BERTUCCI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT PEABODY MA

It's the last Saturday of the month and were still on Route 1 trying pizza. Our final stop is at Bertucci's Italian Restaurant 15 Newbury St West Peabody MA .  http://www.bertuccis.com/index.php.

This is a chain type restaurant with many locations. I usually like to go to a pizza place that is unique and has a flavor all it's own but Bertucci's in Peabody holds a special place in my heart.

The first time I met Karen, live and in person, face to face, was here at Bertucci's where we decided to meet for a Saturday dinner. So now comes the great story......

We decided to meet in the parking lot. As I drove into the lot it was almost full, a busy night for pizza lovers. I drove around the lot looking for a spot to park and I spied a pretty lady sitting in her car. I stopped in the middle of the lane to go over and see if it was Karen. I got out and said hello and it was indeed the lovely Karen. I told her I was looking for a place to park when I realized I had locked my keys in the car with the motor running and in the middle of the lane. What a great first impression! We laughed and I called my daughter Sarah to drive up with a spare key. I'm good at embarrassing her like that. Karen and I chatted and got to know each other while we waited. After Sarah rescued us we went in to eat and had an amazing time.
I knew then she was someone to spend my life with.

All great loves have to have a great story!

Tonight we met Diane and Steve and sat down to eat. After a beer we ordered salads and my favorite Tuscan Chicken Wings. Soon, albeit too soon, the pizza arrived. we were seated at a table for 6 so at least we had room to fit the food.

Pizza here is cooked in a wood fired oven at high temperature.

We decided on a eggplant pizza....

and a Pucillo Pizza which had pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, peppers and onions.

Both pies were baked well and were full of flavor. The high oven heat allows for a crisp crust and doesn't wilt the veggies.

We enjoyed the dinner but were a bit put off at the speed in which the pizza came out. We really hadn't eaten a lot of the salad and wings before the pizza arrived.

We will be back though as Karen and I like to come in on the anniversary of our meeting and have dinner. Karen also likes to mention how we met there and we usually get a free desert.

Overall the pizza quest was fun. Each of us has our favorites. Karen ranked them as Angela's, Prince and Bertucci's and I liked Prince, Angela's and Bertucci's in order.

Each brings good food and wonderful memories.