July 2009

The Oven
Following a suggestion from one of our regulars, I decided to not only try a new restaurant, but explore the neighborhood as well. I set the time a little earlier for those who would like to do the same, though that turned out to be only two of us. I chose The Oven pizzaria not only because it was in a new area (Belmar shopping area) but also because there was scheduled to be a live band playing that night in the quad.
Belmar is almost directly west from my house, so the drive over at 6 p.m. was like being braised alive, minus the cooking broth. When I finally got there, passing the stretches of more affluent areas and other more colorful neighborhoods, I grabbed the first spot I found. i didn't bother looking for covered or free parking. What's a dollar for a space right in front of the restaurant? So what if free parking was only a block away behind the gym or two blocks away behind the sporting goods store? It's that darned automatic meter that ticked me off. Wouldn't take my coins but happily accepted my credit card. ( I think there's a scam working there somehow.)
During a brief stroll around the outdoor mall, we stumbled on an artsy clothing and accessory place. My friend decided she needed a new (and decided to later buy) purse. Then we meandered across a couple other cute places to eat to keep in mind for a later time. Unfortunately, the live band that was scheduled to appear didn't. There was an amp and a chair and a good crowd built up but no one taking advantage of them.
The Oven had outside seating that we took advantage of. I liked the place, it was slightly pretentious but not so hip I felt like a schmuck. We were seated next to two older couples on a double date. A snippet of their ordering process: "Maybe we could get one women's pizza and one man's." I was shameless eavesdropping, got caught and gave the woman a thumb's up for her suggestion.
The menu is heavy on pizza, with some random things available as toppings, but nothing too weird. There was also a healthy sized salad list and an "appeteazer" spread. I would have happily got the "Bowl of crazy good mozzerlla" but thought all that cheese might prove foolish. One of us did get the "oven roasted vegetable salad" which came with a nice sized parmesan cheese wafer which she sweetly shared.
Our orders went, from left to right, "the Basic Margerite", the "Spicy Buffalo style chicken", the "Fresh tomato" and the "Good Earth" (at least I think it was the Good Earth. I was concentrating really hard on my Fresh Tomato, trying to work around green olives.) I enjoyed the fresh mozzorella on my pizza and the giant leaves of basil. But if I went again, i would definately order the Crazy good mozzarella and then maybe a salad. One of our other neighbors got it and it looked amazing, all melty and delicious.
I wanted to see what the place looked like inside, just for a peak. There were long community style tables rather than little single party tables. The kitchen was open for all to watch the adorable little cooks in their matching hats work. The one complaint I would make is that, in the bathroom, there was only a single light and it wasn't near the mirror. I guess that's good, since my face was glowing from all the sweat accumulated from my drive.
So, what else. A good enough experience, and I'd go again if I was in the area or in the mood for watching roving bands of teenagers wasting an evening. (can you count the gerunds?)
http://THEOVENPIZZAEVINO.COM/