I bet you were expecting some fancy five star places when I mentioned I wanted to start writing reviews in 2012. Sure, there is a time and place for that, but if I'm being real with you, it's not where we eat. So for my first review of 2012, I wanted to take you to a place that I visit probably more than I should admit.
About two summers ago, Handsome's parents told us we had to try a little pizza place in Port Deposit Maryland. A one road town built low into a cliff on the Chesapeake. The buildings are old and have wonderful charm, nestled in along the large rocks across from the wide river. During the day its nice to walk along the road peeking in at all the hidden nooks and crannies. While you're walking your stomach is going to be pulled in all directions, because on top of all of its charm, Port Deposit is packed with great restaurants. I have talked about Joe's Grog house once before on here in a brief 'trial review', but I'll be honest, I haven't been back. His parents were right.
Late one Friday night we decided to give it a whirl. We drove 25 minutes for pizza. D'Lorenzo's was a tiny place with only 5 or 6 tables. We ordered the 'meat lovers' pizza and promised his parents we'd save room for dessert.
Then the pizza came.
I'm not normally one to say this, but....
Oh my God.
I have had pizza in many places across the US, including New York and St. Louis, and where this is not the traditional style that either city boasts, this pizza is hands down the best pizza I have ever had. The sauce was speckled with fresh flavors of oregano and basil, it wasn't soaked in too much cheese, and the meat. Quote me on this one, best meat ever. It was a candy coated explosion of all savory flavors from ham, to the pop of fennel in the sausage to the crisp texture of bacon. This my friends, is a slice of heaven. A chorus of angels came down and sang around me.
Since that first bite, two years ago, we have only had pizza elsewhere maybe twice. We used to be a pizza from the quick grab and go place once a week kinda household. Now when we get a craving, its the painfully long drive to Port Deposit before waiting in anticipation for that mouthwatering first slice. It was so good, we have never tried anything else on the menu. So I started taking family, friends, co-workers along in an attempt to get them to order something new and be forced to share it with me. 😉
And I have to admit, his parents were right on dessert to. D'Lorenzo's makes an award worthy cannoli like no other. Warm dough, rolled in sugar and sliced with fresh cannoli cream down the center. Forget the dry hard shells of traditional cannolis and think of the warmth and flavor of a churro. There were those angels again. Shame they couldn't undo the 5 pounds I inevitably gained that night. But each one of those pounds was earned and savored.
I will exercise all week long if it means I can splurge on a dinner like this. So, the next time you are craving pizza or just want a nice drive, check out Port Deposit, and you won't miss D'Lorenzos, which is now doubled in size and has at least 20 tables and a deck with additional outdoor dining in good weather, with a scenic view of the river. If its a weekend during with nice weather, you'll most likely find us there, dirty from a bike ride, using it as an excuse for the carb load.
See you there soon!
D'Lorenzo's Pizza and Grill 15 S. Main St, Port Deposit, MD 21904 410-378-2800
Sorry about the bad picture quality. I didn't work on that whole 'bringing my camera out in public' though, and will next time. I promise.
Tes says
I think the pictures looks beautiful, rustic and warm 🙂 The pizza sounds really delicious 🙂
Belinda @zomppa says
Best pizza ever? Hmm...going to have to put this on the list!
kitchenarian says
I love a good pizza and this looks amazing. We don't eat out too often in our household, but this is exactly the type of place I would go. Next time I head north, I am plugging this into my GPS. Thanks for the review.
Erin says
I'll have to remember to go there the next time I am visiting family in MD
Kristen says
Your description of the pizza has me drooling. I love sausage with a good fennel taste.
Kiri W. says
Looks delicious! Whatever that dessert is, I want it 😉
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
I need to visit my aunt (she lives in Maryland). This pizza looks amazing. It reminds me very much of the ones I've had in Italy. Wow, oh wow. I think I'm going to love the review, but I'll hate the fact that the restaurants are so far away.
RavieNomNoms says
OOO pizza is the bestest. YUMMY YUMMY!
Chefplo says
I would just like to say that I live in Port Deposit and it is everything you say. We love it there and feel blessed to have such great pizza and so close. For me the best thing about there pizza is the crust. It's actually made on site from flour and yeast and water, not a dough from a factory that gets thawed or a preshaped crust either. While we are talking about pizza I should tell you about another great shop in the next town over. Perryville, on the other side of I-95/rt 40, is home to Ercol's. They make an awesome pie and other things too so you might want to check it out next time.
Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi) says
I was so excited to see that it is in MD and not too far...because I want me a piece of that, even just a bite!
Jen DZ says
This looks so wonderful! I'm in Colorado so it doesn't seem likely I would make it to Maryland anytime soon to try out D' Lorenzo's. I wish I could because it sounds like a favorite place of our's that's up in the mountains. We only make it there once a year, if that. So now my mouth is watering. 🙂
Dionne Baldwin says
I will add these to my map. We like to travel and try good places to eat we just haven't been able to make it very far yet lol. We love pizza and I will have to taste the pizza, save the leftovers and leave lots of room for dessert!
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
Despite the fact that I've lived in Maryland for 3 years now, I still don't consider myself a Marylander. And I'd never heard of Port Deposit until I googled and found that it's an hour away from me. An hour is definitely a worth it drive for pizza like this! It beats whatever we have here! Yum!!!
Ann says
I LOVE when you find a pizza place that is perfect! We have one here - local and they make plain ol' pizza...amazing crust and a nice, light sauce! The ONLY place we go!
Roxana GreenGirl {A little bit of everything} says
i'm not a big pizza fan (mostly because some of the pizza sauces give me heartburn) but they way you described that pizza you sure made me craving a slice.
Parsley Sage says
Hot Stuff! I clearly need a food vacay to Maryland. I'm always looking for the world's best pizza 🙂 I guess some parents really DO know stuff!
Kim - Liv Life says
Well.... it would be a bit of a trek for me from San Diego... but my husband travels the country for work, and I have a little list of "places to go" if he should ever be in town and I will definitely add this!! Isn't is wonderful to find a good pizza place? Well done!