Restaurant Review |
Razzo's, or "rocket" in Italian, is the hip new pizza parlor at the corner of MacArthur and High Street that has taken off with a blast. With its friendly service, lively decor, and free Internet, it offers Laurel diners an exciting alternative. Razzo's, launched by three young partners, Rob Muscat, Dominic Provanzola, and Jeffrey Chicklas (the financial whiz), endeavors not only to provide delicious food at a reasonable price, but also to be part of the Laurel community. |
The concept of Razzo's and its "two-minute pizza" started with Dominic, who grew up in the family pizza business in Detroit. After reading about "these high-tech ovens that could cook a pizza in two minutes," he spoke with his childhood friend Rob, a professional chef, who had always wanted his own restaurant. According to Rob, the ovens are a sophisticated, computerized version of convection and microwave that offer hundreds of cooking options. Rob, previously a chef at premièr restaurants like Crogan's and the Bellview Club, maintains that same quality at Razzo's. All of the ingredients in the pizzas, salad dressings, and sauces are made daily nothing comes from cans. As Dominic says "We are artists. We put effort into the food, and it shows." Rob, who has already donated pizzas to community events, wants customers to be happy. "We are not opening this place just so we can make a buck." Razzo's, surprisingly humble in spite of its yummy pizzas and desserts, views its competitors as Little Caesar's rather than Rustica. As Rob says, "I don't want to alienate the guy who comes in for a slice of pepperoni." Or as Dominic put it, "We are the gourmet pizza of the not-gourmet pizza." After the interview, I was treated to lunch, a delectable thin-crust Maui pizza. As the smoky Canadian bacon and sweet, tangy pineapple danced over my taste buds, I thought, "The life of a reporter is hard, but someone has to do it!" |
