If you like pizza, Maillard Wood Fired Kitchen in Elizabethtown is one you need to put on your…read morelist.
I went with the Italian Meats pizza, and this thing was amazing. It comes loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, cappy ham, sopressata and ricotta, along with Romano and mozzarella.
What really makes it different is the Neo-Neapolitan, wood-fired style. Their pizzas are cooked at extremely high temperatures, which gives the crust those dark, blistered spots you can see in the pictures. Those black spots aren't necessarily a burned pizza, that char is part of what gives wood-fired pizza its distinctive flavor and texture. Maillard even describes its food as being "kissed by fire."
And LOOK AT THAT CHEESE PULL!
The crust had a great combination of crispy, chewy and slightly charred, while the center stayed softer. Add all those Italian meats and the little pockets of creamy ricotta, and there was a ton of flavor in every bite. This definitely isn't your typical chain-store pizza.
The menu is pretty impressive too. They have everything from a basic cheese or pepperoni pizza to combinations like The Great Debate, Sweet & Spicy, Greek Freak, The Bama, Garlic Confit and The Gus. There are also wood-fired wings, salads, cheese breads and several dipping sauces. So even if everyone at the table doesn't want the same kind of pizza, there are plenty of options.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the atmosphere. It was peaceful and relaxing when we were there on a mid Thursday evening, it's one of those places where you can actually sit down, enjoy your food and have a conversation without feeling rushed.
And the service was awesome. Friendly service can turn good food into a great experience, and they nailed both.
One tip for somebody trying wood-fired pizza for the first time: don't judge that dark crust before you taste it. I know somebody is going to look at my picture and say, "They burnt your pizza!" Nope, that blistered char is one of the things that makes this style of pizza so good.
Amazing pizza + peaceful atmosphere + awesome service = an easy from me.
I'll definitely be back, although now I've got a problem: Do I order the Italian Meats again because it was that good, or try another one? Let me know what you ordered and if you felt this review was satisfactory. Enjoy your!