Months have passed since my first (and, until now, only) visit to Ah-Beetz on Jog Rd in Delray, and with so many positive reviews online, I had to go back and see whether (a) it was me, (b) it was an off night on my first visit, or (c) my original impressions were still correct.
On the initial visit I added pepperoni and I wondered if that had contributed to the sogginess, so this time I kept it simple, I ordered a traditional Mootz. When the pie arrived, it looked somewhat promising, the edges showed just a touch of char (a little worrying), and when I peered underneath, the bottom revealed solid char spotting underneath. A quick taste of the crust, and it was very good, light and airy. So far so good.
I lifted a slice, and it had a bit of a flop, not bad, but enough to hint at what was coming.
The first bite confirmed the oh-no for ah-beetz, the crust flaccid and had absolutely no crunch, no crispness whatsoever. This wasn’t a case of a takeout box steaming the bottom soft, this pizza was maybe a minute removed from the oven. I went through several more slices hoping for a different result, but each slice stayed distractingly soft.
The highlight of the pizza was the cheese. melted beautifully with just the right tang. The sauce was still a little too tangy for my taste, and where my first visit had leaned heavy on oregano, this time garlic was the over-generous addition, which I know many people love. Two more bright spots, our server was excellent, and I enjoyed a Foxon Park White Birch, which, in my opinion, remains the only soda worth drinking with pizza.
Having spent years hunting down great pizza across Connecticut and tasting some of the very best it has to offer, I have to say Ah-Beetz just wasn’t to my liking, same as last time. I wish them well, but for me, it is not, in my opinion, indicative of great CT pizza.
15220 S Jog Rd,
Delray Beach, FL 33446
FN – I went unannounced, without an invitation, and paid for my meal like any customer. Nobody was aware that I’d be writing about the visit or the food. This is my honest opinion on a normal visit, nothing special or comped.
