For the latter half of our brief visit to Portland, I wanted to make sure we got a worthy send-off before heading back north. Prior to our trip, I had hunted for something that would leave us truly satisfied. The verdict: Apizza Scholls—one of the best pizzerias in Portland. For Portlanders or anyone who watches No Reservations, this is nothing new. I’m just the guy non-ironically using the gray brick cell phone.
After what I had read about the lines that regularly stretch down the block, I took advantage of the fairly new OpenTable reservations to ensure we didn’t leave Portland disappointed. When we arrived at 4:45—15 minutes prior to opening—there was a fairly sizable line but everyone who had been waiting ended up with seating in one of the two dining rooms.
Apizza Scholls’ pies are done in a Northeastern-style—large, thin crust, minimally topped pizza that is baked very quickly at very high temperatures. We went for a half-and-half, with my girlfriend going for the Pig & Pineapple—house cured, smoked Canadian bacon, and pineapple (sans the onion)—while I went with the Sausage & Peppers—house made sausage with banana peppers.
The crust was hands down the best I have ever had. A product of the electric oven that allows the pizza to bake rapidly at 700°F, it had a good char around the edges and on the bottom. I could hear the crisp exterior crackle as I bit into it—giving way to the soft, chewy interior. It was perfection—inside and out.
The toppings themselves were top-notch. The pickled Mama Lil’s peppers added a nice little kick. The fennel-studded sausage was well-seasoned and carried a lot of flavor. These aren’t the rubbery balls that are strewn across your delivery-chain pizza; these are large hunks of house-made pork sausage that effortlessly fall apart when you sink your teeth into them—juices oozing with each bite.
I may be way behind the times, but put me on the list of those who are singing Apizza Scholls’ praises. In half of a pie, I received a crash course on what great pizza is. Now I’m counting down the days until my next road trip.
Website
4741 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97215
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