With our merry band of pizza tour brethren missing an integral member since we wrapped up our Pizza Tournament last summer, we don’t often get to judge Stamford pizzerias through the same lens as before. I say this, of course, because for but a brief moment last week, the Pizza Tour rode again into Vigilante’s Deli, the new pizza in town, that fights crime on its own terms! (HT – JR of Streets of Stamford).

Establishment. While technically one of the newer pizzas in town, Vigilante’s has been around in deli form for five or so years, offering up hot and cold sandwiches and other typical deli fare along with Italian dinner specialties. As is the case with most delis, Vigilante’s isn’t particularly large, but it’s close quarters and small, personable staff make each visit feel comfortable and homey. Seating is pretty limited in the cooler months, but we found ourselves to be very comfortable outside on one of their huge picnic tables on a temperate, summer evening.

Since delving into the pizza scene, Vigilante’s has added calzones and Stromboli to their menu in addition to a broad selection of traditionally topped and specialty pies ranging from The Vigilante to the “Vig”etable (get it?).

Pizza. Our pizzas of choice were the aforementioned Vigilante (sausage, sautéed broccoli rabe, fried Italian hot peppers) and a traditional margarita (so, we didn’t judge this place through exactly the same lens as before with our strict “plain cheese + one topping” criteria…).

Here’s The Vigilante on a picnic table, our photographer failed to shoot the margarita pie, yet again…

As far as crusts go, Vigilante’s was pretty bready and puffy, appearing relatively colorless and packing a bit of a yeasty punch without much of the chewiness we were looking for. The crust didn’t hold up well to the load of toppings offered, lending to the pizzas’ floppy, undercooked texture. All around, the cheese was very good (The Vigilante’s shredded mozzarella, and the margarita’s fresh slices of it), holding up well for a fresh and stringy bite.

The sauce was another story entirely; it was difficult to differentiate the sauce’s taste from the overpowering flavors of the specialty pie, but the clean flavors present in the margarita pizza made it pretty clear that this sauce was downright bland. Perhaps diluted by the inherent moisture of the fresh mozzarella and sliced tomatoes, this otherwise light and fresh sauce came across as being grossly underseasoned.

As we touched on before, the toppings had a tendency to overpower the pizza as a whole. However, they were quite tasty. The salty, savory flavors of the sausage combined nicely with the natural, concentrated bitterness of the broccoli rabe and the slow, spicy burn of the fried peppers for a particularly unique flavor profile.

Bottom line. Vigilante’s comes through as a deli should, with a personable, knowledgeable staff, quality base ingredients, and great flavor combinations, but the execution of our pizzas just felt off.

Establishment: 16/30
Pizza: 15/30
Hits the Spot: 5.6/10 
Large cheese: $12.95 (18")

As the Pizza Tour draws to a close, we find ourselves with few "original" restaurants (that is, restaurants that have been in the pool of Pizzas to be Toured from the very beginning) to choose from. Aside from special requests, bars, bagelries, and the like, Amore is the very last true pizzeria on the Stamford Pizza Tour. Located in Springdale, the family-owned Amore Restaurant has been a quiet staple of classic Italian cuisine in Stamford for over 30 years.

Establishment. Amore is a tastefully decorated Italian eatery complete with dark hardwood furniture, a black marble bar top, ceramic tiled floors, fancy arched doorways, and unmistakably classy low, ambient lighting. Amore's seating is comfortable and spacious, spread out across two large dining rooms and a fully stocked bar. The service was highly attentive and courteous, checking on us multiple times during our visit to deliver copious amounts of phenomenally tasty spicy garlic bread baskets and to assure us confidently that we were going to like their pizza (and possibly to snoop out their scores as well). Their menu consists exclusively of authentic Italian fare, including classic antipastos, soups, salads, and house made pastas, as well as both traditional (meat, seafood) and exotic (boar, ostrich, venison) entree offerings in addition to gourmet pizza.

Pizza. In a word, this pizza is extraordinary. In many words, the crust was thin, chewy, and yeasty with a crisp, crunchy bite and the perfect amount of char. The cheese was also far above average with a moist, stringy texture and moderately salty taste, cooked to golden brown perfection. The sauce was an absolute highlight, as it had the unmistakable taste of fresh, crushed tomatoes, was perfectly seasoned, and was overwhelmingly flavorful. This pie came to the table hot and likely would have stayed hot for many days had we not housed the entire thing in a matter of minutes. Each slice held together very nicely both mechanically and otherwise, presenting extremely well balanced proportions and flavors and that played well off of each other and caused little to no ingredient slip. The sausage, our topping of choice, wasn't nearly as stellar as the rest of the pie, but it was still very, very good despite being the "weak" link of this pizza. We were very surprised at the relative emptiness of this restaurant when we Toured on a Saturday night, because Amore could very well be serving the best pizza in Stamford and should be packed to the rafters.

The bottom line. Amore is a traditional, authentic Italian restaurant with all that it entails, from a warm, inviting atmosphere to an absolutely phenomenal "big pizza pie." That's Amore.

Establishment: 23/30
Pizza: 25/30
Hits the Spot: 9.0/10
Large Cheese: $13.50

AWARDS WON:

2009 – Best Pizza

2009 – Tournament Champion

2009 – Best of Springdale/Glenbrook/Belltown

The bottom line: It doesn't look like Sammy G's is going to be serving pizza anytime soon.

Establishment: DQ/30
Pizza: DQ/30
Hits the Spot: DQ/10

AWARDS WON:

2009 - Closed

A relative newcomer to the Stamford bar scene, Tracks is located on Hope Street, filling some of the void that the defunct Fireside Restaurant left behind as both a bar and restaurant.

Establishment. Tracks Bar & Restaurant is, by and large, the friendliest bar we've been to on the Tour. We were welcomed, as if to a home, by everyone working there at some point throughout the evening, including a playful, profanity-laced conversation with Tracks' Irish-brogued owner, Jimmy. The establishment is clearly split into bar and restaurant sections, with a fully stocked bar and well-dressed dining area signifying each, respectively, all appearing relatively clean (especially considering the number that the Stamford High softball team did on the dining room before we got there). As we've mentioned, the service was overwhelmingly personable and attentive, going so far as to adjust the air conditioner return that was blowing in our faces. Tracks' lunch/dinner menu consists of Italian-style appetizers and entrees, soups, salads, and of course, pizza with some select items available on a bar-style menu (including some Irish fare) at all times.

Pizza. Tracks' pizza is a step above the average bar pie, competing with traditional pizzerias in terms of both size and taste. The crust, made in house, is thin and crunchy with a slightly darker-than-golden "shell" (quite honestly bordering on overcooked) and delicious, chewy innards. The cheese was exceptional with a delightfully gooey texture, fresh tasting (albeit somewhat muted and bland) flavors, and the temperature retention of a cast iron skillet. However, Tracks' sauce is what really brought their pie together with an immense amount of flavor caked on rather thick. While borderline overpowering, this homemade sauce elevated a cookie-cutter bar pie through our often held glass ceiling of bar pies, shattering any preconceptions we may have had. The sausage, our topping of choice, was very light in color and carried a unique, much appreciated flavor while giving the pie further dimension despite its striking resemblance to deer turds. As we've mentioned, this bar pizza remained white hot throughout our meal, framing a surprisingly good pizza experience.

The bottom line. Tracks is a charming Irish pub worth visiting if only for its delightfully plucky and friendly staff; they also put together a solid, restaurant-style bar pie that isn't the best in town, but certainly won't disappoint.

Establishment: 23/30
Pizza: 21/30
Hits the Spot: 7.0/10
Large Cheese: $9.99 (14")

AWARDS WON:

2009 – Best Mother@#$%ing Waitstaff

Located in Glenbrook, Nick's Pizza has a quiet but loyal following and reputation as a quality family restaurant with great value. Touting a "long tradition of Italian cooking" and origins in "a small town near Naples in Southern Italy, where pizza first originated" Nick's sets the bar high from the get go.

Establishment. Nick's Pizza seems, quite honestly, to have somewhat of an identity crisis. We walked into what looked like the classic model of a counter service pizzeria. Upon surveying all of the tables in the main dining area and finding none that weren't taken or consumed by large puddles of water, we ventured into the back room to find a touch of class that we never would have expected. Nick's small, low lit auxiliary dining room with a full bar, large, comfortable hardwood booths and dinner rolls (glorious, glorious dinner rolls) welcomed us in from the laminated pressboard jungle we'd left. The service was nothing short of excellent as our waitress was very attentive, personable, and lightning quick. Not surprisingly, the menu was laden with Italian specialties and pizzas with numerous topping options and specialty pies.

Pizza. For as extraordinary as Nick's establishment is, their pizza is twice as underwhelming. While the crust was phenomenally flavorful and yeasty, it was easily the strongest aspect of this pie, hearkening back recent memories of the aforementioned glorious dinner rolls. Nick's sauce was conservative and underseasoned, bordering on bland and the cheese was average at best. The texture of this pie caused the bulk of its score to melt away, as it seemed undercooked and uncharacteristically floppy. Surprisingly enough, the pizza came to the table piping hot and remained as such throughout the bulk of the meal, so go figure. The slices of meatball that topped our pie were a bit on the bland side as well (see a pattern?) but they were perfectly tender albeit so sparsely distributed that we kind of wanted more. Such was the theme of this pizza: decidedly mediocre for many little reasons rather than a huge, glaring one.

The bottom line. Nick's Pizza is an interesting establishment with two considerably different restaurant atmospheres, both of which make a very average pizza at best.

Establishment: 24/30
Pizza: 16/30
Hits the Spot: 5/10
Large Cheese: $12.25

Across the street from Vinny's, Springdale Pizza offers a unique alternative to both their atmosphere and product. A family owned and operated restaurant, Springdale offers a simple menu featuring Italian dishes, salads, wedges, and both traditional and Sicilian pizza.

Establishment. Springdale Pizza offers the environment one would expect of a local pizzeria. Family owned, Springdale's father/son outfit makes for a charming and friendly experience. Obviously not too concerned with frills, Springdale is decorated mostly with vendor swag and a handsome rug picturing a plucky Italian chef (incidentally, the rug also tripped a kid and sent his pizza flying...). Their moderately sized dining room was very comfortable for our party of four, and our table was meticulously set with admittedly gaudy ceramic plates right before our pizza hit the table. We suspect they knew that they were being rated, as other patrons in the restaurant seemed to be eating off fine paper goods.

Pizza. Its a good thing that we were eating off of regular plates, because this pizza would have turned the paper ones translucent. Aside from the divisive greasiness factor however, Springdale makes an excellent pizza. What stood out most were the incredible flavors present in their sauce. Well seasoned, fresh, and tasting of fresh crushed tomatoes, Springdale's sauce is some of the best we've come across so far. Their thin crust was baked to a fluffy and breadlike consistency while the cheese remained warm and gooey throughout the meal. The sausage topping we ordered was very generous albeit a bit lacking in flavor and came in the form of large, meaty chunks. Texture did suffer a bit, as the airy crust began to soak up some of the aforementioned grease by the second slice, but overall, we were very happy with this pie.

The bottom line. Springdale offers a traditional father/son pizzeria experience, making up for minor gaudiness with an excellent pizza.

Establishment: 18/30
Pizza: 23/30
Hits the Spot: 8.5/10
Large Cheese: $11.50

AWARDS WON:

2009 – Tournament Finalist (8th place)

Not to be confused with The Original Pappas Pizza (Pappas I, for all intents and purposes), Pappas Pizzeria (Pappas II) is located on Hope Street in Glenbrook. Not unlike Pappas I, Pappas II is known for 10" personal pies, and the endless buy five, get one free promotion. However, Pappas II also offers online ordering with delivery. Incidentally, Pappas II also stakes claim as the best ("you've tried the rest, now try the best!"), so we'll have to put an end to this.

Establishment. Pappas offers a large menu with a laundry list of non-pizza items in addition to many specialty pies. Unlike Pappas I, Pappas II has a relatively spacious dining room that is both inviting and does not make one feel as if they are about to be hacked to death. Pappas large, comfortable booths are also a far cry away from the kitchen furniture that the other place has to offer and the overall experience felt a great deal cleaner, to say the very least (although the parking situation was equally nonexistent). The service was friendly and quick, and our table was bussed for us; so seriously, try the pizza.

Pizza. Its hard to call Pappas' pizza unique, as its pan crust and presentation are eerily similar to that of Pappas I and cost $2 more, but it's very good nonetheless. The pan crust was perfectly cooked, golden brown, and delicious while the cheese was above average and cooled no quicker than the rest of the pizza. As you might remember, this was a huge problem with the other Pappas' pizza and needless to say, we were quite delighted that Pappas II solved that dilemma. The sauce lacked some flavor, but was good overall. We noticed that our pie was allowed to sit for a few minutes before being delivered to the table which made for a slightly cooler pizza with much more coherent flavors that wasn't prone to falling apart like a budget Chinese sedan. Overall, Pappas Pizzeria offers a very good product and is clearly the best Pappas in town.

The bottom line. When we told Pappas Pizzeria they scored better than Pappas Pizza, they responded, "I could have told you that!"

Establishment: 18/30
Pizza: 21/30
Hits the Spot: 8/10
Large Cheese: $12.00

Hamilton Pizza is located down the street from Stamford's only bowling alley seventh self storage place on what was once the worst paved road in town, Hamilton Ave. Billed also as a deli and grill, Hamilton is open at 6 am for breakfast and offers a comprehensive lunch and pizza selection including subs and wings in addition to its signature pizza before closing promptly at 8 pm.

Establishment. Now open for breakfast on Sundays (!) and until 9 on weekends, Hamilton Pizza boasts a large dining room with seven less tables than it should have, four portly patrons that take up three of those tables, and an often nonworking restroom. This restaurant is uniquely decorated with an assortment of flags, the vines of a plant creeping across the ceiling, a poster featuring local businesses circa 1992, and a personalized 8-by-10 glossy of the incomparable Joey Styles. Undoubtedly, Joey comes here for Hamilton's rather extensive menu and friendly service (and possibly because of his affinity for V8, which they proudly carry).

Pizza. If you were to list all of the pizza places in Stamford and ordered it from best to worst, Hamilton Pizza would probably be right in the middle. We did, and it is was when we wrote this. The traditional Greek pan crust was flavorful, buttery and breadlike, and the cheese was very good while it was hot, but the sauce was barely a step above bland. The pie came out of the oven freakishly hot and exuded all sorts of oils and grease that may have left our mouths with second degree burns. Hopefully our pizza was an exception to the norm, as it was indubitably overcooked and about 30 seconds of cooking away from being burnt (not "caramelized," as some idiot guest judges might claim). Regardless, this didn't take much away from anything but the pizza's texture. Also its overall flavor.

The bottom line. Hamilton Pizza is an interesting, considerably dumpy restaurant with godawful hours, an extensive lunch menu, and an average pizza on a good day.

Establishment: 14/30
Pizza: 19/30
Hits the Spot: 6/10
Large Cheese: $11.50

Hope Pizza is another of the go-to restaurants for at least one of our judges (see Ridgeway Pizza), and with good reason. Located on Hope Street, Hope Pizza Restaurant is a fantastic establishment with very good pizza that you'll definitely enjoy.

Establishment. Hope Pizza is a family staple in Stamford with a menu that goes beyond simply pizza with a very well-rounded offering. A Greek diner ambiance and ample seating set the stage for a wonderful dining experience complete with top-notch service and a family-friendly atmosphere. Their relatively generous parking lot fills up fast on a Friday night as loyal patrons arrive in droves, often with children in tow. The only negative that we can manage to scrape together is that the booths sit peculiarly low relative to the tables, and we're grasping at straws with that one.

Pizza. Hope's pizza is excellent to say the least. With a perfect Greek-style buttery crust, quality cheese, and expertly seasoned sauce, this pizza arrived at the table screamingly hot and stayed as such until we could not eat any more. The toppings (pepperoncini, pronounced "banana peppers") were both unique and very good. As with most Greek pizzas however, Hope falls into the "stupid square slices" category, adversely affecting both its otherwise flawless texture and ingredient slip on (or more accurately, off of) the center squares. Greek tradition be damned, those middle pieces are an abomination and we have yet to devise an effective consumption technique. These last-to-be-picked crustless slices are like the kids no one wants to pick for their team in wiffle ball. In the big picture though, this is a minor nick on a very good pizza that should be tried by all.

The bottom line. Hope Pizza Restaurant is the blueprint for good Greek pizza in Stamford that the whole family will enjoy time and time again.

Establishment: 24/30
Pizza: 24/30
Hits the Spot: 9/10
Large Cheese: $12.50

AWARDS WON:

2009 – Best Greek Pizza

2009 – Tournament Finalist (5th place)

This place is very fun. Vinny's Backyard Restaurant has a lot of character and offers a unique product at the very least. Located off the beaten path in Springdale amidst embroidery and custom signs shops, Vinny's offers the best of both worlds with a full, spacious bar equipped with TVs in the round as well as a conventional sit-down area with table service.

Establishment. Vinny's has a playful atmosphere unlike anything we've seen thus far, resembling (unsurprisingly) a backyard barbecue. Never to be shorted on wall trinkets, both the bar and dining room are loaded to the ceiling with a collection that would put the Applebee's to shame. The menu is very diverse, offering 12" bar pizzas, wings, ribs in the style of the defunct Fireside Restaurant, and daily specials. The wait staff was quick and attentive (also quick to charge for refills and not so quick to deliver the check...I had to slip that in) and tables were bussed at a lightning quick pace. We weren't too happy with the proximity of tables to one another or to entering customers but all in all, Vinny's establishment has been far and away our favorite.

Pizza. To be blunt, Vinny's isn't going to win any awards for their pizza. The crust is extremely thin and crackeresque and serves only as a vehicle for cheese and sauce, neither of which is anything to write home about. If a cracker crust is what you're looking for, you've come to the right place, otherwise, you'll be disappointed with the texture as well. It came as no surprise to us when our paper thin pizza cooled to room temperature on its tumultuous journey from the oven to the table. On the upside, this made for a very high resistance to the dreaded ingredient slip.

The bottom line. Vinny's is an excellent bar and grill with a bold, local flair and and an unparalleled dining room experience (also, they happen to serve pizza).

Establishment: 26/30
Pizza: 17/30
Hits the Spot: 7/10
Large Cheese: $8.00 (12")

AWARDS WON:

2009 – Most Fun

I'd like to preface this review by noting that Belltown Pizza is located a few hundred feet from Belltown Park. Countless little league baseball games and summer camps emanate from the park on a daily basis all throughout the summer, and there's something to be said about pizza-by-the-slice and a cold soda after standing outside for 4 hours on a scorching hot day. Unfortunately, extreme dehydration and hunger may be the only things keeping Belltown in business because their pizza is not doing them any favors.

Establishment. The restaurant is very small and very cold. There is no bathroom and the dining area is marginally passable as one if there are more than two parties eating. However, the restaurant is open relatively late and the service is on par with any decent pizza parlor in the area, so that's good. The menu is also fairly diverse, offering Sicilian and conventional style pizzas with a wealth of topping selections. Again, that's good.

Pizza. Here's where it gets considerably less good. The pizza came out of the oven freakishly hot and stayed as such for approximately 28 seconds. The crust felt undercooked, the sauce was largely flavorless (albeit abundant), and the cheese slid clear off each slice before congealing into an inedible mess in the aforementioned 28 second window. The toppings (mushrooms and meatballs) were the highlight of Belltown's product when they were coaxed into staying on the pizza. *Judge Dan's opinion differed from Judge Elliot and Judge Scott's opinions in that he thought the pizza wasn't half bad.

The bottom line. Belltown offers a mediocre product that quickly cools to an outright bad one.
Establishment: 15/30
Pizza: 16/30
Hits the Spot: 6/10
Large Cheese: $10.95