I officially have a new favorite family friendly restaurant in the area. It's modern, yet cozy and welcoming. It's packed with kids and families, but not obnoxious or sticky (you know what I mean).
Its ingredients are fresh and local, yet the place is affordable. And the pizza is everything a family needs – totally delicious, completely customizable and even nutritious.
It's Blaze Pizza in Brookfield, recently opened in November, and I highly suggest you go try it.
We were greeted Saturday night by a row of smiling employees ready to build our individual 11-inch pizza just the way we wanted it. You can choose from the standard simple pie (100 calories per slice), build your own pizza, or go for one of their signature pizzas. The service was friendly, fun and quick.
I opted for the signature Veg Out, packed with zucchini, mushrooms, red onions, mozzarella, Gorgonzola and generous dollops of red sauce. You can ask for more or less of any ingredient, or forgo something you're not crazy about.
My husband tried the signature BBQ chicken, with chicken, mozzarella, red onion, banana peppers, Gorgonzola and a drizzle of barbecue sauce. He didn't know it then, but this indulgence was actually not as guilt-ridden as he thought, at just 140 calories per slice.
While we paid, both of our made-to-order dinners were fired up in their 800 degree open-hearth oven, and came out a few minutes later bubbly hot and perfectly crispy.
We are pizza people, and I was weary of a national chain (there are ten locations so far nationwide, and more locations are popping up everywhere). But this pizza was truly impressive from the first bite.
The gorgonzola, sea salt and oregano (all optional, but highly recommended) take the flavor up a notch, and the ingredients are fresh and local from Greco and Sons in Waukesha.
We walked out of there with a bill around $20 for two pizzas, one drink and two s'mores pies for dessert. I consider this a great price for a mouth-watering dinner in a casual environment that tolerates a toddler who might melt down at any moment.
This place is definitely worth a try for kids and families, and all of you other people who just like good pizza. There are gluten-free and vegan options readily available.
She has travelled extensively through the Spanish-speaking world, but her favorite place in the world is Milwaukee. She lives in Bay View with her husband, two year old son, Hudson and her two dogs. She and her family love to check out the latest events in Milwaukee and spend time at their cabin in Winter, Wis.
In her free time, her ideal self enjoys doing yoga, reading one book a week, and cooking with organic, local foods. Her real self just ends up watching terrible reality television.
