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| - In spite of its praise, Bianco divides opinions sharply. At Bianco's you will receive a good, freshly made pizza with natural ingredients that are a cut above those of many Phoenix restaurants. The setting is pleasant and yes, the owner's dedication to his craft is admirable.
However, I'm not sure this is worth the hype. It's definitely a solid pizza, but nothing worth raving over. To insinuate that this is anywhere close to the best pizza in America is lunacy. After hearing raves about its near-legendary status, my companions and I were bewildered by the slavish praise. That's right - no divisions, we were all unanimously confused. I got everyone to go with me and wait because I swore the place had a magnificent reputation for unique pizzas....I still get grief about how I hyped Bianco to them. The only explanation I can think of is that the average American palate has become so dulled by the daily intake of synthetic flavors, frozen pap, and junky Domino's-style fixes that fresh food automatically blows their minds by comparison.
Obviously, the pizza at Bianco's is going to crush anything from a lame corporate chain ála Olive Garden, but that shouldn't be an accomplishment in and of itself. If that's the extent of your exposure, then yes - Bianco's will rock your world. On the other hand, if you have a passion for food and some broader exposure to other cities and countries, I'm sure Bianco will seem like what it is: good, yet wholly unremarkable. And it does have its flaws, such being sopping wet and having a totally soggy crust in the 50% near the center. Really, instead of waiting needlessly, go to nearby Cibo, which is in a quaint house setting and serves a a solid pizza that is as good with no wait, no hassle, no hype.
I don't mind waiting: a leisurely pace can be part of a pleasant dining experience....what I don't like is waiting needlessly for something that was supposed to be mind-blowing. Look, I'm not going to go overboard with a knee-jerk reaction: Bianco is worth trying, just temper your expectations because it's certainly nothing to write home about.
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