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| - This is what pizza is all about. Since I moved to Toronto about 4 years ago, I have regularly bemoaned the absence of Independent Pizza joints, particularly in the 905. What brought me here was the urge to have get away from the Pizza Pizza and their ilk, and to try to get that 'old pizza feeling' I used to get.
My wife and I set out to go to Abruzzo as we had driven by it many times. The place is in a small strip mall in Richmond Hill and it was packed, always a good portent. There were delivery drivers picking up their orders, people getting their take-out and dinners busy enjoying the kitchen's output.
We waited a few minutes and found a table and our orders were promptly taken. I was attracted by their house salad which featured Italian Cold Cuts. I thought this would be the litmus test...the quality of the cold cuts that were going to be served. It has been my experience that the large majority of casual food joints will serve a highly commercial grade of salamis which do not resemble what you can purchase at your local deli.
I was delighted when the salad arrived and I was able to taste "real" salami, and real shredded grated cheese, and real panchetta....'real' good in brief!
We ordered their large Abruzzo pizza, with thin crust and additional garlic. I does take about 20 minutes to get the pie maybe a little more, but I was enjoying the salad and feasting my eyes on what the other diners were ordering. Everything looked so good.
The pizza came and it was absolutely delicious. The crust was thin, evenly cooked and nicely crispy. The cheese is quite something and was extremely tasty and is simply much better than your run of the mill pizza cheese. The other ingredients were plentiful, as they do not obviously subscribed to strict pizza chains cost control measures. There was enough cheese, mushrooms, sausages and just the right amount of delicious sauce. It was a great pie!
The service is brisk and prompt and extremely efficient and pleasant. With regards to the cost it is about 35% more than the chains and is worth every penny. This is now the place I will come for Pizza....its further but worth it.
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