The Pickwick Shopping Center is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, like the 99 Cents Only Store and Love Pho N’ Mor, which we covered in a previous Taste and Tell. Because of the large amount of stores within the center, it’s easy to overlook the smaller shops. One of these smaller restaurants is Pizzeria Bianco Rosso, an eatery hidden along the side of the shopping center that, despite its modest size, is full of warmth and flavor.

The Experience

We visited the restaurant on a Wednesday night when the restaurant wasn’t too busy, but because of the restaurant’s small size, the five tables that were in the store were all occupied except for one. We were able to order at the register as soon as we walked in, and the cashier kindly explained to us the most popular items they served when we asked. There was a wide array of dishes to choose from, the choices ranging from pizzas, to pastas, to soups and salads, but we ultimately chose the pizza named Alexander. This pizza is one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, topped with fennel sausage, caramelized onions, crimini mushrooms, provolone, garlic, oregano, and olive oil. After we ordered, we got cups of water at a conveniently placed self-service drink station, and sat down at an open table. The restaurant was cozily warm, and the ambiance of the restaurant was lovely- it had a quaint vibe to it. As a whole, the restaurant was very clean and tidy. We noticed that there was a table stocked with extra plates, utensils, and napkins as well as water cups and a water dispenser, which we greatly appreciated. There was also a small tray on each table containing olive oil, red pepper flakes, and parmesan cheese that customers could use to add extra flavor to their dishes.

The Food

Kaylie: The dough of the pizza was light and had a bit of crunch, though the crunch became less prominent as the evening went on. It wasn’t as doughy as a typical pizza would be, and I found that really refreshing. The crust reflected that as well, and was airy and crunchy without being too hard to bite. When I broke open the crust, there was a soft, light dough on the inside, and it’s probably one of the best crusts I’ve had on a pizza. The sauce didn’t overpower the entire pizza, and because of this, the toppings were able to shine though. The mushrooms on the pizza were juicier than those I would typically find as a topping, and the overall ingredients on the pizza were very fresh. There was a good balance of the amount of toppings, so no one topping overpowered the other, though when I got to my second slice, and eventually my third, the toppings became muted. The taste of the toppings blended together and became one-note after eating it for a while, though I loved it when I ate my first slice. I added red pepper flakes and more olive oil, however, and that added more flavor to the taste of the pizza. 

Cecilia: I was super excited to try this pizzeria after hearing my peers rave about it, and my expectations were mostly satisfied. The pizza crust was lighter than typical American-style pizza, but heavier than a traditional Italian pizza, which was a good in-between for me. Although the outside of the crust was delightfully crispy, I found that towards the center of the pie, the crust was a bit soggy due to the sauce and toppings pooling in the middle. While the tomato sauce was not outstanding, it tasted fresh and didn’t ruin the toppings’ flavors. The toppings were amazing, and I was very happy that we had asked the cashier for a suggestion instead of trying a random pizza pie. The flavors melded together nicely. Both the sausage and mushrooms added a satisfyingly meaty texture and flavor while the herbs, garlic, and olive oil complemented the overall flavor profile well, without overpowering it. I wish that the sausage bits and mushrooms were larger though. Since the toppings were cut in the same small size, there was no variation in texture which was a bit disappointing. But overall, I greatly enjoyed the “Alexander.”

Overview

Kaylie: I really enjoyed the food and experience I had at this restaurant, though there were some downsides. The pizza is rather expensive, at $18.50, and it only feeds two people because Cecilia and I ate the whole pizza ourselves. Moreover, the restaurant closes during the middle of the day, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and is also closed Mondays, which I found rather inconvenient. It took Cecilia and I two tries to finally be able to eat at this establishment. However, the food definitely made up for the inconvenience, and I will happily come back if there is an occasion that calls for it.

Cecilia: I would definitely come back to Pizzeria Bianco Rosso again. The lovely ambiance, friendly staff, neat eating-area, and good food would draw anybody back to this pizzeria. Unfortunately, the dishes are a bit pricey, which held Kaylie and I back from trying more menu items. Since the price levels aren’t in my range, I’ll aim to come back on a special occasion.