Finally a new pizza place opens up in Boca Raton with no servers. A place that actually trusts me enough to carry my slice from the counter to the chairs located 2 feet from the counter....what an amazing concept. The new pizzeria is located in the Polo Shops and is named Manhattan Joe's Pizza, at least I think that is what it is. It could be Joe's Manhattan Pizza but I am betting on Manhattan Joe's.

Manhattan Joe's cleaned up the interior of what I think used to be a Coffee Shop that didn't have the name Star in it, so it was doomed to fail. The menu was simply attached to the wall, and they had some paper ones on the counter. Two people worked behind this long counter, one guy was doing something with the cheese, and the young girl at the counter asked me what I wanted.

I was thinking about getting some garlic knots since they were properly advertised as such on the menu, but when I saw what they looked like and saw the price, I decided $5.00 was way too much for a dozen and just ordered a plain slice instead. These weren't even garlic knots, they were like pieces of bread cut into squares that they must put some garlic seasoning on, but they weren't the shape, size or consistency of what a garlic knot should actually look like. Naturally I had less than enthusiastic hopes for the pizza that I just ordered, seeing how much of a rip off the garlic knots were.

The slices at Manhattan Joe's cost $2.50, and although that is still a bit high, it is still cheaper than many of the competitors around them. But when coupled with a soda, the bill came out to $5.04 which is just too much for a lunch. Most other places give you two slices and a soda for $5.00. When the slice came out it was a nice size, thin, very hot and looked pretty darn good. When I lifted the slice up to my mouth to take the first bite, I noticed the cornmeal on the bottom to add some crunch to the crust. Since the slice was so hot I had to put it down to avoid burning my mouth.

After a minute or so I attempted to try the slice again. Once again I noticed the cheese:sauce ration looked good, and I really enjoyed how thin the slice was. My first bite revealed a nice smooth tasting sauce layered on top of a decent tasting crust. The cheese in my personal opinion didn't taste like it was a quality one. That was my least favorite part of this slice.

It seems odd that Manhattan Joe's Pizza in Boca Raton serves a 13 inch and 20 inch pie. Most places serve a 13 inch and 16 or 18 if they are feeling nuts. For $16, you get a 20 inch pizza, and that is not that bad. Although it is the same as a 16 or 18 and just stretched out, it could certainly feed a family of four.

Manhattan Joe's here is my suggestion: Consider a more tasty cheese and less crust on a pie. As you can see from the above photo, a good portion of the pizza is just crust, and it is thick to say the least. You are in a shopping center full of discriminating taste buds, and tough to please. Your price for the pie is accurate, but you need a better lunch deal to take business away from the others and provide yourself with longevity. We definitely wish you good luck, and if in the Polo Shops we will be sure to eat there again and see if things improved.

Manhattan Joe's Pizza in Boca Raton gets 4 out of 8 slices.