Best Pizza and Brew makes a believer out of loyal Pizza Port customer

Best Pizza and Brew restaurant is an understated eatery serving up an uncommonly large variety of pizza by the slice and they offer freshly made salads (starting at $6 and served in a large modern wooden bowl), sandwiches (starting at $7) and baked entrees such as lasagna and mac & cheese (starting at $5). They also keep around 16 craft beers on tap including Green Flash West Coast IPA and Ballast Point Sculpin IPA.

I begged my husband for months to come with me to have lunch here but each time he declined, stating that he was a loyal Pizza Port customer and saw no need to alter that. After weeks of shoulder massages and uninterrupted time with Sportscenter, he agreed. For the record, we have been back three times.

The outdoor patio area holds about six tables and a large flat screen TV. Inside the volleyball court-sized restaurant is a stainless steel countertop bar area, flat screen TVs, and about five high-top tables and booths, all surrounded by large windows.

Chalkboards cover the walls behind the cash register displaying all of the menu items. The pizza case has four shelves displaying the eight daily pizzas available by the slice. At only $3.25 per slice (or $7.00 for two slices and a soda) I ordered slices of barbeque chicken and pepperoni and my husband ordered two slices of The Works, consisting of pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, black olives, aged smoked provolone and mozzarella.

After ordering your food with the cashier, you seat yourself and your food is brought to you. Our pizzas were presented to us on a mini round metal pizza tray with a piece of parchment paper.

My husband, self-proclaimed beer connoisseur that he is, was impressed with the quantity and selection of craft beer on tap. According to him, “to have craft beers on tap is a big deal…to have that many is an even bigger deal.”

The robust smell of the barbeque pizza made my mouth salivate. The pepperoni pizza sitting next to it had a very peppery potent smell coupled with the familiar scents of heated mozzarella cheese. I dove into the barbeque chicken pizza first. I could taste a bit of the sweetness from the barbeque sauce and the red onions and the cilantro all in one bite. The spicy pepperoni slice had an unforgettable kick.

Our waiter, Andrew, was also our host, our bartender and our cashier. I enjoyed his attentiveness (he and my husband chatted at length about their craft beer selection) and food suggestions, and appreciate the coupons he gave us for discounts on their delivery service.

As we were leaving, Andrew made a point of letting us know that every day, one half hour before closing (Sunday through Thursday starting at 9:30pm and Friday/Saturday starting at 10:30pm) their remaining slices of pizza in the display case sell for only $1 each.