“Everybody’s trying to get their kicks, living in 37206.”

So sings Elmo Buzz, the alter ego of Americana Music hero Todd Snider. Elmo Buzz and the Eastside Bulldogs are a band famous for only having played shows in the zip code lovingly known as East Nashville.

Let’s first set the story straight – there really is no East Nashville. It’s just the part of town that lies east of downtown and north of the interstate. However, over the last few years it has been the place to be if you are a local hipster (defined as somebody too hip to know that they are one). In fact, the illustrious New York Times describes it as this “down-on-its-luck side of town being brought to life one great plate of food at a time.” Of course you’d expect such a hip area to have a pizza joint. And if it weren’t for some advice from my friend Randy the Swan Dive Fan (see http://swandive.org/ for more on one of Music City Mike‘s favorite bands), I may have delayed investigating Five Points Pizza.

A few weeks ago, The Philosopher, my oldest son, winged his way back from five months studying in Germany requesting that his first meal back home be pizza. Thanks to Randy’s tip, we all decided to give Five Points a try after picking him up at the airport. At first glance, the Snob was very skeptical of the place as it was very bar-like. In eyeballing the patrons’ meals, all the pies I saw looked really foo-foo as well. The pies also sat on those stupid silver platforms that I hate so much. So, with much trepidation we ignored the “Specialty Pies” section of the menu and ordered us a large NY cheese pie. Much to my surprise, our pie came out on a traditional flat pie pan (which they put atop the platform) and it looked classic!

The biggest surprise was how good and classic it actually tasted! The cheese and crust were perfect despite the fact that it was cooked in a brick oven – a device the Snob has yet to truly understand. The sauce was a little bit on the spicy side, and my senses may have even detected a slight touch of fennel. And, for what it’s worth, as you will see below, the color did look a little yellow to me for some reason. Regardless, this was a great pie and this will be a great after-hours go-to place for the Snob when he’s on the eastside. Oh yeah, Sweetie Pie wanted me to tell you that she liked the spinach salad.

A week later while we were on the eastside, to see, believe it or not, Elmo and the Bulldogs play, the Philosopher bummed a fiver off me and went back for a $3.25 slice that he said was aces. I’m still waiting for my change.

 
PIZZA SNOB RATING     **** Near Perfection

Five Points Pizza
1012 Woodland Street
Nashville, TN 37206
615-915-4174
http://www.fivepointspizza.com