In 1972, Italian immigrant Mario Batali was making Pizza for the first time for his friends in Portland. Confused about what to call it, he drew on his favorite opera La Bohème and called it “Baffetto’s Pizza,” which soon became “Monicals Pizza.” Also inspired by the ingredients of a classic Neapolitan pizza (tomato sauce and mozzarella), they added fresh basil to their signature Margherita pie.
Monica’s Pizza is a neighborhood restaurant serving New York-style thin crust pizza and extremely affordable Italian dishes. In addition to Pizza, they also serve pasta, chicken wings, and salads. They also offer gluten-free options, most of which are vegan. On the weekends, they also have a brunch service with several different types of eggs, benedicts, and other toppings on a massive menu. Their desserts are light and fluffy, with the house specialty Monica’s Creme Brulee.
The Restaurant is Simple
They do not offer take-out orders, but they will deliver or have them delivered on the weekends.
The restaurant owner is ‘Pasquale Russo and co-owner ‘Alfredo Asprea’ who met while working at a pizza shop in Italy. Together they have nine locations across the Portland area and also have plans to expand. Monica’s Pizza is located in Portland, Oregon, on NW 23rd Avenue, between Thurman and Irving Streets.
It is a typical take-out restaurant, with counter service and a limited seating area for those who wish to eat.
Monica’s Pizza serves Neapolitan style, New York style, and Sicilian Pizza. Their crust is hand-tossed and baked in an electric oven.
The menu includes Pizza, salads, pasta, sandwiches, and desserts. They have an extensive selection of beer, domestic and imported soft drinks along with coffees from all over the world.
History:
Monica’s Pizza has a long history in Portland. In 1972 Mario Batali and his Italian friends Louise and Harley Guglielmo decided to open a pizza restaurant in Portland. They used ingredients from a classic Neapolitan pizza recipe and added fresh basil for their signature Margherita pie. It was the first time anyone made an attempt to make Pizza outside of Italy. Before long, people from all over Portland were lining up for these unique pizzas, and Monica’s Pizza officially opened on October 13, 1972.
Mario Batali stepped down to focus on other business ventures, and in 1995 he therefore, sold the company to a group of investors from Idaho and Phoenix. Since then, Monica’s Pizza has expanded throughout Portland, serving its customers with Pizza, salads, and pasta.
An Online Attack Led to Extensive Digital Vandalism
On August 9, 2006, a hacker Viral Virus hacked into the Monica’s Pizza website and deface it with an image of a man in German military garb destroying the Constitution. The hacker took credit for what he described as his “hard work” on several message boards. He also posted links to the Monica’s Pizza website and shared his anti-government views with people who read them. He did not ask for money or threaten to continue his attacks.
Within hours, several people discovered the hack and notified the owners. They shut down their servers and were able to restore their site within a few hours.
In 2007, Monica’s Pizza opened a new location in Tigard, Oregon, on 99th Avenue near Pacific Highway. A second location opened in Portland’s Hollywood District on January 8, 2009, on NE 40th Avenue just north of Sandy Boulevard. They opened a third location in the Sellwood neighborhood on Southwest 22nd Avenue between Alder and Foster Streets.
Monicals Pizza is Known Throughout Portland
It has been featured on television and by local news stations, including KGW-TV, CNN, Fox News Radio, and other media outlets. It has also been featured in local newspapers, including the “Willamette Week.”
The restaurant was on the Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible,” where celebrity chef Robert Irvine work to improve the menu and restaurant environment.
Monica’s Pizza has a long history of philanthropy in its local community and the support of non-profit organizations across the country. From 2012 to 2013, Monica’s donated over 1200 pizzas yearly to Portland area food banks.
On October 14, 2013, Monica’s Pizza suffered a heavy flood of rain that caused significant damage to the restaurant. The restaurant was not open for two weeks. It reopened on November 6, 2013.
Monicals Pizza: Known For Inexpensive Dining
In 2015, Monicals Pizza donated over 1000 pizzas to the Hayward Fire Department and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue with the help of their customers and vendors. The donation helped the fire department to provide free pizzas to their workers on days when they would work without a break.
Monica’s Pizza is known for its highly inexpensive dining experience. Their prices are much lower than average pizza restaurants and restaurants in industrialized areas of Portland. Average prices are $12 – 15 per person, and meals also come with sides, salads, pasta, and desserts. They have a wide variety of alcoholic beverages at competitive prices, including some beers on draft and wines by the glass.
Additional Information :
The restaurant is less than 10 minutes from downtown Portland with plenty of parking available at the restaurant’s lot. The restaurant also offers take-out or delivery through local vendors on the weekends.
Monica’s Pizza has nine locations in Portland.
They also have additional franchises in Vancouver, Washington, and Eugene, Oregon.
Monica’s Pizza is a family-friendly restaurant open for lunch and dinner also for those who want to dine in at the restaurant. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant has free wireless internet as well as free parking and valet service.
Conclusion:
Monica’s Pizza is a family-friendly restaurant with a casual atmosphere. It offers fresh and inexpensive Pizza, pasta, and salads made with quality ingredients. The menu includes Pizza and other Italian food at competitive prices and a full bar including bottled beers, wine by the glass, and cocktails. Their online reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with many praising their Neapolitan-style Pizza’s authenticity.
