Stop 017: Rico's (Englewood)

Rico's Pizzeria

Location:  3500 S. Broadway, Englewood CO 80113

As I pulled into the parking lot I was greeted by the "pizza creep",  which can be found on a wooden sign just yards away from the entrance of this charming pizzeria.

I don't know how you are supposed to feel after looking at this guy, but I certainly would not want to see this guy holding a pizza in my bedroom window at night.

NO CREDIT CARDS, NO DELIVERY! I like their confidence, but I'm not so sure their product can back it up...  After considering all aspects of my experience with Rico's I think it is important to mention that the service was excellent and the staff was friendly.  The atmosphere was cozy and modest with enough charm to make me regret taking my pizza for carry out purposes.  Someone else might replace my use of the words "cozy and modest" with "cramped and dingy".  These are the same people who might get excited about the development of new strip mall because it can lure in new chains from around the country!   Stepping away from generic social commentary, I think it is fair to say that Rico's is an authentic pizzeria with a strong base of local support deserving of a stop from the pizza train.  Where the debate lies in, is how good their pizza actually tastes.  I like the puffy style crust, which had substance and tasted good enough to support something better than their pedestrian sauce and lousy cheese.  Rico's cheese was on the cheaper end of the solids made from milk spectrum (the kind that gets kinda gross when it cools).  I believe this pizza loses most of it's value when it hits the refrigerator, so eat it while it's hot!  My buddy who ate  a slice with me offered his opinion by telling me he would not respect any of my reviews if I gave this pizza more than 2 fingers, so...

Stop 016: Pizzeria Locale (Baker)

Pizzeria Locale

Location:  550  Broadway, Denver CO 80203

I must admit, due to all the hype, I came into this review wanting to dislike this product. It felt like meeting an ex-lover's new romantic interest.  You heard a lot about them, and they were nice enough when we first met, but upon further scrutiny more flaws were unveiled.  If you look at the picture above, you can tell that Pizzeria Locale is a good looking pie that comes in a 6 slice serving.  However, after my first 2 slices, I saw past its good looks and my opinion of their pizza dropped significantly.  The best way to describe this pizza is Chipotle does Grimaldi's.  You walk up to a counter, you pick your sauce, you pick your toppings, and the pizza is placed into a hyper speed oven that cooks your pizza in less than 2 minutes giving it an authentic appearance and texture.  However, I really think I can taste the imperfections of the 2 minute bake.  The sauce is kinda runny and the crust is hot/charred, yet on the soggier side of things.  I had the veggie pizza and I must say the ingredients are fantastic and fresh.   The sauce had a solid tomato-centric taste, but he problem was the fact that they use a Grimaldi wanna be crust and the 90 second bake, which can't quite "fake the funk" with the taste buds of the Denver Pizza Train.