DINNER: Hot Italian, John's take

Hot Italian's Web site

Hot Italian is making a credible run for the Hippest Pizza Joint prize in our fair city. CPK has a great location but is way too corporate, Zelda's is a pain in the ass with their shotty service, and I don't have enough tattoos to hang with the Inferno Pizza crowd. So that leaves Paesano's and Hot Italian for those of you who want a pie and want to be in the scene while you have it. Overall, the food at Hot Italian is fun and invites group sharing. I borrowed several slices from the unlucky four who were within my arms reach, and all were tasty. The joint is, alas, far from perfect. The decor is, very, very black and white, sort of like Casablanca without that hot mess Ingrid Bergman. The adjacent Ducati motocycle showroom probably looked good on the business plan, but is now shoved in the corner like a 12-year-old's Hot Wheels collection after puberty. And the service could use a little brushing up on the wine list -- perhaps a start would be if they could recommend one bottle from the extensive and unfamiliar collection of Italian wines. So who wins the challenge? I have to say that I still think Paesano's is the Hippest Pizza Joint in town, and by somewhat more than a nose. It's been here for what seems like forever in restaraunt years, it is consistently good, and doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Perhaps time will tell for Hot Italian.