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Joe Peep's: One Helluva Pizza
Picture it: North Hollywood, 2007. Two old pals get together to work on an installment of LAist's Neighborhood Project but are easily distracted by watching episodes of The Golden Girls on dvd. Deeply entrenched in a bout of hunger, the two turn to the internets to find a local pizzeria that isn't a great big multinational chain (one of them used to be the LAist Food Editor, after all, and has these lofty ideals about consumerism) and they land on the site of a well-known nearby establishment. The pizza is ordered, delivered, and consumed, and the two are left remarking that it was one helluva pizza.
One of those people was me. And that pizza came from Joe Peep's.
You gotta love pizza with attitude, because when even the menu is smart-assy, you know you're getting the real deal. Just look at the online menu for Joe Peep's. They are upfront about the likelihood of you getting put on hold, and also having to wait awhile to get your pie brought to your door. They deliver everywhere "(...except IRAQ! Yes, Virginia, we charge.)" It is unabashedly New York style pizza. They make two kinds of crust, the pricier "5,969 Calorie Pizza" which is thick and fluffy, or the "Blue Collar Pizza" made of the same dough, only they use "a whole lot less" of it. Tons of toppings are available, like anchovies (which on their menu is followed by "Ugh!") or sauerkraut (followed by "really?).
We went for the heftier of the two, topped with garlic, sauteed onions, black olives, and mushrooms. Mama mia, did that box weigh a ton when the delivery guy handed it over! Getting that slice first out of the box, then into your mouth is an adventure in physics and drill-team style precision--there's a certain art to the scoop, fold, twist, and bite that takes some time to master. But oh! Oh! Oh! The taste...tangy sauce, just enough gooey cheese, not a lot of drippy grease, tons of fresh toppings and that chewy crust...pizza heaven. Two massive pieces later and I was ready to pass out right in front of Betty, Bea, Estelle and Rue on my television screen. No seriously, it will fill you up and knock you out, like getting a bear hug from your Godfather.
Moral of the story? If someone suggests getting pizza from Joe Peep's, for crying out loud say yes. It's an offer you shouldn't refuse.
Joe Peep's New York Pizza
12460 Magnolia Blvd., Valley Village
(818) 506-4133
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Photo by Lindsay William-Ross for LAist
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