Rasmus Pizza Restaurant

Yea, I would eat this pizza again. I have a teensy fascination with this non-Italian 'za phenomenon, such as Pizza Art, and the now defunct (much to my chagrin) Pizza Bubamara. I believe this is a Bosnian restaurant, definitely Eastern European, serving up quite a variety of pizzas, other pasta dishes, and then the familiar "Che-vup-chi-chi", and the more adventuresome and non-pizza like "Breaded Veal Brain."

The place, a pie-shaped room on the corner of Elston and Lawrence, has the feel of a 1960's rec room, and a Quentin Tarantino movie. It is The Anti-Crust (a reference to the boite by that name.) Not the most welcoming feeling upon entering, so I decided to order a pizza to go: a 10-inch pizza Rusticale (sliced cooked ham, mushrooms, pepperoni, garlic, tomato, cheese, olive.) It was $8.00 on the outside window menu, and $11.00 on the inside menu. I ordered a Beck's while I waited, and watched and listened to the handful of other patrons, and listened to the entertaiiner, who kept directing his comments to me, since I may have been the only one listening to him.

He was an Asian fellow, very atonal, with a guitar, He had a big flat white cap which covered his eyes, long braided black hair, a shiney silver shirt, a beige vest and black pants. I did not recognize any of his songs, and one had the lyrics "I want to have a boyfriend just like my dad's." This did NOT capture the attention of anyone else in the room, so I wondered if I was hearing things. Or again, just the only one listening.

Anyway, I took the pizza home, shared with roomies, and it was met with acceptance. I have to say that I like the Bosnian crusts. Chewy, a little sweet and yeasty, but definitely "homemade." The pizza was just a tad overdone-you know when the cheese looks like Old Florida person tanned skin, a bit leathery.  I liked that there was very little tomato sauce. There are about twenty different varieties of pizzas, and all quite original.

Unless you are going with a large group to soak up the unique, albeit surreal ambiance, I would try them for delivery or takeout first. The pizzas range from $8.00 to $30.00 for 10", 12" or 20" depending on ingredients. And as I pointed out, I would try it again. And so would my dad's boyfriend!