Pizza at Jimmy’s

A small group of Boston Food Bloggers were invited to dinner at Jimmy’s Bar and Oven in Brookline earlier this week. This restaurant has only been open for several months, but I’ve passed it more than a hundred times on my way to and from work. When the invitation popped up to dine there, I jumped at it!

We got to chat with the owner Jimmy (duh) and hear the gist of their mission. Their goal is to be the “neighborhood pizza joint” but accomplish it with a certain flair: good ingredients, an authentic wood-burning stove, and an updated Italian menu.

They gutted the place as it was vacant for several years before they moved in. I definitely like the vibe they pulled together. It feels sort of like a swanky garage, with chalkboard paint on the walls and funky metal light fixtures.

I like when you can peak into the kitchen and see the cooks working their magic on the ingredient.

Speaking of kitchen magic, let’s talk food.

We started with appetizers: meatballs and mashed potatoes, fried calamari, and eggplant. All the platters were completely cleared, so it is safe to say we liked them! The calamari was my favorite, but it was not better than the best we’ve ever had.

Then we were served crostini with a variety of spreads: broccoli, eggplant, and sun-dried tomato. We enjoyed some but not all of the flavors, and were able to tell the manager after the meal how we really felt. Our opinions served a purpose because they are still refining their menu. They really wanted to hear our feedback!

Now, the pièce de résistance: the pizzas. They are just the right size for an individual to have a slice or two leftover, or share to with a friend alongside some apps. The crust: perfect. The cheese:  fresh mozzarella. The sauce: well-rounded.

Eating with food bloggers is always so fun. It is as if a Hollywood starlet is walking the red carpet whenever the food arrives. Camera come out and flashes go off in a fury. Eventually, we settle down and eat.

We had a few pizza pies to choose from: margherita, pesto, vegetable, and arugula with proscuitto.

Fan favorite is definitely the arugula pizza. They said it is their most popular pie and understandably so. I plan on going back to this restaurant with Justin just so that he can try that pizza!

Thanks again to Rachel for organizing the event, and the staff at Jimmy’s for feeding us!