Even with all my nose-in-the-air nutrition snobbery, I have always been of the mind that pizza remains one of the few foods that can count grease as part of its charm. Incidentally, I could say the same thing about John Travolta, although I am not constantly faced with the dilemma of whether or not I should put him in my mouth. (Although I can't say the same for his wife or a few gay masseuses). In any event. I don't mind a nice, calorie-laden pepperoni pie now and then, but this time around I thought I might think outside of the [pizza] box.
Promise Pizza is unassumingly nestled in the same Great Hills shopping center as Sprouts and Michael's. I've always meant to make it a point to stop at Promise after my errands of acquiring pistachio nuts at Sprouts or some completely unneeded hatboxes at Michael's, but I could never seem to muster the energy after I was through with those extremely taxing tasks.
I found myself late for the 1:55 showing of "Snow White and the Huntsman", so I purchased my tickets for the 3:00 and decided to kill time at Promise. It all worked out, in that I needed to consume pre-cinema energy, as this would be a "working" movie; I had to be prepared to jot down pointers on how to be more of an evil queen than I already am.
Promise is a tiny little place, with no more than a couple wrought iron tables outside and another couple of tables inside along with a bench. It isn't the most sprawling of set ups, and I felt a little "on display" while eating in such a small space, but for a pizza joint like this it kinda works.
Their menu is pretty straight forward, with a selection of specialty pizzas or the ability to build your own. However, this is where Promise Pizza's claim to fame comes into play. Here is where you can choose from white or whole wheat crust; request gluten free crust; or, you can request Vegan toppings such as their Vegan cheese Daiya, a 100% plant based cheese that sounds interesting (for someone else to try). No matter what your selections, all doughs and toppings are listed as "organic and all natural without traces of pesticides, injected growth hormones, antibiotics or unnatural preservatives." Additionally, their mission statement includes a devotion to social responsibility, utilizing environmentally conscious facilities (Aha! That explains the no frills interior), along with their eco-friendly delivery cars.
I'm actually quite shocked now to discover there is no pizza topped with granola here.
I was drawn to The Lone Star, topped with "Texas-sized" pepperoni, Canadian bacon, mushroom, green Pepper, red onion, and tomato. And even though it was a dine-in order, Promise Pizza still delivered. (As a bonus, I was actually able to watch the guy make my pizza behind the counter).
Every bite felt "clean" somehow. Maybe it was the fresh tomatoes, the generous helping of vegetables, and the fact there was little to no grease that contributed to this feeling. Thankfully for me, taste was not sacrificed on the altar of a crunchy, environmentally-friendly food deity...which happens so often in similar cases. Take a look at the picture I took and tell me that doesn't look delicious.
Just a note: The employees were all friendly, relaxed, and laid back. They made sure to follow up and make sure I was indeed enjoying my meal.
It was an exquisite pizza...one that was perfectly proportioned, leaving me feeling wholly satisfied, yet totally devoid of guilt. (BTW--Where can I find a man like that?)
Promise Pizza: It's local, socially responsible, and clean eating at its tastiest. If you haven't been by, I "promise" you that you won't be disappointed (Sorry, I couldn't resist).
And I surely "promise" to return. (Sorry. I "promise" I'll stop. Ah, crap).
Anyways--4 Stars. read more