Sure they have GF, but it doesn't do any good since the smallest size is a14"!!!  Not many people have someone in their group to share a 14" with.  Would it kill them to offer an 8" or 10"???  Or offer it by the slice??  Everyone else in my group ordered a slice or mini-Stromboli that is offered  pre-made.  So once again, I felt ostracized being at a pizza place and not being able to order a pizza.  With the 500 or so people that came through in the 2 hours we were there, they certainly could have offered the GF pizza by the slice (like they offer for wheat crust!).  I had been dying to try their pizza for years, and was so disappointed that they advertised GF so heavily, but aren't truly committed to it.  I bet so many people go in there hoping to get the GF pizza, and end up with a salad.  They said to just take the leftovers home, but we were on the road and had nowhere to keep the leftovers. Which is true of so many people passing through Fruita. BTW, the Asian salad was not so good. Not really Asian at all. More like a garden salad with some sweetened up generic Italian like dressing. No hint at soy sauce or coconut or peanuts at all. Overall, super disappointing.
Review Source:Peanut Allergy Alert! Â They offer a thai style pizza with a peanut sauce. Â Proceed with caution! Â However, they were VERY accommodating in offering to clean work surfaces and take other safety precautions. Â We eventually worked out that ordering slices would be safe for B. since they used different ovens for warming and had not made a by-the-slice thai pizza. Â He did not have a reaction, so we were able to enjoy lunch in comfort.
And lunch was amazing! Â The crust popped right up into my top three favorites (sorry, Apiezza.) Â The pizza was a little on the greasy side, but oh so good. Â The slices were huge, one was enough for a meal, and we split a third slice of cheese because we were greedy. Â B. got a slice of the cheese (basic perfection doesn't need any additions, he say) and I got the Granny Pesto because I have a weakness for pesto and it looked SO good. Â And it was. Â
The place was dinerish, order and then seat yourself. Â They had a porch if you wanted to dine outside, and then even more seating behind the building in a garden-like setting. Â The bathrooms can be reached by going outside on the porch. Â There was some sort of weird suction thing going on with the doors. Â The front door kept opening on its own and then shutting whenever somebody opened the porch door! Â
The place was recommended to us by Cherry up at the National Monument visitor's center, and was easy to get to from there. Â It's about 4 hours from home, so I'm not sure we can get back anytime soon, but I will be dreaming about that crust!
They offer dairy and meat free on all their pizzas (whole pies, not slices). Â We split a slice of the pesto one- awesome! We also got the Thai pizza (sans chicken). They said it was made with peanut sauce- could've used more peanuts and spice. Decent flavor but not as spicy as I would expect a Thai pizza to be. The crust was great! Full New Belgium line up. Lots of patio seating!
Review Source:They seem nice enough, and quite popular for a small town. Â But I'm a traveler. Â I was flying solo as I usually am on my work trips and wanted 2 slices with lots of veggies and no cheese, since I don't do dairy. Â They couldn't do it. Â Either get a whole pie with no cheese or no dice. REALLY?! Â Not going to work for me. Â So I took my business elsewhere to Thai Palace and had a bangin' meal there instead!
Review Source:LOVE Hot Tomato! The pizza is flat-out amazing and the place is just plain cool.
They have a ton of specialty pies and while I haven't tried them all I can can vouch that they are all most likely amazing.
The dough they use is delicious, the ingredients are fresh, and they have a "frequent buyer" card.
Even a simple pepperoni pizza will leave you impressed.
This place is well on its way to becoming a Fruita staple! The atmosphere is a breath of fresh air on the town's main street and celebrates the mountain biking culture of the area in a cool way. To match is the great food and service. Everything I've tried offers noticeably fresh ingredients, well paired flavors, all cooked to order and served hot by a smiling employee. I'm finding myself craving their pizza often!!
It's worth the wait for a table (it's a deservingly busy place, and even with a lot of great indoor and outdoor seating, it manages to fill up) as well as the slightly pricy menu.
After my very first bike ride ever, which happened to be in Fruita, we stopped by the Hot Tomato Cafe (based on a raving review from a co-worker who is an avid biker). My boyfriend ordered a calzone and I ordered a slice of pizza with pepperoni and sun-dried tomatoes. Oh. My. God. It was phenomenal!
We were staying at a hotel in Palisade, and anticipated getting hungry later in the evening. We ordered two slices to go and ate them after consuming quite a bit of local wine.
But I digress.... back to the Hot Tomato Cafe...
The place is definitely a local hot spot. The pizza crust was perfectly crisp and the topping to cheese to sauce ratio was absolutely perfect. The beer selection was also superb. After my first bike ride, I must admit I was quite exhausted. And it only took one beer to knock me on my tush.
We tried to go the next day (Sunday) after our second bike ride, but they were closed. :( Oh well, we will definitely make a special trip through Fruita on our next trip out west to have a slice of Hot Tomato PIZZA!
Went back this last week, twice.
Really good service with the girl in the glasses up front. Very friendly and helpful!
We ordered multiple pizzas both times with salads and beers.
The pizza is really good and has plenty of toppings, plus they had some really good chicken this time.
I'm ready for another week of riding in Fruita/Moab/GR and some more HT pie.
We got the Granny's Pesto and a Greek Salad -- twice in two days.
It was exceedingly excellent. Better than anything I can buy in Chicago, though not as good as homemade.
Salad was made with "real" veggies, fresh and not generic, ie real tomatoes not pointless pale red tasteless -- of course we were there at the peak of tomato season.
Everyone friendly. There's a lot (too much) of meat on the menu. Â The beer, which we didn't have, is limited to one brewer, probably cus they payed for the tap.
I have been to the Hot Tomato several times, and every time I thought it was fantastic. I went with something new this time, the pizza called the Sweetness, and it was OUTSTANDING! I am pretty sure it is the best pizza I have ever had! I don't know why I waited so long to try a pizza outside of my comfort zone, but it was amazing. Now I am just going to order that from here on out.
Review Source:Didn't expect such FANTASTIC pizza out in the middle of nowhere... but man was it good!
We had the Palisades Peach and the Thai Chicken... both were phenomenal!
Palisades Peach came with grilled peaches, canadian bacon, gorgonzola, and rosemary. It was SO SO SO SO delicious... I wish I could order it online.
Thai Chicken was also very good and had a nice spicy kick.
Service was also great. If you are passing through this area, stop and eat here!
HANDS DOWN the absolute best pizza in a 50 mile radius!! Â Pizza is always consistent and customer service is always perfect!!! Â When we are in town this is one of the first places we will go as we crave their pizza. Â And their fresh cookies always something to look forward to. Â If your looking for great good, and customer service that actually cares, you won't be sorry you went here. Â Great job guys!!! Â Thanks for showing others what the standard should be. Â See you soon.
Review Source:I came back with my scooter gang yesterday and had the stromboli and a side salad. The stromboli is served with dipping tomato sauce and is fantastic, just like Diorio's (same recipe I believe). It looks small, but they are very filling. The "side" salad is only $3.99, but it's HUGE, with fresh mushrooms, peppers and lots of great greens. I ran out of dressing and they gave me a second at no charge. There were seven of us and everybody loved their food, and the young woman behind the counter was pleasant and professional. Definitely worth a trip to Fruita, especially if you're scootin' over the Monument on a gorgeous crisp November day!
Review Source:Quaint little, but very comfortable, place. She ad a calzone, which was big enough for two. I had the small (6) order of sausage rolls, again enough for two. We split an order of the excellent cheesy bread, which was a whole lot bigger than expected. It was all very good, and we took most of what we ordered away in a pizza box, which is very unusual for us, since we are travelling.
Review Source:So this is where all those Hot Tomato stickers come from. Â This place is getting to become a regional legend. Â
You've probably had pizza like this before somewhere. Â There is only so much a person can do when it comes to making pizza. Â I know it, you know it. Â The real reason you should go here is because of A) good vibrant young atmosphere, B) Reasonable prices, C) You're in Fruita and there isn't a whole helluva lot more to choose from.
Ok so I'm not from NY or Chicago, so there's no way I could know REAL pizza, but if this place is wrong, I don't wanna be right!
My husband and I are addicted to their Granny's Pesto. We seriously don't even think of ordering anything else. We usually pair it with an Antipasta Salad and the kiddos have a slice of their pepperoni pizza, although our 6-year-old would likely be just as happy with the Granny's!
As you can tell from my check-in's, I get by here quite often. It's worth it!
I.Love.Hot.Pie.
This place sells what dreams are made of; frothy/delicious beer, exquisite strombolis, and some of the best pie I've ever had.
When I stumbled upon this place for lunch one day, I ended up staying for hours chatting with the owners & employees, eating a slice of Granny's Pesto (MY FAVORITE!!!) and sampling the largest selection of New Belgium beers Colorado has to offer (other than the Brewery of course). I was also told that the brewery offers the Hot Tomato beers that they won't give to anyone else. Awesome.
It's a great place for a quick bite, a slow bite, a chit chat and maybe a couple more bites. It makes me happy to find a place where the owners and employees are as in love with the food they serve, as those who make their pilgrimage to the mighty pie!
Must have slices: Granny's Pesto, Stromboli, and the Sicillian. Oh wait... I think that was everything. You can put on any toppings you care to and BAMB, get your sizable slice of love.
Don't forget your Two Punch Tuesdays on your slice card!
Clean, good service. Â The place seems to cater to mountain bike, 4x4, and other outdoor enthusiasts though they were more than welcoming to our family w/kiddies. Â Enjoyed the cheesy bread but it was way huge for an appetizer. Â Marinara dipping and pizza sauce was a 10. Â Pizza crust was decent but undercooked / floppy. Â I like my NY style to be "holdable" in one hand. Â This was the only drawback. Â Amazingly clean bathrooms that are outdoor access. Â Cool decor. Â Patio area was very nice and they regularly have bands entertaining their granola & hippie guests. Â Loved the vibe.
Review Source:A cute local joint (don't misconstrue for podunk!) that serves fairly typical pizza-salad-sandwich goodies in downtown Fruita, Colorado.
Went here after a nice ride through the Fruita trails with my much-more-expert mountain biking brother and loved almost everything about it. To wit:
Cool owners that fought to keep the place going (apparently there was a lot of controversy with the place but I don't know much more than that. You'll have to read the postings on the walls.)
Self-serve drink station (critical for those that just came off the desert trails
Excellent Stromboli with a good amount of meats
Bountiful salads
Bright, casual dining room
BOTTOM LINE:
Local owners, carefully prepared dishes, and sunny environment make this really great option for all, including those that didn't just dismount knobby wheeled transportation.
My meal at Hot Tomato wasn't the best of my life by any means, but I'm giving it five stars because I can't think of a single thing wrong with my dining experience there. Â My husband and I were going to visit the Colorado National Monument and arrived too late to camp, so we stayed for one night in Fruita. Â I'm so glad we did! Â The town is really nice and has a main strip with a few eating/drinking establishments. Â We were in the mood for pizza, so we went to Hot Tomato. Â They have a large selection of pizza options, some with white or pesto sauce which was nice since my husband's not supposed to eat red sauce and therefore pizza has kinda fallen out of our dinner repertoire. Â They also have some other options - salads, calzones, stromboli. Â I don't remember the name of the pizza we had, but it had pesto and broccoli and chicken (no chicken on my half). Â It was delicious and we stuffed ourselves full. Â I overheard one of the women working there tell some other customers that they make everything on the menu except the pesto from scratch (they used to make the pesto as well but apparently the price of pine nuts and fresh basil was exorbitantly expensive). Â We also had a pint or two of beer - they have some New Belgium beers on tap which is nice for us since we love N.B. and can't get it in Atlanta. Â The staff was really nice, the atmosphere was bright and clean, and we even bought a T-shirt and a couple Hot Tomato stickers. Â They closed at 9:00p, I think, so they're not open too late (although they may have different hours in different seasons). Â Like I said, everything about the experience was very positive and if I lived in Fruita I would be a regular at Hot Tomato.
Review Source:There once was a place called Diorio's. Â It was a pizzeria located in the same building and address as Hot Tomato Cafe. Â I was amazed the first time that I tried Diorios pizza. Â It was honestly top three or better of my all time pizza ranking- not just for Colorado or the inter-mountain west, but from coast to coast. Â I always looked foreword to big greasy slices apres mountain bike ride.
A couple of years passed between visits to Fruita (home of the best trails in Moab, Utah). Â I parked in front of "Over the Edge Sports" (which is across the street from the cafe) and walked over for some pie. Â It was then that I realized that it was no longer Diorios. Â Slight dismay, but not discouraged I entered. Â
It was Wednesday, there was a blues trio playing music, there were $1 pints of New Belgium Ales, and best of all: Â My old friends Anne Keller and Jen Zuner ("Moab ex-pats") had bought the place, and were both there serving up the pie and pints! Â The pie is still awesome. Â A plain slice stands on its own. Â The menu's a bit bigger than Diorios- more salads and Stromboli are great additions.
Not only is the best riding in Moab in Fruita, but certainly the best pizza as well. Â I love Jen and Anne and pizza and mountain biking- not necessarily in that order
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