Pizza Port Review

Overall Rating = 🍕🍕🍕🍕 (4/5)

For my first pizza review, I thought it would be fitting to share about a place that has been around since my childhood — Pizza Port. Growing up in Carlsbad, California, there were a few locals pizza parlors I remember frequenting, and this place is one of them.

I'm not sure I appreciated this spot as much as I do now, maybe it was because my younger pallet veered toward cheese only slices, but this joint has really upped the ante when it comes to original creations.

Pizza Port has been serving up unique gourmet slices since 1987.

The latest and greatest? The Cardiff Crack Pizza. 

Yes, there's really crack in it, and it comes in the form of melt in your mouth Cardiff tri-tip steak.

Add roasted asparagus, red bell peppers, and a secret BBQ sauce of some sort (maybe this is where they drug you into wanting to eat the entire thing) and you will feel euphoric. Another twist on this gourmet pie - it has cheddar cheese along with the standard mozzarella. It's unexpected yet extremely tasty, because, let's face it, the more cheese, the better.

It's also served on whole wheat crust, which is a little different from the norm. I'd like to try it on regular crust, but I probably shouldn't mess with a masterpiece.

All of the flavors come together as one and sing Kumbaya in your mouth. 

Since Pizza Port has multiple locations conveniently located near the beach, it makes it the perfect stopping point when on a long bike ride up the coast. I've regularly stopped into the Carlsbad location to grab one of their lunch specials which features two slices and a soda for $6 (or add a beer for only a few bucks more, which I obviously never do...). You can select a plain slice of cheese, pepperoni, OR you can do a specialty slice for $1.50 more - and every time I've tried the specialty slice, I've never been disappointed. Think: pesto with sausage. 

Carlsbad Pizza Port

Quick pick stop at Pizza Port during a 30 mile bike ride up the coast. This was the pesto and sausage pizza special. Rehydrating with a beer optional.

Their wide selection of pies have fun names, many times ting in local spots. Another regularly ordered favorite, the Pizza Carlsbad, features artichoke hearts, chicken, sundried tomatoes and feta cheese. Are you picking up what I'm putting down here? This isn't your typical pizza joint.

Last, but definitely not least, I want to rave about the dough.

I'm a dough snob. It hurts me but I am.  Pizza Port’s dough is on my top 5 list, nearing the top. The crust is golden brown and has a slight crispiness to it, but once you bite in, it melts in your mouth with a softness of down pillows. It's a little on the thicker side, so if you're a flatbread goddess, this place may not be your style. But for anyone who can still eat gluten out there, this place is one you won't want to pass up.

Check out one of Pizza Port’s locations in Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Bressi Ranch, Ocean Beach or San Clemente. And in case you're wondering, yes, I've been to them all.