Stuff to Eat in the Suburbs: Needham—Pizzapalooza

Finding good pizza in Boston can be a complicated business. While some pizzerias focus solely on baking a good pie, others provide more well-rounded fare in the form of tasty sandwiches, paninis and pasta. From greasy to gourmet, you can find almost anything if you know where to look.

Pizzapalooza in Newton has a lot to offer the hungry diner. Their pizza is fairly good, if a little too heavy on the sweet sauce and light on the cheese for this Bostonist’s taste. Not quite deep dish and not quite thin-crust, Pizzapalooza’s pies come across almost like the best French bread pizza you’ve ever had, with a crunchy base topped by lots of chewy dough. You can order a whole pizza or get it by the slice. One of the best (if worst for your health...) things about ordering in the shop is that each slice is a quarter of a pizza!

Individual slices tend to be available in classic flavors, like cheese and pepperoni. However, their pizzas really shine when the chefs get creative in the kitchen. On our most recent visit, we sampled the Hawaiian (pineapple and prosciutto) as well as a creative concoction involving Italian sausage, ricotta, and caramelized onions. The Hawaiian is a perfect balance of sweet pineapple and salty prosciutto, with neither overpowering the other as can often be the case. The Italian sausage, ricotta and caramelized onions combine to create a really complex flavor; the sweet and salty Italian sausage is complimented by the sweetness of the onions and both are surprisingly well accompanied by the creaminess of the ricotta.

But pizza isn’t the only tasty treat you can find at Pizzapalooza. In fact, this Bostonist first fell in love with the restaurant's Panini sandwiches. The Panino Pollo is a simple Panini containing fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and a balsamic marinated grilled chicken breast. But the first bite tells you that this is no ordinary sandwich; the sliced Italian ciabatta bread is clearly fresh-cut for each sandwich. And all of the ingredients perfectly complement one another, right down to the sprinkle of Pecorino Romano that adds a salty, tangy accent to the sandwich and gives it the final nudge from good to great. Finally, the toasting method leaves the sandwiches a perfect combination of crunchy on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside. The Pollo is, in this Bostonist’s opinion, one of the best paninis in the area.

Another notable menu item is the “Pizzapalooza Cruiser.” This on-the-go option is like a rolled-up piece of pizza but without all the mess. Pizzapalooza uses its regular pizza dough, wraps it around a variety of ingredients, and then bakes them to perfection. The Maserati is a portable collection of complimentary yet complex flavors. Sweet Italian sausage, salty pepperoni, and melty mozzarella cheese are well accented here by Pizzapalooza’s sweet tomato sauce; and best of all this treat is wrapped up and ready to eat!

Though Pizzapalooza is not this Bostonist’s favorite spot for pizza every day, the pizza is good enough to keep us interested. However, the thing that keeps us coming back is the paninis. If you are a fan of crunchy bread and high-quality, high-taste ingredients, then you might want to give the Panini Sandwiches over at Pizzapalooza a try. For your first time we highly recommend eating on their patio instead of getting take out. This sandwich experience is worth savoring!

Originally posted on the Bostonist.

Stuff to Eat in the Suburbs: Belmont—Angelato

For lunch in the suburbs this Bostonist is always in search of one thing: a better sandwich. Forget fruit plates and salads, sandwiches are what lunch is all about. A good sandwich can be special because of so many things: the bread, the meats, the condiments, the cheese. And each sandwich shop is unique in the way they combine these ingredients making it worthwhile to visit as many as possible to find the best sandwich options. This Bostonist has been known to drive as much as half an hour out of the way just to fill a particular sandwich craving and Angelato; a small sandwich shop, Italian deli, and geltaria in Belmont has become one of those detours. The first time we sampled Angelato's wares was after visiting Silk Road BBQ across the street. We noticed Angelato because we were in the mood for something sweet to finish off our lunch. Angelato is the company owned shop of the Angelato foods the company who makes Firenze frozen desserts which means that they have fresh local made gelato ready for serving in the shop. The hazelnut chocolate gelato alone was well worth the trip out to Belmont. The gelato had a rich dark chocolate flavor without being too bitter or too sweet, and the small pieces of roasted hazelnut were the perfect addition—an occasional textured surprise hidden in the smooth creamy goodness.

As if that weren't enough to make a detour into Belmont, they also have sandwiches. The thing that makes the sandwiches at Angelato great is the unique pairings of flavors in their specialty sandwiches. Of course they have the old standbys, the caprese, the chicken parm, the meatball, and the ever popular make your own option. But it's the specialty sandwiches that shine at Angelato. Unfortunately, the really interesting sandwiches aren't listed on the online menu, but instead are on signs hung up around the deli counter. One sandwich in particular comes to mind, it has an unruly name but the sandwich consists of chicken salad, bacon, and honey mustard. This Bostonist was skeptical when she ordered this interesting combination but has since come to crave this unique flavor combination. The base of this sandwich, a shredded chicken salad, provides a nice smooth texture that is pleasantly interrupted by salty crunchy bits of bacon, while the honey mustard adds a sweet sharp tang that makes each bite a delight.

The other sandwich we sampled involved a breaded chicken cutlet, cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing. Another unexpected combination this sandwich was the ultimate salty richness. The creamy ranch dressing paired perfectly with the moist chicken cutlet and the cheese and bacon added perfect salty accents.

While this Bostonist has yet to try a sandwich based on cold cuts, the deli meat at Angelato looks top notch and the fact that you can purchase the meats individually leads us to believe we will be trying the "Three Honeys" sometime soon. So the next time you're looking to calm your sandwich craving head out to Belmont and give one of Angelato's creations a try, you'll be glad you did.

Stuff to Eat in the Suburbs: Wellesley—Tutto Italiano

This Bostonist was first introduced to Tutto Italiano while working across the street in Wellesley several years ago. The big red sign above the door was intriguing and the hype from coworkers even more so. As suckers for a good sandwich, we wandered over one afternoon to give them a try. The atmosphere of this little piece of Italy in America is very casual. Tutto’s wares are displayed simply; letting the quality and variety of products speak for themselves. The focal point of the shop is the enormous meat counter that stretches along one entire wall of the shop. Behind this counter is where the magic really happens.

Tutto Italiano has a fairly simple menu, with some standard sandwiches listed on a chalkboard to the left of the counter. Tutto Italiano encourages people to mix and match their delicious imported meats and cheeses to create new and wonderful taste combinations; but in the capable hands of Tutto’s staff even staple sandwiches have never tasted so good. All of the sandwiches are made with either sliced Panella bread or a crusty Italian sub roll; both of which are fresh baked and exclusive to Tutto Italiano. The Panino sandwich takes mouthwatering pats of fresh mozzarella and combines them with juicy tomato slices and whole basil leaves. The Panino de Parma takes this classic sandwich one step further by adding the freshest and most tender Prosciutto de Parma this Bostonist has ever tasted. Though we’ve never tasted their tuna personally, others tout it as heavenly.

In addition to amazing sandwiches, the deli counter also sells Italian delicacies such as Banana Peppers stuffed with Provolone & Prosciutto; Grilled Marinated Artichoke; Stuffed Olives (Gorgonzola, feta, provolone, garlic); Sun-dried Tomatoes; and Grilled Marinated Eggplant. You can even purchase slices of any of their delectable Italian meats and cheeses to take home and enjoy.

In addition to their mouthwatering sandwiches and deli counter options, Tutto Italiano also offers a wide selection of gourmet Italian foods including imported olive oils, pastas, and sweets. Their frozen section features items like amazing pizza dough, stuffed shells, and some truly spectacular prepackaged gelato.

Parking in Wellesley can be difficult, so be prepared to walk. A hefty line can sometimes build up at lunch time and occasionally they run out of bread if you visit later in the afternoon. Despite these few hiccups, Tutto Italiano is definitely worth the trip. We highly recommend picking up a sandwich and enjoying it in one of the many green spots in Wellesley.

While researching this article, this Bostonist discovered that Tutto Italiano actually exists in five Massachusetts locations from the North End to Lakeville, Mass, so you can get your sandwich fix no matter where you live. If you are looking for a delicious, genuine Italian experience, Tutto Italiano is the place to go.

This Post first appeared on the http://bostonist.com/2009/05/21/stuff_to_eat_in_the_suburbs_wellesl.php.