Pinocchio's Pizza

It’s nice when you can be friends with the ex, and even better when you can punch him every now and then for picking a less than stellar place to hang out.

For Monday Night Football, he likes to hang here after work, and since he’s still one of my best friends, this is where I go when I need to talk to him about “stuff” if we can’t figure out any other mutually convenient day of the week.

The place is dimly lit with warm colored walls, sexy leather brown couches in the center and open booths along the perimeter. There are flat screen tv’s all over the place, so there’s really no bad seat in the house for whatever game it is that you’re following. Its got alot of potential except that there’s never a crowd here, so it falls short. Instead of trendy singles, you find entire young sport teams here with their chaperone dads kickin’ it. So hey, there’s never a wait for those of us that do come here.

So instead of a lounge-y atmosphere, it looks and feels more like a dim family room complete with a center section of couches encircling a low lying large coffee table. Its pretty awkward to sit in this area to eat. Drinks on a cozy couch, maybe, if this was a date, but you’re out there in the open for everyone to see. Not alot of privacy as the lights aren’t dim enough.

I’ve tried many of their dishes because I’m simply there and hungry, and heck, my good ole friend is the consummate gentleman who still pays, even though he doesn’t have to.

Here’s what I’ve tried:

Appetizers:

• Bruschetta – its alright
• Caprese – just ok…not enough basil
• Cesar Salad – just standard

Entrees:

• Fettucini Alfredo – lackluster. I don’t cook, but even I can probably make this better.
• Chicken Parmigiana – this one is actually pretty good, although I don’t like spaghetti noodles and prefer angel hair.

It’s not my favorite place to chill or to watch any game, Lakers preferably. But sometimes, the meeting location isn’t my choice and I’m just in an obliging mood because a) he likes it, and b) I need a sympathetic ear of a good long time friend.

I suspect he likes this place because it’s not a “scene” so that he can just be left alone to chill.