Unassuming exterior. Small eat-in area inside. Two ceramic deer heads with stick antlers on the wall. And two red chalkboards boasting the fare in impressive chalk-script. None of this matters. The pizza is excellent. The quality and taste of every pizza on the menu cannot be praised enough. Most pizzas around are close to equal parts crust and topping. The Corner Grille does not follow this model, setting itself light-years higher in flavor than your usual pizza joint. The crust is extremely thin, and it serves its two purposes well. First, it is a means of getting the toppings of the pie to ones mouth. Secondly, it provides a textural crunch. I ordered the Greek Pie consisting of baby spinach, garlic, lemon, oregano, diced tomatoes, and cheese. It was a panic order, I’ll admit, as I could not decide which to try. I later learned that no matter which I had ordered I would have been thrilled. The Greek Pie was salty, crispy, garlicky goodness. There was not an overwhelming amount of spinach or garlic. Indeed, the pizza seemed to have the ideal quantity of all ingredients. The thin slices allowed me to consume several mouthfuls of not only my pie, but also slices from my neighbors and from the two extra pizzas that materialized next to our table. The staff was amazing and I could tell how much pride they take in their food. I cannot possibly recommend Corner Grille more, and look forward to returning again for their Chicken Caesar Salad Pie!
Tag: lemon
Merluzzo al forno
Choosing the healthy meal while eating out is not my forte. Cries for indulgence echo throughout my whole being. Chicken, vegetable, or white fish dishes are dull, make-at-home on a Wednesday meals. So I once thought. Apparently, when healthy foods are cooked perfectly and served with a side of savory risotto, they ARE indulgences! The Merluzzo al forno includes a lemon and herb crusted haddock filet, parmesan spinach risotto and Italian string beans. I say includes because each was delicious and full-flavored. The haddock filet was cooked to flaky perfection and topped with a very crunchy topping with strong lemon and pepper notes. The thin green beans were bright green, drizzled with olive oil, and topped with chopped tomatoes. A complimentary amount of olive oil and tomatoes I must add; the green beans were not drowning and the plate was not greasy with excess oil. The risotto was very savory with a think sauce and just a little bit of spinach. I was extremely impressed with everything I ate at Mare e Monti, from the bread and olive oil, to the TWO different pie slices I ordered to-go from the dessert platter. I highly recommend Mare E Monti Trattoria and encourage everyone to brave the awkward street parking and indulge!