LaRosa's Pizzeria

I really really wanted to love this Cincinnati staple but I just couldn't.  I guess you have to be a native to truly like it because I found it tasteless and disappointing.  The sauce didn't pop to me, the bread was just there, and the cheese was minimal.  Sigh.  If you're standing outside this location right now, just continue down Montgomery about a half mile to Plainfield Rd (i.e., in the opposite direction of Kenwood Mall), turn right on Plainfield and immediately turn into the parking lot on the left.  The Italianette is right across the street, and their pizza is like heaven on Earth.

I probably should love LaRosa's-in fact, I feel a little guilty that I don't, as it's a Cincy tradition-but the pizza just doesn't cut it for me. I've tried several times to give the pizza another chance, but it's just got that sweet-sauce-from-a-can, bland crust, cheese-from-an-old-bag taste. The first bite seems promising, but by the time you try and take a second one you have already eaten all of the cheese because it just slides right off the top. I like this pizza...only when I desperately need pizza. There's much better pizza places in Cincinnati, but hey, might as well keep the ol' tradition.

The Norwood LaRosa's is my favorite location.

It's centrally located, and whenever we have family in for the holidays we always meet up here.  They have plenty of parking and seating and graciously accommodate large groups (without notice!).

LaRosa's has a sweeter pizza sauce than the average pie joint, and it's flavor is either loved or detested. I happen to love it (my parents raised me on it :)).

It's a fun place to bring people from out of town to, because the sauce is unique to Cincinnati.

For those who don't care for the sauce, there are several other items to accommodate plainer palettes (soup, wings, hoagies, etc).  Their salads are really good, though they come with lots of cheese, so if you don't want the extra calories, ask them to leave it off.

If you aren't worried about what you eat I suggest the bread sticks with pizza sauce and garlic butter as an appetizer (insert Homer Simpson drool noise here).

Every time I'm there I make special requests and substitutions to my pizza (Big Four Veggie, substitute green peppers for mushrooms, and NO CHEESE), and they never get it wrong.

They also offer lunch specials and "just right" combo meals which is easy on the wallet.