Santarpio’s Pizza in East Boston – Truly the Best in Town

I’m going to write this post in true Boston manner and focus only on what it’s about with no fluff.  If you want to read about the history of Santarpio’s Pizza in East Boston or the rival with Regina’s for best pizza in town, go find it elsewhere on the web.  If you want to read about the pizza, then keep reading, baby!

I wasn’t planning to eat pizza on my overnight work trip to Boston.  My calorie counter said I already had a month’s worth cheat meals this week.  But when Boston’s best pizza is a few blocks from your hotel, you go.  Besides, the joint is also listed in the Boston Hall of Fame and was even endorsed by Rachel Ray. If it has Ray-Ray’s attention, it has to be worth breaking the diet, right?

Santarpio’s Pizza – No Frills Just Good Pizza

At Santarpio’s, it’s just about the food they do well and nothing else.  All they serve is pizza and chargrilled meats – no salads, no desserts, no sides, no coffee.  Even the wine is basic (And cheap), served in drinking glasses like my grandma used to serve me milk (okay, gramps would slip me wine on occasion…).  If you want atmosphere and pretentiousness, go somewhere else and eat a lesser quality pizza.  If you want the best pizza in Boston, grab a table or barstool in this dive.

I’m not kidding when I say one bite of this pizza caused me to achieve nirvana. 

I ordered the garlic and sausage pizza.  It was dropped on the table on a piping hot, battered metal tin.  While I waited for it to cool, the waiter fetched a plate and silverware.  The cheese was just enough to be thick and gooey but not hide the sauce and toppings.  The crust was thinner than I prefer, but Santarpio’s chars their pizzas slightly to add some stiffness under the mound of toppings.  This worked for me.  While the tip of the slice was slightly soupy, the edges folded in to make a sandwich as I took my first bite.

Italian Cheese, Sausage and Garlic Pizza at Santarpio’s Pizza

Damn!  Rachel Ray knew what she was talking about!  (Maybe I shouldn’t make fun of her so much…)

The sauce was simple, but didn’t shine.  It shouldn’t have to.  Not when the toppings include house made sausage and aged Italian cheese.  Those ingredients need to dance too.  I found the entire pie to be well balanced in flavors.  The sauce contained the right about of tomato.  The sausage didn’t have too much red pepper or too much fennel.  In fact, I detected some floral black peppercorns in the sausage that elevated everything else on the pie.  Even the garlic packed just enough punch.  There’s nothing worse than eating a garlic heavy dish and tasting it the next day during a client meeting.  Whatever they do to the garlic, it was definitely there but not kicking like a bratty school kid.

Lamb, Steak Tips, and Housemade Sausage on the Charcoal BBQ Grill at Santarpio’s

I didn’t have the chance to try any of the meats from the charcoal grill – steak tips, lamb, or homemade sausage.  I was by myself and already ordering more pizza than I could put away.  To order more food would be wasteful.  The aroma from the table next to me made me wish I wasn’t so conscientious though.  Next time, right?

I know some readers are tempted to write in the comment section that I have to try the pizza at Regina’s in Boston’s North End.  I have.  It’s good, but doesn’t compare to Santarpio’s.

Who makes the best pizza you’ve ever eaten?