From the Patterson Park pagoda, our group approached Eastern Avenue to eat pizza and talk politics. Matthew's has been a part of Highlandtown since anyone can remember. Across from the flashing neon of the Creative Alliance is a tiny, unassuming storefront with its own pie-shaped neon glowing in the front window. Inside, casual employees chatted near a counter opposite the entrance. A family with small children and a few couples occupied the tables. As we sat, the waitress hollered hello from across the restaurant.
The Italian countryside, splashed brightly on the mural along the wall, has never seen days as flamboyant and colorful. But you might not even see the mural, since the wall is littered with awards and recognitions Matthew's has received since 1983 and will undoubtedly continue to receive. We occupied a spot at the top of the stairs near the entrance. My girlfriend and I shared a table with our evening's host to Gay Bingo and a good friend of his who had revealed he once performed in drag as Cher to benefit Gay Volleyball.
To the amusement of our waitress, the ladies in our group ordered Miller Lite and the boys copied. Referring to the previous gubernatorial race, Cher made suggestions as to what Kathleen Kennedy Townsend should have done to win. Kathleen, Cher said, was just too impersonal. In life she was 98 Rock and lipstick; in government she was a robot. Our waitress returned and Bingo looked to Cher to see what pizza they would get. "The Margherita?" asked Bingo. "Ooh," said Cher, "we're getting margaritas, too?" While everyone laughed at him, the waitress revealed her fruitless crush, saying that she hoped to leave with Cher tonight.
We shared three different pizzas. They were all individual servings, so even the large wasn't huge, but we'd still have extra slices after we finished. Our waitress asked if we needed anything as she returned to the counter. Bingo shouted he just needed her to get off work so they could leave. Matthew's is pretty chill, so it's OK to talk across the restaurant. The good spirited flirting made it feel as if we were regulars at Matthew's, but I suspect it's like that for everyone.
The restroom doors were painted the same bright fashion as the Italian landscape. A brightly colored full-length Venus for the ladies, and David for the men. The loincloth painted over David's salami aroused curiosity at our table.
After the meal, Bingo headed down the stairs, flipped imaginary super model hair from his bald head and lisped some saucy good byes. Cher needed a cigarette, so he packed up the last few slices of pie and, after a few kissed cheeks, we all left. Leaving Matthew's you have that sense of hospitaliano, not that corporate washed-out version they push at the franchises, but something better, more like a belly full of warm ricotta cheese.
Dish: Between the four of us, we shared three different pizzas. The Popular takes a standard tomato sauce and mozzarella and recreates it as a greasy aphrodisiac. The 3 Cheese Pie ... well, you get it. Great pie. The Margherita featured fresh tomato and basil, which was also awesome.
Damage: The Popular: $6.75 for a small, the 3 Cheese Pie: $8.50 for a small and the Margherita: $8.50 for a large. Total Damage: $25.40 for four people. That's $6.35 a person. You can still get a beer and pay less than ten bucks.
Decision: Apparently everyone knew how much this place kicked ass and never told me. Well, I'm doing you a favor. Don't thank me, just go to Matthew's and house a whole pizza under the pretense you might go walk it off at Patterson Park.
The Italian countryside, splashed brightly on the mural along the wall, has never seen days as flamboyant and colorful. But you might not even see the mural, since the wall is littered with awards and recognitions Matthew's has received since 1983 and will undoubtedly continue to receive. We occupied a spot at the top of the stairs near the entrance. My girlfriend and I shared a table with our evening's host to Gay Bingo and a good friend of his who had revealed he once performed in drag as Cher to benefit Gay Volleyball.
To the amusement of our waitress, the ladies in our group ordered Miller Lite and the boys copied. Referring to the previous gubernatorial race, Cher made suggestions as to what Kathleen Kennedy Townsend should have done to win. Kathleen, Cher said, was just too impersonal. In life she was 98 Rock and lipstick; in government she was a robot. Our waitress returned and Bingo looked to Cher to see what pizza they would get. "The Margherita?" asked Bingo. "Ooh," said Cher, "we're getting margaritas, too?" While everyone laughed at him, the waitress revealed her fruitless crush, saying that she hoped to leave with Cher tonight.
We shared three different pizzas. They were all individual servings, so even the large wasn't huge, but we'd still have extra slices after we finished. Our waitress asked if we needed anything as she returned to the counter. Bingo shouted he just needed her to get off work so they could leave. Matthew's is pretty chill, so it's OK to talk across the restaurant. The good spirited flirting made it feel as if we were regulars at Matthew's, but I suspect it's like that for everyone.
The restroom doors were painted the same bright fashion as the Italian landscape. A brightly colored full-length Venus for the ladies, and David for the men. The loincloth painted over David's salami aroused curiosity at our table.
After the meal, Bingo headed down the stairs, flipped imaginary super model hair from his bald head and lisped some saucy good byes. Cher needed a cigarette, so he packed up the last few slices of pie and, after a few kissed cheeks, we all left. Leaving Matthew's you have that sense of hospitaliano, not that corporate washed-out version they push at the franchises, but something better, more like a belly full of warm ricotta cheese.
Dish: Between the four of us, we shared three different pizzas. The Popular takes a standard tomato sauce and mozzarella and recreates it as a greasy aphrodisiac. The 3 Cheese Pie ... well, you get it. Great pie. The Margherita featured fresh tomato and basil, which was also awesome.
Damage: The Popular: $6.75 for a small, the 3 Cheese Pie: $8.50 for a small and the Margherita: $8.50 for a large. Total Damage: $25.40 for four people. That's $6.35 a person. You can still get a beer and pay less than ten bucks.
Decision: Apparently everyone knew how much this place kicked ass and never told me. Well, I'm doing you a favor. Don't thank me, just go to Matthew's and house a whole pizza under the pretense you might go walk it off at Patterson Park.
