take care and as always, Eat Something Good!
Check out the lunch menu at the: Pizza & Brew website!
Racanelli’s Pizza & Brew
85 Knollwood Road
White Plains, NY10607