The Observation Deck

Last night i had the pleasure of attending a soft opening for a new pizza parlor on Madison Ave.
Zappitelli's, and the pie was damn good. Out of the four I tasted it will easily will become
one of the better pies in town.


Adam Carroll, a trained chef, has wanted his own place for some time, and from his
days going out east where he had tried Zappitelli's Pizza in Mentor and Painesville and
loved their pie, the food and the way that each individualized the piazza for the tastes of
the city they were in until the menus were slightly different.

Reaching an agreement with the owners, he has brought one to Lakewood, and is looking
forward to defining some unique pies and food for the Lakewood version.

Again if last night was any example, the pie was damn good, the people there, friends and
family are true Lakewoodites, and food lovers. As I talked with them this morning again,
they are rushing to be opened by tonight to cash in on the big championship game across the street.

You all know if it was not good, I just wouldn't mention it, and if I am saying it is good it is
certainly worth a try. So give it a try. Stop in and talk with Adam, I bet it becomes one of
your favorite choices as well.

Good luck Adam and thank you for bringing it to Lakewood.

Zappitelli's
Pizza•Pasta•Parms
11am till ?
14201 Madison Ave.
216.227.9277 (ZAPP)

Jim,

I'm glad we stumbled into Zappitelli's pre-opening party last night. The people were really friendly and sharing.

I went back tonight and bought a couple of pizzas for the family and a football game guest, all the time hoping that mine would be as good as what we sampled last night. I wondered if they might have brought out the best just for their family and friends.

Really tasty. It may be the best pizza in Lakewood. It's my favorite right now.

They have so many different combinations of crusts, sauces, cheeses, and toppings, that it might take many months to figure out MY perfect combination. That is a challenge that I look forward to.

Pizza is only part of the menu, so I may become a regular.

The addition of Zappitelli's to Madison Avenue's list of independent restaurants makes that street's offerings as interesting as anything on the Detroit Avenue chow line.


Steve

.

Where is is on Madison?

David Lay wrote:Where is is on Madison?

14201 Madison Ave.


Steve

I also went back last night, just to see if the pizza was as good as "soft opening/friends night"
and to my surprise I found it better!

I started with the first pizza on the menu, the Diavolo de Luigi, and it was superb. The three
cheese blend complimented the Arrabiata Sauce, roasted read peppers and anchovies. The
taste was of the best pizzas I have had in Lakewood. Adam's Mom talked me into a salad.
so I order the first salad on the menu, the Antipasto Salad, it did not disappoint. Using
very high quality Capicola, ham and salami, the balsamic house dressing was tasty. The
salad at $6.25 was so large, I only ate half, with two slices. Four hours later Deb came
home reheated it and I had a small piece, and it was as good reheated, Deb loved it.

Yeah I think the place has legs, and Restaurant Row, uptown on Madison Ave. is certainly
becoming and equal to the "Detroit Avenue Chow Line."

David, get your butt up there and let us know what you think.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

David Lay wrote:Where is is on Madison?

14201 Madison Ave.

Zappitelli's is across from El Tango in the former Rosaria's, former Firehouse, former C-Town, former Carlucci's, former Pizza Pan location. It's next to Moda and Tommy's Pastries (best pastries on the West side).

I drove by last night and saw they had dine in service...which is new for that location. We haven't tried them yet though.

Tried the pizza a few days ago and loved it! The spicy arrabiata sauce might be as good as anything I remember having in Italy. can't wait to go back as soon as I finish the ten gallons of turkey soup in the fridge.

Steve Hoffert wrote:Tried the pizza a few days ago and loved it! The spicy arrabiata sauce might be as good as anything I remember having in Italy. can't wait to go back as soon as I finish the ten gallons of turkey soup in the fridge.

Told you!

Had the Eggplant Parmesan, another great too dish!

Batting 100% right now with me.


.

Liked the pizza. We got hot peppers and sausage. But what was really different was the Italian dressing on the salad. Different and very good. Anyone else tried it?

My daughter and her husband had us over for Zappitelli's pizzas the other night. I picked it up for them. Somebody dining in was having gnocchi with chicken, topped with pesto and roma sauce. It sure looked and smelled good.

Of the two pizzas we got, one had the traditional red sauce, which was very good. The other had pesto sauce. That was outstanding.

Friends tell me that their whole wheat crust is good.

.

Dinner at Zappitelli's with Punk Rock Legend and Webb Gang member Craig Bell. Craig is
back in town for one more week of practice with Rocket From The Tombs before they head
out on the road.



.

Lakewood's number 1 pizza snob digs into another slice of Zapitelli's Pizza. Ken who has attacked many a
chef in many a pizza places for how they make their sauce, their crust, their ovens, etc. Smiled and
declared it the Best Pizza in Lakewood and maybe the county. I is always enjoyable (like a train wreck)
watching Ken get into it with the Chef. But Adam Carroll had all the right answers, and even a couple
surprises that Ken seemed to enjoy.

Kenneth Warren came through town, celebrating the completion of his latest book,
Captain Poetry's Sucker Punch: A Guide to the Homeric Punkhole, 1980-2010. The 460
page book will be released in early 2012, and will be the most complete look at Punk
and Poetry in Lakewood, Cleveland, New York on the market.

Ken mentions that this might be the most written about Lakewood and Cleveland in over a decade, and
certainly drills down into the scene far more than any others. Ken has always been part of the "Beat
Poetry Movement" with the likes of Ginsberg, Kerouac, Ferrini, Thompson and the like. A part he kept to
himself for decades while Lakewood Library Director. Since shedding those suits, Ken has reestablished
links with some of the best still living and brings it all home in this study of the movement. Check it out
in the spring.

.

We took the kids out tonight to Zappitelli's. The owners were so sweet to our kids and provided excellent service. My kids had the gnocchi and I tried the lasagna. Very good!! Hubby had the pizza--he reported that he loves their pizza. We dined in which was very cozy on a cold night. I am looking forward to trying the Bruchetta Bowl!

Just tried Zappitelli's last night. My pizza consumption has been significantly downgraded over the years due to my son’s serious digestive intolerance for all food items containing gluten. Thankfully Zappitelli’s has a gluten-free dough option for its pizza and we have it a try. It had been years since I was able to bring home a box of pizza in which we could all immediately dive into. My son’s face was beaming with pleasure as he grappled with the rest of us for the biggest slice in the box without the fear of his stomach soon withering in pain. Game on for full family pizza gluttony at my house – Thanks Zappitelli’s!

Chris Perry wrote:Just tried Zappitelli's last night. My pizza consumption has been significantly downgraded over the years due to my son’s serious digestive intolerance for all food items containing gluten. Thankfully Zappitelli’s has a gluten-free dough option for its pizza and we have it a try. It had been years since I was able to bring home a box of pizza in which we could all immediately dive into. My son’s face was beaming with pleasure as he grappled with the rest of us for the biggest slice in the box without the fear of his stomach soon withering in pain. Game on for full family pizza gluttony at my house – Thanks Zappitelli’s!

That's wonderful - thanks so much for the post!! Now, the next step is to have your son come up to Zapp's and talk to Adam about the different OTHER options he has, pizza is just the beginning, next stop pasta - maybe we'll even name a pizza after him!! That's what we're here for, is to cater to you! Glad you all enjoyed!

MMmmmm Mmmm Good! I just had a sausage and mushroom pizza. Now you might have read the reviews of connoisseurs like Ken Warren and Steve Davis both of whom gave rave reviews from their very precise perspectives---------

but, I'm a growin' boy and I just loved the pizza! Great stuff at a great price!

Stan