Hello. This was my answer when I was asked to name a song title with the word “hell,” in it. Don’t think about the creepy video. Been entertaining company, so I am still behind, but it is the new era of Labor Day, so I am willing to do so work.
Going Out Shout Out
Before I get to sports and more discussion of the NFL conspiracy, I have to close out yesterday’s entry about food. The two places I am promoting today were staples during college, and go-to spots to this day when I am in the Newton area.
Two mainstays are gone or downtrodden. Mary Anne’s is gone and City Side looks exactly like it did back in 1989- that is not a good thing. What is a great thing is that Ristorante Pino and its ugly carnival sign, and Eagle’s Deli are still feeding hungry Eagles and the lucky others in the know.
PINO’S PRESTO
Ristorante Pino or Pino’s as I most know it, serves the most delicious pizza on the planet. A crisp crust and just enough cheese to make it a perfect balanced bite. The sauce is not too sweet and not too spicy. The staff, dressed in traditional white aprons, heat up your slices in the oven for the perfect temperature.
They are open until 1 AM on Friday and Saturday to feed the party crowd, but they are a savvy spot for anyone on a budget. You used to be able to get two cheese slices and a Pepsi for $5.00. I took my son a couple of years ago, and the prices had not changed. Even if it went up to $10.00, it would be well worth it.
Pino’s used to compete with another pizzeria in the Circle. Presto’s Pizza used to serve better Sicilian style pizza than Pino’s, and it was a toss up who served the better Italian Combo sub. I mention this as Presto’s has closed and the building now houses the Chipotle that gave over 100 students food poisoning.
I also want to let you know that when we lived in Cleveland Circle, we ate a lot of pizza, especially my roommate Bonz who ate two slices for almost every meal. His review was the definitive and echoes the above consensus. Presto’s has better Sicilian, but Pino’s has better regular. Presto’s is closed. Go get two cheese and a Pepsi from Pino’s.
Super Super-Sizing
The other restaurant was brand new during my off campus bacchanal. It was called Eagles Deli, and they served sandwiches and burgers made to order. My favorite was the Big Bird, basically a self-contained turkey club using real turkey, not that Hillshire Farms deli approximate.
Since then, they have served thousands and they are recognized nationwide.
They make an appearance on many video tours of the area, and were featured on an episode of Man vs. Food, the one with the GOAT Adam Richman, not the new version.
In the episode Richman battled a Deli regular in the Burger Challenge which consists of 6lbs of burgers, 24 strips of bacon, 24 slices of cheese and 5 pounds of fries. And a deli pickle. Looking it up now, you have to also eat two regular cheeseburgers to complete the challenge. You have one hour. Time starts now.
Richman lost, but neither completed the challenge, even with Red Sox great Kevin Youkilis cheering them on. Depending upon how much you eat, you get your name not on a wall, but on the menu. Furious Pete who finished the original 5 lb Burger Challenge has his name on the menu as does hunky Nick Lachey.
If you want to accept the challenge, it will cost you $70.00, but I would not recommend it. That said, I would like to see it live and meet some of the chairmen of the menu board and shake their hands.
For a more modest price, you can still get the Big Bird and their other signature sandwich the Zoo.
If you find yourself at the corner of Beacon and Commonwealth, and have a hearty appetite, hit up both of these spots and then lay a blanket down on the BC dust bowl and take a nap.
BCeeing You,
Love and laughter,
P.