Bites Nearby: Pazzo Pizza

I’ve never been a huge fan of cheese for some reason, but within the past few years, I’ve started leaving it on my pizza. For years, every time a friend or relative saw me stripping a slice of the gooey topping, they shook their head and assured me that I was missing out on the best part of the pie.

When I went away to school, I discovered tomato pie. It was like the piece of my life that had been missing for eighteen years; I had finally found a pizza with no cheese!

For four years, I indulged in tomato pie whenever my wallet allowed me to. But since graduation, and coming back to the Lehigh Valley, I’ve found it’s a little harder to locate some good tomato pie.

So when a friend told me about the tomato pie at Pazzo Pizza (, if you’re going by their sign) on Broadway in Allentown, I knew I had to try it. And while I may have gone for the tomato pie, I stayed for everything else…

The Dishes: One slice each of: tomato pie, Sicilian tomato basil, meat lovers’ and buffalo chicken pizza, and a serving of garlic knots.

What’s on the Plate: Our slices were warmed and served to us, and the garlic knots came with a side of marinara sauce.

How’s it Taste?  I’ll give you an abbreviated review of each slice in a second, but before I get down to the toppings, I have to give some credit to the crust. I like thick crust, not cheese-filled, not thin, just plain old thick pizza crust. I like it even better when it’s crisp and flaky, which might be why I was head over heels with Pazzo by the time I got to the top of my tomato pie. So while each slice might have its strengths, just know that you can always expect a delicious crust.

I usually opt for slices rather than Sicilian, but the display of tomato basil gourmet pizza was so tempting that I had to try it. My generous corner slice was topped with diced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese and sprinkled with basil and parmesan. Although it made it a little harder to do some dunking in marinara sauce, it was a delicious alternative.

I can safely say I’ve found a place to fill the empty spot in my heart reserved specifically for tomato pie. Each slice of Pazzo’s pie is a bit thicker than a usual piece of pizza and topped with a sweet layer of tomato sauce. For a little flavor, I added some parmesan and red pepper, and, although I’m not trying to tell you how to enjoy your pie, I can offer my suggestion that it made for a delicious lunch.

My fellow pizza lover chose meat lovers’ and buffalo chicken, both of which she raved about. I had a bite of her meat lovers’ and can say that it definitely lives up to its name. Topped with sausage and pepperoni and sprinkled with black pepper, it put plain old pepperoni to shame.

Eat This Because: If it’s Italian, Pazzo’s has it. Chicken Cacciatore, Antipasto, Stromboli…you name it, they make it…well.

Tab: $15.30

Etc: If you want something that’s not on their menu, they’ll make it for you. During our visit, a family of four with some sensitive taste buds wasn’t completely feeling the menu. The staff at Pazzo gladly made them a custom pizza pie. Where else do you get service like that?