After a suggestion from reader Megan G., Dave and I visited Fireside Pizza in Richfield. I had never heard of it before despite it not being far from home. Thanks for the suggestion, Megan.
We arrived on late on a Wednesday after a live band was playing from 7-9. As they were packing up, I couldn’t help to gaze at the interior with fake plants all around and even a couple fake trees. Campy. The people around appeared to be regulars but it wasn’t very busy.
They claim to have the best thin crust pizza in town. You know what? It just might be true but I haven’t had a lot of pizza in Richfield. I’ve had American Pie Pizza in Richfield and Fireside is significantly better.
Our cheese pizza had a good mix of Mozzarella and Romano cheeses and was cut in triangle slices, not squares as I’m used to seeing in the midwest with thin crust. They pull it off well too: the crust is crispy, but not hard. When you pick up a slice it droops down at the end, but not too much so you don’t need a fork to eat it. That and it’s cut so it’s not messy. Not very greasy either and just enough sauce too to balance it out. Perfect, as far as I’m concerned.
Dave and I scarfed it down fast and barely left time to contemplate what we were eating. Quite tasty.
My only qualm about Fireside Pizza was the service. After we got seated, it took an abnormal amount of time for our waitress to ask us for drinks or our order. She realized this too and apologized. I ordered a beer, Dave got water and it came quickly. Our pizza came to us at a normal pace. When the pizza arrived, I ordered a second beer. It never came. We got our bill and then she remembered the second beer. She asked if I still wanted it and I said, “as long as it’s not on the bill, no.” She said, “Well, it’s two for ones tonight.” Would have been nice to know that beforehand I thought. I turned down my second (apparently paid-for) beer because we were ready to leave. Honestly, I think it was just an off night for her; she was not rude, very pleasant actually, but just for some reason wasn’t able to give us the attention as I’d expect normally.
The price for a beer (well, two beers) and a large cheese pizza was $15.41. I think that’s a pretty good deal, especially for the “best” thin crust pizza in town. I’ll be back.
Fireside Pizza
6736 Penn Ave S
Richfield, MN 55423
612-869-4040
Check out the rest of the photos on Flickr and note they also run an annual golf tournament.
Comments 10
nice choice. this place rules. note that it’s usually *packed* on weekends, so if that’s not your scene it’s probably best to hit them up on a weeknight.
Posted 06 Mar 2008 at 20:10 ¶Damn that looks good, and I already ate.
Posted 06 Mar 2008 at 21:04 ¶Been there with Adrienne once. Pretty good. Not a huge fan of the “patio” (we were there in summer) but it seemed like better than inside. Pizza was kick-ass.
Posted 06 Mar 2008 at 21:12 ¶Oh man, I love Fireside Pizza. I had a few friends work there during High School and would order from there all the time. Definitely the best pizza in Richfield
Posted 06 Mar 2008 at 22:15 ¶Never heard of Fireside?! Back in the day (see: the 1960s), it was one of the only pizzerias in Richfield. Broadway Pizza also had a Richfield location, IIRC. Until Shakey’s came along, that was about it for pizza in and around Richfield.
(Just to show how much more older than dirt I am, Kentucky Fried Chicken was also available, ca. 1968, only on Sundays as a take-out from DeLaria’s restaurant in Southdale. This was back when the recipe itself was franchised by the Colonel; there were no KFC restaurants.)
Posted 10 Mar 2008 at 07:39 ¶Noodleman… I was barely born in the 70’s and I grew up on the east side of the cities: is that a valid excuse?
Thanks for the comment and the bit of history. I have a lot to learn (and a lot more pizza places to visit).
Posted 10 Mar 2008 at 09:55 ¶No prob, Aaron. I’d never heard of Red’s Savoy, either, until I moved to St. Paul in ‘93. LOL
Posted 10 Mar 2008 at 10:07 ¶I like them. Next time get a caraf of chianti to go with….yum
Posted 10 Mar 2008 at 10:20 ¶The interior is high camp. I don’t think the owners get that though. True folk art.
The pizza is very good, however I still am nostalgic for Shakey’s and their beer hall style seating and banjo band from back in the ’60s. “Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end….. la la la….”
Posted 11 Mar 2008 at 09:45 ¶That pizza looks way too good for words. Sorry to hear that you had to deal with sucky service.
Posted 13 Mar 2008 at 09:04 ¶Post a Comment