Steven B.
Yelp
The only thing better than a really good pizza is a really good pizza that supports a good cause. With Cleveland Scene's Pizza Week going on I had tried a couple of upscale Margherita pizzas and I really wanted a traditional Italian American pizza; so in looking at the list of shops available I have been meaning to try Ohio City Pizzeria. Located on Lorain Avenue in Ohio City it was a quick drive from work downtown and there is plenty of street parking available.
Ohio City Pizzeria is a small shop which has been around for a long time; it was acquired by the West Side Catholic Center. In partnership with Edwins they use Ohio City Pizzeria as to act as a training center to help people develop culinary skills and succeed in moving from poverty to full time employment at other restaurants.
The actual shop is very traditional, black and white tile floor, green walls, white tin ceiling, checkerboard tablecloths and some Cleveland photos. There are 5-6 tables and a small 4 seat bar. Everything is clean and tidy. The bar is well stocked with 4 beer taps. The menu is compact with pizzas and salads, appetizers and a couple of pasta dishes. For Pizza Week they were offering a 12" cheese or pepperoni pizza; I of course picked the cheese pizza and ordered the $2 Peroni draft beer special.
The Peroni was excellent, a light clean draft that was light, smooth and easy to drink; a great way to start a meal and a nice compliment to the pizza. The pizza came out in about 10-15 minutes, perfectly cooked. The pizza is a classic, just what I was looking for. The crust is medium thick nicely toasted on the outside, soft on the inside with a nice flavor. The sauce is a balance of sweet and tangy. The cheese had a mild smokey flavor, just the right coverage and thoroughly cooked. Overall the pizza was excellent with a nice balance between all the elements, baked perfectly and very tasty.
The service was excellent, the manager was also the server and the bartender; she was bubbly, upbeat and knowledgeable. While the shop seemed a bit understaffed they worked hard and kept up with the tables and the takeout orders.
I really liked my visit to Ohio City Pizzeria, they are an old school place that is serving really great pizza. While I usually find some little issues or nits, this time there was absolutely nothing to criticize. Add in that they are supporting a good cause and helping people there are plenty of reasons to give them a try.