Vincent's is a family tradition. Coming from Wilkinsburg, it's the pizza they grew up with. Hence, it is the pizza de jure that all other pizza in the house is compared to. I honestly don't recall having had it before this weekend, but in trying all the pizza places around Pittsburgh that I can - it was time to make the family pilgrimage back to Vincent's Pizza Park.
Now, the first thing to say is that Vincent's is old-fashioned from top to bottom. No paying by card, no timed orders. You call for pizza, or you show up for pizza, and you get pizza. They have their menu, and they have their way of doing things. And that's that. If you're concerned about alterations, I would look somewhere else.
That also goes for the service. Seat yourself, and the servers are on the way. They do what they can to amke sure every customer is taken care of. If you're take out? Same thing, except they'll remember your face and bring it out without as many check ins. If you're looking for modern amenities, or a sophisticated service vibe, this place isn't it. But, they care, and will look after you.
Then comes the pizza.
It is a greasy pizza that's thin like a new-york crust in the center, and stays that way until the crust, which builds up thick and doughy like a Detroit/Sicillian Pan pizza.
It goes without saying that the Vinny Pie style pizza is one of the most greasy pizzas around, and for some, that means one of the best. Others might think it one of the worst for that reason. I like both non-greasy and greasy pizza, so it was a very good meal. Moreover, my mother loves greasy pizza, and it was exactly what she wanted after a hard, but special, day. So, it did what it was supposed to do and beyond.
I got a 1-topping Pepperoni, and a 3-topping Mushroom, onion, and green pepper. The latter was my favorite. They drifted a bit into one spot on the drive home, but it was fresh, hot and delicious. That's also to say, I'd really like their cheese pizza, I think. There's a unique flavor profile in the cheese that's not quite a typical newyork, but also not unusual or off-putting. The sauce is light, and does what it needs to, but otherwise doesn't stand out too much.
The Peperoni was good, and there was a ton of it. Some of it was crisped to perfection, other parts weren't quiet there. It was a very sharp pepperoni taste, which some might love. It wasn't quite to my preference, with how much there was, but I'm not knocking it. It's the perfect pizza for someone.
Suffice to say, I hear a lot of talk about how a greasy pizza is a cop out, or a sign of bad quality. I don't believe that. I think that it appeals to a flavor profile that some people love, and I happen to like. And if that's what you're looking for, good luck beating Vincent's Pizza Park. A Pittsburgh tradition, and one for my family.
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