I hear that. :(

The first time I ever went was with my grandparents. They were already slowing down by that time and couldn't be bothered to get off the beaten track. Venice is actually a perfect example. The entire city has become a tourist trap. Anything within about two blocks of a tourist attraction is basically the equivalent of American fast food. Typically if a restaurant has it's menu printed in English you DON'T want to eat there. Even when you get off the beaten track most places will have two menus-one printed in Italian with normal prices and one printed in English with a 2x markup. Most times I just bought food to go wrapped in wax paper from little hole-in-the-wall places. My favorite sit-down restaurant had a hidden buzzer in the portico located above and behind your left shoulder. You'd buzz it and the staff would let you in. It was a method for keeping tourists out and it totally worked. While eating I saw many people bang on the door and try to open it. The wait staff completely ignored them. If you spent time in Venice then you've probably seen THE WORST of American tourists and can understand why a lot of places just don't consider it worth it. I've never been to Venice myself but I've read that it's become pretty nasty. My Mother's family is from Sannicandro di Bari on the southeast coast but most of my younger cousins have moved north for better job opportunities.

I think Joe's will be the goal but it will be tough to resist temptations of other smaller joints. I spotted a bunch just on the way to our hotel.
It looks like there are quite a few. Our porter at the hotel recommended a nice little sit-down only a couple blocks away. The place had a steady stream of take-out customers the whole time we were there. It was an adequate first stab but the crust was a touch too thick in the pie. The bone was nice.

Because I was in the Philippines then. Great food but no pizza. :D






Here's a view from the roof of our hotel tonight.



https://i.imgur.com/UP9hUH1l.jpg

The free wings from the random strangers were good. Especially the floor one.

Utter disappointment. Sadly, it's impossible to make a great pie in a home oven. Can get close but it's just not the same.

WOW! You guys are high rolling! - :eyebulge:

How did your new machine run?


humfrz

That's what I hear. I spent a few days there back in 1967 and it wasn't as bad.


humfrz

It's nice!


He wasn't kidding about the free wings from strangers either. Family at the table next to us had them. I said "Oooo! We should get some wings!" The guy asked if we wanted some of theirs. They ordered too much and couldn't finish. We struck up a conversation and ended up not only eating their wings but we helped finish their bottle of wine too.:drinking:

What the hell did you expect them to do?!

Big guy like you, leaning over their table, drooling, I'd give you some of my food too - :drool:

humfrz

Shoot you were there in the golden years. There are so many places I'd love to have seen in the '60's. But then those were crazy times, so I've heard.

You guys be careful back there - NO , this is NOT an old fashioned girl from the Midwest that is just lost!

:eyebulge:


humfrz

So true. I worked at WoodStone corporation for eleven years. Objectively speaking, they're probably the best ovens money can buy due to the very thick one-piece cast floors and domes. But even the best oven in the world won't make a great pie unless you have a great chef. I've seen some amazing creations come out of tiny cobbled-together brick ovens. The chef is 90%.

Oh definitely. Great respect to the artisan.

We have some good places down in the mid valley, though it is not east coast style.