One Night Stand

I am not talking about a recent episode of course. I am referring to those restaurants, or any establishment for that matter, that hits a home run with advertisements but strikes out with product.

Based on my first experience, “Pizzatalia” (618 Shawmut Ave, Boston Mass.) would into this hit and miss category. Where have I found their menus? All over the Northeastern campus, particularly in Holmes and Meserve Hall (the journalism department) in stands right next to the stands for the school newspaper. Almost every time I have picked up a copy of the Northeastern News, I’ve seen “Pizzatalia” right next to me. And because of this ideal menu location, I have been the victim of great advertising. That is why at least five of these menus sit in my room.

The menu itself was also very convincing. With an overly long list of options, including over 45 different flavor milkshakes, seven different types of boneless tenders and an eye-catching sandwich list. How does a smoked salmon, Swiss, red onion, tomato and lettuce sandwich sound? What about chicken salad, bacon, lettuce and tomato? There are over 10 more of these sandwiches, all of which are built to eyes and mouth open wide. Every list on the menu is extensive. There are a variety of specialty pizzas, over 11 different salads, pastas, calzones and the list goes on.

Too bad when it comes to food, rarely does quantity take precedent over quality. That rare exception was not tonight. The quality was overall, a disappointment. The 10 piece boneless chicken ($8.50) was dry, but worse was that the honey barbecue sauce seemed to be nonexistent. It was just dry, sauce less chicken tenders. About five of them went uneaten.

The gyro dinner ($7.50) was not a whole lot better. First of all, we chose to have rice as the side but received fries. That forgotten, the salad was basically just a pile of lettuce, and the three slices of tomato had too much texture and tasted old. I love tomatoes, and somehow these tomatoes were not good. The gyro itself was good, not great, and not really any better than the gyros I’ve had at any other pizza joint. The fries and salad went unfinished.

The problem may be that I did have some expectations when ordering delivery from Pizzatalia. And I wasn’t let down by the delivery (30 minutes like they said). The food just wasn’t up to par, and it certainly wasn’t as good as the advertising.

If you are still tempted to try Pizzatalia, call 615-541-4044 or 617-541-4040. Most likely, you (especially Northeastern students) will be tempted not by temptation itself, but by the fact that the Pizzatalia menu will surely be one you have.