Jakob E.
Yelp
I'm a pizza snob. I come from the Chicago area, home of the Chicago deep dish. Further, my father hails from New York, home of the iconic pizza pie. Even further, my uncle is second or third generation Italian, and does not make anything your taste buds would scoff at. In short, I was destined to be a pizza snob.
This place was advertised to me as the closest one can get to an authentic NYC pizza, while being outside of the state of New York. This was advertised to me by a New Yorker! And daggonit if they weren't right!
Their pies have that NYC thinness and chew. There's enough sauce in every bite, but no dripping out under the cheese. And oh boy, that cheese; ooey and gooey and molten and seasoned. This IS the best NYC pizza knockoff one will find, in any state outside NY!
All there pizzas a good, due to fresh toppings, rotating specials, and traditional ways of preparation. The Sicilian, a pizza they always have on menu, is a Brooklyn, or Sicilian, style deep dish. This kind of deep dish pizza defers from Chicago in that the crust is an even slab of thickness, about one to two inches thick. The pizza is topped with the freshest of basil, balls of mozzarella, a special tomato sauce, and a few extra spices. Perfect in the summer time, or will remind you of the freshness of summer.
It would not be respectful if I neglected to mention the decor and customer service. First, the customer service is the bomb! These people are incredibly friendly, will remember after a few orders, and overall want you to be happy (and brag about Hello Pizza). The decor is 1950s meets 1980s meets modern. It's got this classic yet homey feel to it. You'll enjoy dining in as much as ordering take out.
Oh, and yes, they played up the name Hello Pizza when they first opened up. They had pictures of Lionel Richie all over the place. They have now reduced that to one picture of Lionel. Make sure to spot it when you stop in. For you youngins, Google Lionel Richie's song "Hello", and you will be thoroughly entertained, as well as understand the reference here.
Lastly, please rate highly and write a raving review. It is insulting that Hello Pizza's score is anything lest than a 4-point-something.