Landini's Pizzeria, Liberty Station Public Market, Point Loma, San Diego, CA, USA

 

https://www.landinispizzeria.com 

Yeahhhhh!  I'm back, woop woop!

And if you noticed an issue with www.yourpiemymouth.com, that's been fixed too.  Back in business, COVID-19 is over (jk, but it feels like it more and more every day), the sun is shining, and I'm crushing a new pie.  Couldn't be better.

So this little gem has been hiding from me in plain sight, and I'm super stoked to tell you all about it.

The original location (since 2009) is in Little Italy, this one is in Point Loma at the Liberty Station Public Market.  To me, a way better location to get in and out of (and the douche factor is much less as well).  It's located where the original Public Market Restaurant "Mess Hall" previously was, which sadly no longer exists.  The space is now split into 3 different restaurants; BBQ, Korean, and pizza.....

Not having ever heard of this place, my expectations were obviously very low.  

Would I be surprised?....

Ohhhh mama, smelled and looked great

Really, really, REALLY terrific pizza.  

A truly classic rendition of the New York style that you'll not find better anywhere outside of the Big Apple.  Yes, even better than Bronx or Luigi's (which I really like as well).

The toppings are placed with a light hand, critical for a thin crust.  So many places get this wrong, and it's a shame.  It overwhelms and overloads the pie, often times eliminating the ability to even pick us a slice.  Not here, no no no.

And the crust.... The perfect paper thin velum of crisp, parchment thin outer layer, protecting the fluff interior just beyond.  A light cloud like middle, a pillow for the brief application of sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.

Perfectly balanced on all accounts.

Is this my new favorite pizza place in SD?  If we're just talking about the pie (there's no table service, etc.....) then yes, a very big yes.  My current favorite pizza.

It even comes baby approved.

Eat a new pie, you might end up being surprised how much you like it  :-O

DVA

Papa John's - Papadias - Pizza (not)

Papa Fricken John's

Yep

As of late Papa John's is bombarding the airwaves with their Papadia adds.  And, if I can be frank, they kinda look good....  Well, maybe not the double cheeseburger one, but the meatball pepperoni one, Madonna!!!  I want it.

Here's the description from the official Papa John's website, enjoy the read...

Hmmmmm, sounds good to me 👍  

Let's Party!

Yeah, 4 of em.

First up, Grilled Buffalo Chicken

Just an absolute mess.  Murder scene style.

This was probably my favorite one though.  Don't get me wrong, none of these are worthy.  But on a fast-food level, this sheit is better than some McDonald's, on a couple of levels.

The "flat bread" is simply and obviously their pizza dough folded over.  Which I must say tastes better than their pizza (it's thinner so maybe that is what makes it better??? dunno).  

To me, the best thing about this thing is the ease of holding and eating it.  Even this messy piece of shit I could manage with one hand and still type a meaningful email or 2  ;-).

All in all, this one wasn't bad, for $6 I'd get it again, if there wasn't another choice, and if it was an easy choice, AND I needed to eat on the run, none of which are a part of my life these days

(dammit COVID!).

2nd, Meatball Pepperoni

This one was OK.  Not terrible, just kind of boring.  Not much meatball flavor, but what can you expect from a Papa John's meatball...

Meh

3rd, the Italian :-)

This is the one that I thought would be my favorite, and it just wasn't.  There was a weird sour taste to it.  Maybe the alfredo sauce (puke) or the peperoncini's???  Who knows, better yet, who cares???

4th, the Philly Cheesesteak

And this is the one that I really wanted to hate, and I didn't.  I honestly don't have much to say about it shockingly.  It was not exciting and it was not un-flavorful.  It was OK, just OK.

It comes with some nasty-ass garlic sauce though.  Blech!  

I tried it, and it was-what-I-thought-it-was!  Wait, what?

Terrible

So, of the fast-foods this one was better then some, but not as good as it should.

Although, if you're on the run, and need it fast and easy, why not?

DVA  out

Ottimo Vita - Pizzeria and Meat Italian - Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

https://ottimovita.owst.jp/

How bout a pizza?  

Exactly what I was thinking too, yeah, let's do it.

In a brand new building directly across from Shibuya Station lives a Neapolitan pizza restaurant that I simply must try.  I LOVE Japanese food, but after a week of rice and fish I need a change.

Ottimo Vita

The photos look legit (some may say Kosher....) so let's see if it lives up.

A nice view and the dining room is comfortable.

The beer is cold and refreshing.

The pizza menu is basic and on point.  Just the hits, that's all they are playing.

I order the "set" which the only difference is a salad, and for $3 seems worth it.

Or is it?

From the angle it looks like a large bowl, but it's not.  There is literally one layer of greens.  Probably not even one leaf in it's entirety.  OK, now I'm on alert.  I hope the rest is not like this salad.  Don't get me wrong, it tastes good, but there just is any of it there!

Nice

NICE

NICE!!!!!

Yeah, this is good.  Classic Neapolitan pizza, and I should have thought when I had the salad that the typical error with the pizza is to over top it.  Not here.  The chef has an easy hand and a measured restraint.  A perfect balance of toppings, sauce, crust.  Speaking of the crust, it is super light and fluffy and yet crispy and crackly on the outside.  Perfect.

I loved it.

For dessert how about a haircut?

What about a beard trim, or even a shave?

DVA

The Alchemist - Bar and Dining - Niigata, Japan

https://www.thealchemistbaranddining.com/

I'm back in Niigata and with a free night by myself I'm in need of something new.  The inter-webs has brought me to this place, The Alchemist.

I'll start by saying there aren't a lot of non-food photos because, frankly, I hadn't expected to do a story on this one.  Not that I thought it wouldn't be worthy, rather I simply wanted to have a nice meal and check out a new place (new to me) and starting off by shoving my phone in everyone's face is kinda lame.  So, being the wallflower that I am, I sat at the bar, literally at "the pass", and injected myself into as much of the action as I could, and I loved it.  A big bonus was that not only was the food great, the people working here were equally as awesome.  

I'd return just to hangout and talk, and I will.

Here are the owners, Ai and Josh.  Josh is the chef, Ai is the Queen of all of the other action, especially the wine, of which I am told they are the #1 purveyor of Australian wines in Japan.  Did I mention that Josh is Aussie?  Yep, big time.  And as this isn't at all an "Australian" restaurant, LOTS of the ingredients are Australian, presented with very solid classic cooking, in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

One word of warning if you go, don't look for the guy in the tie.  I think that must have been a wedding photo or something  The guy I met was in full chef mode, t-shirt, apron, kitchen towels tucked in either side, working it.  A great bloke tho.

So Josh is Aussie, Ai is Japanese.  They lived for a while in Australia and a few years ago moved to Niigata where they are raising their 2 young girls, and killing it with this bar/restaurant.

On to the food.

Disclaimer!!!

I did not eat all of the food you are about to see.  I ate a lot of it, and I'll tell you at the end, but as I said I was sitting at the pass and I checked it all out and took photos of what I could.

Amuse-bouche.  Pork belly on top of a sun-dried tomato puree.  Really perfectly crispy top, juicy meat, a great bite to start.

Polenta with short ribs and etc...  Looked and smelled great.

Josh apparently had a burger spot back in Australia and said that if I tried one thing (I got more than 1 thing) it should be the burger.  Burger me Josh.

They grind the meat and make the buns.  I love that there isn't a million things going on with this burger.  I want a burger not a salad....  Meat, cheese, pickle, mustard, ketchup, bun.  BOOM!

I don't do "bests", etc.. as you know, but this is one of my favorite burgers, ever.  Again, a great balance of flavors.  You can taste everything, and it works together. 

A great burger

Next up is the sausage roll.

Pork and kangaroo meat.  This one is easy to F-up, a few extra minutes, someone not paying attention for a sec, and the thing is dry AF.  They are paying attention here.  The meat was juicy and flavorful and the dough was crisp and flaky.  Beet root jam (or something like that) it was a bit sweet but it was paired with this roll because it works amazingly to balance the flavors, sweet/savory, crispy and light and fluffy.  Loved it.

I started with a beer, then moved to a martini.  It was quite good, the olives were marinated in Australian Yuzu, or something???  Dunno, but I liked it.

A very nice local couple sitting next to me brought in a batch of strawberries for the owners.  They were some unique strain or variety, and unique to this area???  Sorry, bad recall on this one.  What I do remember is that they were delicious, and really nice of them to share with me also.  Good on ya. 

Pavlova, cream, passion fruit something or other, etc...  Looked great and I saw a few going out so it seemed to be one of the popular desserts.

Ta da!

Duck prosciutto

Looked killer, maybe next time I'll try it.

Antipasto plate.  Sliced to order, house made bread.  Killing it.

Steak and mash, compound butter.

I saw a few steaks going out also.  Smelled great.  A steak might also be on the list for next time, we'll see :-)

And my final dish, Lasagna.

I'd say a de-constructed version as it was layered to order.  Did I say that they make the pasta here?  Yeah, and it was really great.  A nice end to a great night.

So, to recap, I had:

1 beer

1 martini

2 glasses of wine

amuse bouche

a burger

a sausage roll

lasagna

For a total of about $80 USD.

Yes, ridiculous.  It would be a bargain for double that.

Let me also note that this is not a locals only hangout, nor is it an ex-pat spot.  While there is 1 Aussie and 2 Americans working here, who are all native english speakers, 1 of them is fluent in Japanese, and the owner and a server are also native Japanese, and speak english.  

So, whether you are looking for a date night spot, dinner alone, business meal, drink before or after dinner, this is the place for you. Warm, inviting, friendly people serving great food and drink.

The Alchemist, can't wait to come back, thanks.

DVA