February 4, 2012

BEST PIZZA: Pizzeria da Lupo

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Winner

 

2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 303.396.6366
www.pizzeriadalupo.com

 

 

With all the pizza parlors in Boulder, what makes this one stand out? Jim Cohen, chef and partner in Pizzeria da Lupo, has convincing answers. “We use a wood-burning oven, slow-rising dough made with Caputo flour from Naples, great olive oil and San Marzano tomatoes – a cut above what most pizzerias use. My background in high-end restaurants differentiates us from others. We use very fine ingredients.” But, he points out, “We are not pretentious, our wine list is not high-priced. We are very old world.” Cohen first got interested in pizza at the Phoenician Hotel in 1996. “I started working on the dough; slow fermented dough develops a lot of flavor. Ours ferments for three days at 40 degrees.” Other pizzerias tend to make the dough in the morning and use it the same day. Reviewers give raves to the crust; one describes it as “crispy, wood-fired, golden, flaky, with just-enough-salt-that-is-not-too-soft-or-doughy.” Cohen and partner Ken Wolf also own Empire Lounge and Restaurant in Louisville.

 

Runner Up

(Tie)
Abo’s Pizza
2761 Iris Ave., Boulder, 303.443.1921; 1110 13th St., Boulder, 303.443.3199
637 S. Broadway St., Boulder, 303.494.1274
www.abospizza.com

 

Runner Up

 

Cosmo’s Pizza
659 30th St., Boulder, 303.447.3278 , 1325 Broadway St., #108, Boulder,
303.447.1133, www.cosmospizza.com

 

 

 

BEST Pizza: Abo’s

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Abo’s www.abospizza.com 2761 Iris Ave., Boulder, 303.443.1921 1110 13th St., Boulder, 303.443.3199 637 S. Broadway St., Boulder, 303.494.1274 720 Austin Ave., Erie, 303.828.9777 1834 Main St., Longmont, 303.678.0111 1355 South Boulder Road, Louisville, 303.604.9896 7960 Niwot Road, Niwot, 303.652.0830 502 Center Drive, Superior, 720.304.6000
With all the pizza places around, what makes Abo’s stand out? “Quality ingredients – special dough and special sauce made daily just for Abo’s,” according to manager Ben Bishop. “Also, our professional pie makers, professional because of the quality they assure and the pride they take in their work.” It’s true, the dough is made fresh daily and hand tossed according to Neopolitan New York tradition, and, oh, that genuine Neopolitan crust – benissimo! It is classically thin with a bumpy texture, bubbly, pliable but firm to fold over. Abo’s Pizza still adheres to the original quality ingredients of its first pie, which hit Boulder in 1977. The sauce is a proprietary blend fashioned after the legendary Rocky Graziano family sauce recipe. Founder Steve Abo was trained in New York pizza restaurants owned by the once-famous boxer. Abo’s continues to use high quality tomatoes from the same supplier year after year. The freshest vegetables are delivered and chopped daily. They use mozzarella cheese that won’t slide off the crust. A slice of Abo’s pizza is only $3, and the restaurant offers lunch specials. Bishop says, “Thanks to all our fans,” and notes, “We have quite a few regulars who come in three to five days a week. We know them by their names and their slices!”
Runner Up

Runner Up

Proto’s Pizza www.protospizza.com 4670 Broadway St., Boulder, 720.565.1050 489 Highway 287, Lafayette, 303.661.3030 600 Airport Road, Longmont, 303.485.5000