Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Review: The Riverview

The Riverview
20 Estes St, Ipswich, MA (978) 356-0500 (no web site)
Cash only

The Riverview is an Ipswich landmark and a hidden gem. Locals know it, but outside the Ipswich area, it's pretty unknown.

The Riverview is good at pizza. Really good at it, which is a good thing because that's all they make. Their pizza is a thin crust style, which depending on where you grew up might be called "New England" or "Greek-style". Their sauce is flavorful and not too sweet and the kitchen is liberal with the toppings.

The menu is pretty easy to figure out, and, as you might be able to see, the Riverview is very reasonable. One pizza with an assortment of toppings will run you about $7.00. For most folks, a single pizza is enough for one. It does reheat well though, so feel free to order enough to take home.

Beware, when your pizza comes to your table, you will be starving (there can be a bit of a wait when the place is hopping - all weekend really). Watch out; the sauce will be molten, so don't scarf that first slice down if you value your tongue and tastebuds. Pull a slice onto your "plate" - really a sheet of waxed paper - and let it cool off a little first.

If you're in the area, do stop in for a bite. The Riverview's got a full bar so you have a drink while you wait for dinner. They do a lot of takeout also, so feel free to call ahead if you'd rather eat at home.

4 comments:

Julia said...

People eat pizza with sweet sauce on it?

That's kind of horrifying. Is it a New England thing or just a bad pizza parlor thing?

Sunday Cook said...

Ah, a voice from the land of good NY pizza.

Bad pizza parlor thing Julia. Usually, at least up here, cheap pizza places use a pretty crappy tomato sauce. A really easy (and ineffective) way to mask lousy tomatoes is high-fructose corn syrup in your tomato sauce. At some places the sauce is more like a dessert topping - gack. I am sure this is how the sauce comes from the supplier, not an added fillip applied by the parlor.

That said, ripe tomatoes are sweet, so tomato sauce should have a slightly sweet edge.

Anonymous said...

My husband works near this place and I'm dying to go! We love pizza. Thanks for the review!

Sunday Cook said...

You should definitely go. It's a nice easy night out. If there's room, we enjoy eating at the bar. The bartenders are really nice people and the drafts are nice and cold.

Stop at White Farms for ice cream on your way back home.

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