By The Slice: Piccola Pizza “Just Right, Just Because.”

Words and Photos by Tommy Dale McPhail

We meet again, pizza pirates! Since our last, we’ve weathered quite a storm of blasphemies. Bath salts nearly brought the zombie apocalypse to our doorsteps. News of the upcoming bacon shortage left us weeping. Somewhere, someone signed off on new albums from Chris Brown and Nickelback. These are trying times indeed, but fear not! The most trusted pizza purveyor in Richmond is officially back with a vengeance. He will not let your tomato-y flatbread knowledge falter to the terrible onslaught of troublesome headlines and pop-culture faux pas!

A true campus favorite, howPiccola Pizzamanaged to fly under my radar for so long is beyond me. Despite many brief lunchtime visits, I had yet to actually do the damn thing.  A classic slice of cheese can only be so satisfying. Given the tales of Piccola’s signature special that run rampant amongst my cronies and comrades, �twas my sworn duty to vanquish it once and for all.

Two steps in the door, and a number of descriptors jump to mind: quaint, rough around the edges and aromatic to the last. A native New Yorker may feel right at home. A native Richmonder, on the other hand, is probably more preoccupied with taking their order back to the porch. Personally, I wasn’t too keen on the in-house experience. The quick-service section served its purpose, but wasn’t particularly inviting. The sit-down restaurant section, which is located towards the back, was a tad desolate for a Sunday evening. Props to the staff for their friendly vibes and speedy service, though.

Logistics aside, the real proof is in the goods. The Piccola Special (pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, sausage) is a force to be reckoned with. The mozzarella? Superb, no matter your personal cheese preferences. Likewise, the succulent toppings overcompensated for what I found to be a severe sauce shortage (nothing can spell bum-out faster than skimping on the sauce!) On the crust front, durability was abundant. For such a hefty concoction of topside “OOMPH!” this crustdelivered.  After two bites, my verdict was absolute. Piccola, shut up and take my money.

I gotta say, this is my kind of pizza. Normally, I’m a staunch advocate for moderation. The slice-a-day life, if abused, can ruin even the most righteous of �za. However, the Piccola Special is the definite exception to that rule. Savory flavor overload combined with student-friendly pricesandmaximum campus proximity? Looks like you and your wallet have one dangerous combo on your hands.

Not even a blistering foray into RVA’s pizza underbelly could stop this column. (No, seriously.Watch this) Check back next month for another rousing round of adventure into delicious abandon!

THE VERDICT:

Crustability: 3/4

Sauciness: 2/4

Cheeseification: 3.5/4

Dining Experience: Meh/4

Overall Deliciousness Index: 3/4