Big G's Pizza Review

Big G's Pizza
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Last night was bittersweet in the land of Wrigley, as the Chicago Cubs wrapped up their final home stand of the 2014 season. I was fortunate enough to have been in attendance for the 3-1 win, and what a night it was. Being in Wrigleyville is an experience in itself, as a bevy of bars and restaurants line the streets, making it a great atmosphere for someone who loves food as much as I do. I am slowly making my way through the restaurant scene, adding another quality place to my list last night in the form of Big G's Pizza.

Jack Daniels BBQ Pulled Pork Slice
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Big G's is a stone's throw from Wrigley Field, located at 3716 N. Clark Street, and is a popular spot for fans, workers, players, and other members of the organization. Owners Jeronimo Gaytan and Jamie Gamez, both Chicagoland natives and Wisconsin-Madison grads, opened the doors of this location in 2012, serving up a variety of menu items, but centered around pizza. Their traditional and unique pizza creations have the place hopping on the regular, so I figured I had to stop in and give it a try.

In a space with nearly more kitchen than seating, Big G's makes sure their product is something that customers can walk around with. Whether you are ordering by the slice or full pie, it is all very easy to eat. Stepping up to the counter, my brother and I got a preview of the different pizza types. Being someone who normally just orders traditional pepperoni, I decided to be different, ordering two uniquely-topped, specialty slices. The first was a Jack Daniels BBQ Pulled Pork, which had healthy amounts of sauced pulled pork with some cheddar cheese and french-fried onion straws. The second was a BBQ Steak and Fries, which had slices of thin, seasoned steak, bbq sauce, and crinkle-cut fries. The flavors were unique on both slices, but all ingredients flowed together well. On the first slice, the pork was tender, flavorful, and had just the right amount of sauce. The cheddar cheese and onions added more flavor, as it felt like I was literally eating a pulled pork sandwich, but in pizza form. On the second slice, the steak had a nice seasoning, which was complimented by the sweetness of the bbq sauce. The fries added another element of flavor and had a nice crunch. Again, it felt like I was eating a sandwich on a pizza. The crust resembled more of a New York style, as it was fresh and had a good crunch to it, but was sturdy enough to hold all of the contents of the pizza.

BBQ Steak and Fries Slice
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Between my brother and I, we spent $18.50 on four specialty slices, which are $4 a piece, and two cans of Cherry Coke, which is fairly priced considering the size of the slice and ingredients used. In reality, spending a little north of $9 on dinner is a great deal, especially in the city. Great food and a great game is an ideal night in my world. If you are the same way, or if you just enjoy good food, head on over to Big G's and order a couple of slices. It never hurt anyone to try something different.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food/Nature Writer from the Chicagoland Area

Stone Neapolitan Pizzeria Review

Stone Neapolitan Pizzeria in Pittsburgh, PA
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

The month of August has started out with a bang, as I got to travel to cities I have never been to before for some baseball and great food. This post is the first in a seven post series, highlighting all of the great local restaurants I visited during my time in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. On our first day in The Steel City, my friends and I traveled to the downtown area to explore. Having been in a car for several hours, we were hungry and decided to make a stop at a local pizza joint called Stone Neapolitan Pizzeria.

Wood-fired Oven
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Opened by Pennsylvania native Rick Werner in 2012, Stone has been serving up authentic Neapolitan-style pizza to Pittsburgh natives and out-of-towners for the past couple years, and is said to have been the first casual joint of its kind in the entire state. They are known for their fresh ingredients and insanely quick cook time, around 90 seconds to cook a pie, which gives visitors a quality meal to enjoy during the course of their busy day. Stone’s menu features a number of pizza options, including house pies and create your own pie, and non-pizza options, including sandwiches, salads, and a number of beer/wine options. One can expect to spend anywhere from $5 to $12 on any of the menu items, special or additional ingredients costing extra. The pricing is not only fair, but is more than worth it based on the quality that goes into anything you would eat.

The atmosphere of Stone was sleek and cool, with tall windows and high ceilings making the space seem larger than it was. Wood paneling on the walls and ceilings were also contributors to the unique feel of the space. The coolest thing about the space is the large wood-fired oven in the corner of the cooking area. It gives one the feeling of being in an authentic pizza place. Being in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Pittsburgh with all of the businesses and such makes it accessible to the masses. Ample indoor and outdoor seating gives visitors a great view of the downtown as well.

Fresh Pepperoni and Hot Sauage Pizza
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

I wanted my first official meal in Pittsburgh to be a special one, so I was hoping to find something unique and special. Stone was this and more. Truthfully, it changed the way I looked at pizza for the better. I selected the Create Your Own Pizza option, which was broken down into three steps. Step One, Choose Your Base, gave me three options for my pizza base: Marinara (no cheese), Margherita (sauce and fresh mozzarella), and Bianca (oil with no sauce). Step Two, Choose Your Oil, gave me the option of choosing from various oils, garlic, or chili to top my pizza base. Step Three, Choose Your Toppings, gave me a number of different topping options for $1 each (pepperoni, mild or hot sausage, salami, roasted red pepper, etc.), specialty toppings like prosciutto costing $3 each. For my pie, I went with the Margherita (fresh mozzarella, real tomato sauce, and fresh basil), fresh garlic, and pepperoni and hot sausage as toppings. The hand tossed crust was light and airy, easily the best crust I have ever had, and I could tell how fresh it was even if I had not just witnessed the worker tossing it. The cheese was fresh and ample, but not too heavy, and the sauce was light and non-acidic, standing out in a good way. The garlic was noticeable, but attributed well to the pizza’s authentic taste. The pepperoni and hot sausage were added bonuses to the already great taste, both fresh with outstanding flavor. The fact that I was able to get a pizza of this quality within 10 minutes for the minimal price of $9 was the most unbelievable part of the whole experience. I'm always looking for great food at a great price, so finding gems like Stone is special to me. 

Not having pizza like this around me makes me miss Pittsburgh that much more, but it gives me more of a reason to go back. If you are ever in the downtown Pittsburgh area and are looking for a place to get some of the best pizza you will ever eat, check out Stone Neapolitan Pizzeria at 300 Liberty Avenue, Suite 100 Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area

Buddy'z Pizzeria Review

Buddy'z Pizzeria in McHenry, Illinois
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Let me start off by saying that I love getting suggestions from friends and family on places to go eat. You guys sharing your food experiences with me allows me to do so with others, so please keep the suggestions coming. With that said, I have been urged by a number of my pizza-loving friends to try a place called Buddy’z Pizzeria in the downtown area of McHenry, IL. Buddy’z is a place I had passed by several times, but never had the opportunity to go in. That changed on Tuesday, as I accompanied a few of my close friends to the neighborhood pizza joint.

Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Buddy’z was started by the Scarnato Family in 2005, and has been serving northern Illinois fresh, top quality pizza for nearly 10 years. They describe themselves as “an upscale casual pizza environment”, offering up both pizza and non-pizza options. When it comes to pizza, one can choose from four different styles of crust (thin crust, hand tossed, butter crust pan, and deep dish) and a slew of toppings, or one of their Chicago-named specialty pizzas like the Navy Pier, the Grant Park, or the Soldier Field. Non-pizza options include a number of starters, house salads, wings/chicken, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and other entrees. One can expect to spend in the $15 to $20 on a standard pizza, specialties are more, and at least $10 on other menu items, but based on the quality of the food and the atmosphere, it’s priced fairly.

Having been to a number of pizzerias around the area, I know when a restaurant has done it right when it comes to location and atmosphere. Buddy’z McHenry, which opened in 2010 and is one of the franchises three locations (one in Algonquin and one in Queen Creek, AZ), is conveniently located in a busy downtown area, right along the Fox River. Having river access is a unique feature of the restaurant, as boaters can tie up and come in for a quick bite after a day on the water. The restaurant itself has ample indoor seating and a great outdoor patio area, which is great for a summer night. The full bar and daily drink specials are another added plus to the restaurant, giving people a place to go and relax with friends and family.

This being my first time, I had to get the great pizza I heard so much about. I went with an 18 inch thin-crust pie, half sausage, half pepperoni. The crust was crispy, but not too thin, and had some char on it, which I appreciated. The sauce to cheese ratio was to my liking (I like more cheese and less sauce), and all additional toppings were fresh. The pizza itself was in the $20 to $22 range, which is what you should expect when ordering an extra large, two topping pizza from an upscale place like Buddy’z. I can say that both me and the friend who I split it with left full with no room for anything else. Not even ice cream. I want to give a special shout out to Kristen Sircher, Trey Williams, and Brad Baron for joining me in this food adventure. Thank you for the suggestion and I am glad I got to experience it with you. If you are looking for a great place to get a quality pizza and relax, check out Buddy’z Pizzeria at 1138 North Green Street, McHenry, IL 60050.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area