I love Hype.

The only thing I love more than hype? Probably pizza.

And for better or worse, Varasano’s Pizzeria has received PLENTY of hype. (See articles from my favorite foodie blogs Blissful Glutton, Foodie Buddha, and Chow Down Atlanta.)
Now, my heart belongs to Shorty’s, but I have been known to cheat…often. Don’t judge me.

Here’s the Q+DD on Varasano’s: Chef Jeff Varasano moved to Atlanta from the Bronx in 1998 and couldn’t find pizza that rivaled his favorites from the Big City. (Apparently, Patsy’s was his favorite…mine too!) So he decided to embark upon a 10 year-long pizza expedition studying at pizzerias all over the world and experimenting with all kinds of ingredients and variables in search of the secret to pizza success. It looked like this (in my brain.)

(maybe not.)

Eventually his quest for the holy grail lead him to his claim to fame: the BOPRE* (*Best Online Pizza Recipe Ever. Click here for details.) Fortunately for the culinarily challenged, like myself, he opened up his own joint in Buckhead in March of this year and was greeted by…you guessed it: a whole lot of hype.

Plus, he’s pretty darn cute! Witness:
The first time I went was, of course, with Seth. (I know you’re shocked.) We sat in the back at the chef’s counter, split a caprese salad and each ordered a slice while we watched pizzas being assembled. I can’t tell you what Seth got because I was totally immersed in my caramelized onion slice, it was amaaaaaazing.

I don’t know how it took me so long to make it back there, but DK + DK were in town for my show on Sunday and we zipped by there for a quick bite before they headed back to the ‘ham and I am STILL thinking about our meal!

Between the 7 of us we polished off:

2 caprese salads (standard) and a spinach salad (tossed in house made raspberry vinaigrette with pecans + gorgonzola)

Then

a caramelized onion pizza (made with sweet onions and a sharp Emmenthaler cheese. I’m not really sure what Emmenthaler is but I’m pretty sure it directly translates to “Deliciousness”)
A “Nana’s” pizza (the house special: mozzarella + tomato sauce with a secret blend of Italian herbs. Yes, I said secret.)
a “Salumi” pizza (Varasano’s version of the Meat lover’s. Per my cousin Kevin’s request. All kinds of Italian cured meats with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and spiced olives)
And a “Nucci” pizza (garlic, olives + Emmenthaler topped with Arugula, Capocollo + herbs.)

Now, I know that sounds like a lot for 7 people but the crust is very, very thin. We left full but not overly stuffed and everything was DELICIOUS.

My favorite was still the caramelized onion, and my least favorite was the Nucci pizza. Now, I love salad on pizza, but I thought it was a little soggy (FYI: that did not stop me from finishing my slice no problem. Plus, it was DK’s favorite, so what do I know?)

Worth the hype? In my opinion: totally. The flavors were divine, the crust was crunchy chewy perfection, and it was a lovely little evening with the fam.

Two freshly manicured thumbs up.

Happy Pizza!

xx, L

Varasano’s Pizzeria
www.varasanos.com
2171 Peachtree Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 352-8216