When it comes to dining out, I don’t exactly have what anyone would consider a sophisticated palate. I basically have three requirements when it comes to eateries: cheap, casual, and I have to be able to pronounce everything on the menu. Bill’s Pizzeria in Newton Center not only satisfies these prerequisites, but it also introduced me to some of the best pizza I have ever had, which is truly saying something as I have ingested many a pie in my lifetime. With its hodgepodge collection of tables and chairs, exposed brick walls decorated with local art pieces, and vast assortment of homemade subs and pastas, Bill’s creates the perfect non-judgmental zone for a night of brazen gourmandizing.

As I lived with seven other girls last semester, it could be difficult to find a place for someone’s parents to take us out without emptying their wallets and driving everyone else out of the restaurant. My entire posse could roll into Bill’s at a moment’s notice and all dine comfortably, and the lucky roommate’s parents who were treating us for the night wouldn’t have to take out a loan to satiate us. While my roommates modestly nibbled on a few slices, I often found myself stuffing half a pie in my face with such voracity that everyone tried to keep their hands away from my mouth for fear of losing a finger. I just can’t help myself; with each slice dripping with oil and cheese, perfectly thin and crispy, indulgence becomes more of an obligation than a choice. 

In an interview on Boston.com, John Krasinski called Bill’s “the gold standard by which [he] judge[s] all other pizzas.” I couldn’t agree more, Jim. For a laid-back atmosphere and incredible food, whether you have a party of twenty or two, Bill’s is the perfect place. With its array of homemade pasta, subs, wraps, salads, calzones and course, pizza, you’ll have plenty of reasons to return time and time again.