Pizza Review: Cincy by the Slice
Posted Friday, June 3, 2011Cincy by The Slice just opened their second location last week. The new pizza joint is fittingly located in a small, wedge-shaped building in Deer Park, right by the traffic light where Plainfield Road and Blue Ash Road meet.
When I told my girlfriend I'd be ordering their signature "Pickle Pie" pizza for myself while she enjoyed her "Girls' Night Out," she replied, "Ewww, that sounds weird." After reflecting a moment, she added, "Save me a slice."
Parking is near impossible at the building itself; there's a small patch of gravel around it near the railroad tracks, but you'd be lucky to fit your car there. A better option would be to park along North Avenue and then (cautiously) walk across the street.
When I stepped through the front door, I very nearly felt like I had simultaneously exited out the back. The place has no room for anything but pizza ovens. Obviously, the Deer Park location is carry out and delivery only. I recognized one of the owners, James Lawson, from his photo in Metromix. He smiled warmly, retrieved my piping hot carry-out order and sent me happily on my way.
I'm a bit of a dill pickle fan. The little wedges are throw-away items for many people, a restaurant afterthought often accompanying sandwich entrees. I always look forward to them. As a child, I enjoyed the sour taste so much that I used to drink small cups of pickle juice from the jar, mixed with a little soy sauce. Now that will put some hair on your chest, Sheila.
The pizza certainly looked handsome. The crust was crisp, thin but not overly so and the pie was not over-cheesed. Each slice harbored a thin layer of mild, slightly sweet tomato sauce that paired well with the briny, vinegary bite from the dill pickle slices. I liked that there were actually small nuggets of tomatoes in the sauce, lending an element of freshness to the pie. The addition of black and white pepper also complimented the pairing well. The pickle slices weren't over-utilized; there were just enough of them to give the pizza its distinctive taste.
Overall, I was impressed with the combination of flavors coming from simple ingredients. Cincy by the Slice also serves three varieties of Stromboli; a number of hoagie sandwiches; buffalo wings; and a couple interesting desserts, like the Apple Cinnamon "Flop Topper," a cinnamon-sugar pastry stuffed with green apples and drizzled with caramel sauce.
One might argue the pizza market is over-saturated, but then again, there aren't a lot of pickle pies floating around out there. Cincy by the Slice creates a need you never knew you had, then helps you satisfy it.
7031 Plainfield Road, Deer Park, OH 45236513-791-6000
Rating: 3.0 out of 4
= Outstanding
= Fair
= Poor
The best TACO joint in the city. I go there as a treat to myself every Monday. TEX MEX TACOS are delicious culinary treats that look beautiful and taste great. I'm so impressed with this place that I never explore the other items on the menu. If you don't get your taco fix here, you're losing in life.
posted: Tue., Apr 27th, 2021 @ 2:37 PM
My Wife and myself dined at Ferrari’s on Saturday and the Food and service was great/ I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli with misc nuts and sauce and it was the best meal I’ve had there/ My wife had the Fish and Vegetables and was very happy/ I also got a couple of their pizza and olive loaves of bread/ The bread is always a hit at work.
posted: Mon., Nov 23rd, 2020 @ 1:14 PM
@Rick: Thanks for the suggestion! I'll have to remember to give them a try.
posted: Sat., Nov 21st, 2020 @ 9:06 AM
Try Joe's Pizza located at Airway and Smithville Rd. You might like it...That's one of favorite haunts. I definitely think it beats Cassano's.
posted: Fri., Nov 6th, 2020 @ 4:19 PM
Hands down the best Indian in the area. I have yet to find their yellow Punjabi dish anywhere. It is my favorite, and what keeps me coming back time after time. I think I have been here over 100 times. I love this place.
posted: Thu., May 28th, 2020 @ 12:03 PM
I found a gyro I keep thinking about
https://www.yelp.com/biz/tazikis-mediterranean-cafe-cincinnati
their lamb gyro is about 2-3 bucks higher in cost than a gyro elsewhere - B U T - it is made with whole pieces of lamb meat, not the lamb and beef loaf that all other Gyro joints in Cincinnati seem to do
it is a chain. A minus for me, and I suspect for you as well.
But its good.
really, really good
one caveat: skip the baklava as it is not made in-house
posted: Mon., Dec 9th, 2019 @ 12:43 PM
I'll take your word for it, then.....it is fairly close to work so it'll be an upcoming lunch
I also need to try out this little taco wagon near Quatmans in Norwood
posted: Mon., Sep 9th, 2019 @ 6:21 PM
Hi @TJ - We were pretty impressed with the quality of the items, which I think justifies some of the pricing. I really liked the house-made tortillas and their salsas. Chilero offered some extra little touches that were a pleasant surprise. :)
Just by way of comparison...that same week we'd tried the new Mazunte location downtown...and our experience at Chilero beat them out.
posted: Thu., Aug 29th, 2019 @ 10:18 PM
Great food and fantastic atmosphere
posted: Wed., Aug 28th, 2019 @ 8:29 PM
Seems very pricey for a mostly carryout/counter-service joint
posted: Wed., Aug 28th, 2019 @ 5:51 PM