By Shamce Ahmad |Staff Writer|
All across the Inland Empire and San Bernardino County, there are pizzerias littered among the food scene all claiming to be the best around.
The three restaurants that I visited were Romano’s Restaurant in Riverside, Vegan Korner in Colton, and The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe in Redlands.
Romano’s Italian restaurant and Pizzeria is well-renowned for their expertise in fine Italian dining and pizza-crafting in the style popularized in the city of Chicago.
In addition, Romano’s carries a full bar that is a hit among the weekend warriors in Riverside.
The Chicago-style ambiance of the building certainly helps in establishing an authentic experience for both families and friends.
Newspapers bearing the names of notorious mafia members and Chicago Cubs memorabilia scatter the walls to provide a novelty feel.
Customer Austin Turner said that his “Favorite part of coming to Romano’s is looking at all the cool pieces on the walls.”
Turner has been coming to Romano’s since they opened back in 2009.
The restaurant provides a bevy of different tastes for picky eaters and Italian food connoisseurs all the same, ranging from their specialty Chicago thick crust pizzas, to supreme-style calzones, to Romano’s Corner Stand hot dogs and sandwiches.
“The one pizza I’d suggest to my customers would be the Chicago-style stuffed crust Romano’s Combo,” said employee Beatrice Coreas.
Vegan Korner provided more of a small town vibe, located in a residential neighborhood right along the train tracks in Colton.
The seating at Vegan Korner was limited, making it more of a take out and delivery type pizzeria. The atmosphere was quiet and basic at best.
The food on the other hand was great for vegans and vegetarians alike, with a multitude of options on their menu.
The pizza I ordered for my friend and I was the Vegan BBQ Chicken Pizza, which had daiya cheese, soy chicken, red onions, cilantro and barbecue sauce.
For someone not being vegan, I found it pretty appetizing, and so did my vegan friend Rayman Zikria.
“Of all the vegan places I have tried, Vegan Korner did pretty well,” he said. From a true vegan, that’s enough for me.
The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe in Redlands has been the perfect place for groups and families to eat together along scenic State Street in downtown.
The restaurant also has a very convenient pick up option that is utilized very often, according to employee Douglas Satterfield.
“When the lines are out the door, it certainly helps to call your order in so that you can come right up to the front,” said Satterfield.
Satterfield has been at Gourmet Pizza Shoppe for ten years.
The menu has all sorts of wild creations, which is something the Shoppe takes pride in.
“I think the amount of options we have is what brings a lot of people in,” said Satterfield.
He recommended the Bulldog Pizza as the must-have pizza.
All three pizzerias are great at what they do, and are all very different.
I can’t tell you which is the best for you, but my personal favorite was The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe.
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