Delicious value from a wood fired oven

• Name + address: Pizzeria da Romolo, 410 Bank St.

• Type of food: Pizza

• Appetizers: $11-$15

• Mains: $17-$20

• Diet: Meat and vegetarian options. Gluten free crust and vegan cheese also available

• Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

• LCBO Licensed: Yes

• Website: www.pizzeridaromolo.com

I first noticed Pizzeria da Romolo last summer and promised myself that this was a spot I would visit. Well I’m glad I finally got around to it.

You can dine-in but most people view it as a takeaway. The service is very friendly and the food is a bargain by any standard.

As if it couldn’t get any better, Pizza da Romolo offers $12 pies between noon and 4 pm on weekdays. And if you appreciate classic Neapolitan pizza, this will become a short-list destination.

I ordered a Napoletana (San Marzano tomato, fresh basil, mozzarella, oregano, roasted garlic, anchovies, olive oil) and a Pompeii (San Marzano tomato, mozzarella, pepperoni, green olives) and both had a judicious amount of toppings to provide just the right amount of flavour on the very good crust.

The whole-clove roasted garlic on the Napoletana was perfectly done, sweet and creamy without any acrid notes and it had just the right amount of anchovy so that the salt was balanced with the rest of the pie.

Again everything harmonized nicely on the Pompeii, although I had hoped for green olives that didn’t have pimentos. It’s just a personal peeve.

From the time I walked through the doors to the moment I left, not ten minutes had passed. That’s what it should take for two Neapolitan pizzas and I learned that at Pizzeria da Romolo they know what they’re doing.

The two key pizza ingredients, the sauce and crust, are very good and I was made to feel that this is a place to which I want to return. Not just for the food but the welcoming atmosphere.