Taste of Raleigh: Lilly's Pizza

Pizza.  You don’t usually associate Raleigh as being the pizza place.  Well, Raleigh might not have great pizza – but as long as Lilly’s is in the city – we’ll have good pizza.  When so many people recommend a place, I go with reservation.  I hope it is going to be as good as everyone says, but have been let down in life with food choices of others, so I try to keep an open mind.

I was not disappointed.  I went with a bunch of girlfriends on Memorial Day night.  It is trendy, culture, eclectic place.  Not Italian by any means.  But, I loved the atmosphere.  It was raining so we couldn’t sit outside, and I am wondering still if their a/c was broken because it was very warm in there.  We arrived at 530 which was perfect because we were able to order our pizza and only had about a 10 minute wait in getting them.  After 6, the wait is more like an hour if crowded.  Note to consumer: go early!

It was hard making a choice, but room and I split one slice of their Big Star pizza: Homemade pesto, mozzarella, parmesan, gorgonzola, fontina, roasted red peppers & pistachios.  Who would have thought pistachios on a pizza would be delicious.  So so good.  Also, I got their house salad: the croutons were made of pizza dough – how good is that.  That’s a winner.  Roasted pear vinaigrette – I was in heaven with that stuff.  A dressing that I need to drink.  That good.  I tasted my friends stuffed mushrooms.  Best I’ve had.  Not too salty, so pretty to look at, and with pesto – can you go wrong?  Roasted mushrooms filled with monterey jack, pesto, grilled shrimp and bacon. Topped with fresh basil! 

So – note to self: split a slice, get a salad.  Cheap and filling and delicious (if you can choose just one slice).  Get there before 6pm.  Enjoy yourself.