Ciccarelli's -- Coeur d'Alene…read more
As someone who has traveled extensively -- including throughout Italy, one of my favorite places on earth -- I do not say this lightly:
Ciccarelli's serves some of the finest pizza I have ever eaten.
And I mean anywhere.
Italy included.
There is something almost impossible to describe about truly exceptional pizza. At a certain level, words begin to fail because great pizza is not analyzed... it's experienced. It's the kind of food that causes conversations to stop mid-sentence because everyone at the table suddenly realizes something special is happening.
That's Ciccarelli's.
I've lived in Coeur d'Alene barely three weeks and my wife and I have already been there three times. At this point, resistance appears futile.
Every pizza we've tried has been a masterpiece.
Not "really good."
Not "our favorite in town."
Masterpiece.
The crust alone deserves poetry -- blistered, wood-fired perfection with that delicate balance of crispness, chew, char, and tenderness that only happens when people truly understand dough. Every ingredient tastes intentional. Nothing feels thrown together. Every bite -- from the tip of the slice to the outer crust -- is a full gastronomic experience.
Favorites so far:
THAT'S AMORE -- red sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage, red onion, black olives & mozzarella.
THE SPICY ITALIAN -- spicy red sauce, pesto, Italian sausage, red onions, fresh mozzarella, parmesan & basil. Ridiculously good.
THE STELLA -- olive oil base, goat cheese, prosciutto, apricot preserves & honey drizzle. Sweet, savory, luxurious, and somehow perfectly balanced.
And the Pizza Margherita...
Listen carefully:
A Margherita pizza is the ultimate truth serum for a pizza restaurant. You cannot hide behind toppings. It exposes everything -- crust, sauce, cheese, balance, restraint, technique.
Ciccarelli's passes that test with flying colors.
Their Margherita has become my weekly sustenance pizza.
And then...
The desserts.
Good grief.
Most restaurants treat dessert like an afterthought. Ciccarelli's treats it like a sacred continuation of the meal.
I am slowly working my way through their dessert offerings, but I keep getting derailed by the BLACK BOTTOM COCONUT CREAM PIE.
I have been eating coconut cream pie for over seventy years.
Seventy.
I have NEVER had anything like this pie.
The rich saturation of flavor... the generous texture of real coconut... the black bottom... whatever culinary sorcery is occurring back there needs to be protected by national treaty.
It is so good that you could honestly justify visiting Ciccarelli's solely for dessert.
Also outstanding:
* Piña Colada Cream Pie
* Strawberry Shortcake Torte
* Napoleon
* Cannoli
The restaurant itself is immaculate, intimate, warm, and beautifully designed. Seating is limited, however, and deservedly so. My advice? Get there early or go on a weekday if possible. They also offer lovely outdoor seating.
And finally, the family behind it all.
There is something unmistakable about a place built by people who genuinely love what they do, love each other, and love the experience they are creating for others. You can feel it the moment you walk in.
That kind of thing cannot be faked.
Ciccarelli's is not merely a restaurant.
It's one of those rare places people discover and then quietly hope doesn't become too famous because they still want to get a table.
An absolute gem in Coeur d'Alene.
