Restaurant Reviews

Hey Shawty, It’s MY Birthday!

June 21, 2012
What’s my favorite thing about my birthday every year? Believe it or not, it’s not the presents or the birthday wishes but rather it’s the fact that every year my family comes together and puts aside their busy lives to spend dinner with me at the restaurant of my choice.

Each year is different depending on my mood. Many years I spent my birthdays at Augie’s in Ballston Spa, last year I chose Hibatchi but this year I was ready for something more relaxed and laid back. My original choice was to go to Harvest and Hearth, the place famous for their wood fired artisan pizzas and comfortable atmosphere. Unfortunately, since this year I once again shared my birthday with all the fathers in the world (happy belated father’s day dads!) the restaurant was booked and I was left with one of my least favorite things, decision making.

After about an hour of deliberation, I chose to go to The Publik House. Why might you ask? Well, for starters, I’ve never been able to get in there because it’s always PACKED and on this occasion it was not. Also, I really wanted pizza, but not traditional pizza, something a little different.

Looking at the menu, they are jam packed with probably 20 or more different “specialty pizzas”, all unique in their own way.

Here’s the pepperoni and mushroom pizza, definitely the most plain combination of pizzas we ordered. This pizza was the epitome of a greasy, hot pizza. It was almost too cheesy where the cheese would slide off as you tried to grab a slice. Nonetheless, the pizza was good.

Pepperoni and mushroom pizza

Next up, the white broccoli special. This white pizza was drizzled in olive oil, rich in cheese and full of flavor between the garlic and the broccoli. Sometimes I forget how awesome broccoli is on a pizza, and this certainly made me remember.

White broccoli pizza

Finally, we tried the Shel’s Choice, as recommended by the waitress. This white pizza is topped with fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts and garlic. Definitely the most creative pizza out of the bunch and it was a great combination of flavors.

Tomato and artichoke pizza
The Publik House is now one of my favorites in the area and here’s why. When you’re in the mood for a thick crust, hearty pizza, they’ve got it perfected. Their pizza is borderline deep dish and there are few places in the area that can actually make a decent thick crust. I also give them kudos for their selection of specialty pizzas. Sure, a lot of them are white based, but I love white pizzas, so it works for me!

If I had to critique, I’d say that the more the toppings, the more gooey and greasy the pizza is. It would be nice to be able to pick up the slice and eat it without worrying about toppings falling off, but then again, how many thick crust pizzas allow for that?

Try out The Publik House in Malta and let me know what you think!

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1 Comment

  • Reply A Pizza Pie or Two at Pizza Works in Ballston Spa « Saratoga Food Fanatic September 24, 2012 at 11:24 pm

    […] chat about the pizza. Obviously I’m a pizza lover, which is why I’ve written about Publik House and Harvest and Hearth. I could eat it every other day if that was acceptable. I like the thinner […]

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