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Original Pete's Pizza Pasta Grill specializes in pizza and pasta, but the menu includes a little bit of everything you love, including burgers, fish, and so much more! As with all restaurant reviews I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photos: It's just after the 11 o'clock in the morning opening time on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, and I've arrived at Original Pete's, located in Roseville, CA, to enjoy lunch on the recently-created patio, located on the sidewalk, in front of the restaurant. Original Pete's Pizza Pasta Grill is an owner owned and operated franchise of what seems to be a loosely-knit chain of Pete's Restaurant and Brewhouse, located in northern California and centered in the greater Sacramento area. Each restaurant is different, with similar, yet slightly different menus depending on the location, which seems to be an interesting concept. Check out the website at https://petesrandb.com for other locations and "corporate" information. The Foothill's Original Pete's location's website is at the end of this article.
Photo: As you enter the restaurant you'll be greeted by a friendly staff member who will meet, greet and seat you at one of the many tables in the dining room. Daily specials are listed on the blackboard, which you'll always want to check, as the specials aren't listed on the menu and change daily.
Photo: Another blackboard listed some very interesting beer, cider and ale on tap; my education must be lacking as I'd never heard of any of them. Samples of dessert to temp you...
Photo: Today's special was listed as a "Pastrami Reuben" sandwich, along with fries, potato salad or slaw, which sounded delicious, but my mindset was already geared toward "Fish and Chips." When you arrive at the restaurant, be sure to check toe "Specials" blackboard, as the listing changes daily.
Photo: The dining room is very spacious, with a large bar as you enter, with the mostly open kitchen behind the bar. The furniture is tables and chairs, with tall bar stools at the bar, and the dining room exhibits a "sports bar feel," thanks to the bar and the many television monitors tuned to national sports. There are more blackboards above the bar and the kitchen that highlight beer, wine and dessert listings. Since I arrived shortly after the restaurant opened, I practically had the whole dining room to myself, but since the weather was sunny and warm, I chose to dine outside, on the charming patio. By the time I finished my lunch and left, the dining room was quite full, as Original Pete's is a popular lunch restaurant with locals who appreciate fine cuisine.
Photo: The kitchen is mostly open, so you can watch the talented kitchen staff making delicious things happen. Completed orders are placed on the bar to be picked up and delivered by the wait staff.
Photo: The menu at Original Pete's Pizza Pasta Grill is six pages, and lists all of your favorites. The menu is the same whenever the restaurant is open, but there are several "Lunch Specials" and "Happy Hour Specials" that are only available during certain hours. From the "Pete's Favorites" page of the menu, I went with "Fish and Chips," but I was sorely tempted by the "Reuben Sandwich" listed on the "Daily Specials" blackboard. Click on the menu image to see the complete menu - all six pages - or click on THIS LINK.
Photo: My lunch of "Fish and Chips" included a side salad or a cup of "Soup of the Day," which was a difficult choice, but I went with the salad. My amazingly friendly server, Jill, brought my side of salad to me, with a smile, in less than five minutes after I placed my order. I was pleasantly surprised at the super-fast service!
Photo: My lunch included a "House Salad," and my choice of dressing. The salad included shredded carrots, cucumbers, jack and cheddar cheese, with croutons, on a bed of garden fresh lettuce. I chose Ranch dressing, which was a treat for me, as I rarely order salad dressing. The vegetables were crisp, fresh, perfectly blended which made for a delicious and well-balanced side salad. Croutons were placed on top of the dressing - which seems to be a trademark of Pete's - which makes for a great presentation and to help keep the croutons crispy. Your meal includes choice of a small "House Salad," or cup of "Soup of the Day." Since today was Wednesday, today's soup was "Turkey Sausage Lasagna," which sounded delicious, but it was a hot day, I was dining outside on the patio, and a nice, cool salad sounded refreshing and delicious, so I chose salad.
Photo: Looking through one of the dining room windows outside to the patio, which is located on the sidewalk, in front of the restaurant. As per state law, the patio is separated from the "outside world" by a low fence, so beer and wine can be enjoyed. The patio is a fairly recent addition to the restaurant, as it was added during the virus days back in 2020.
Photo: Much of the kitchen is open, so you can watch the talented staff prepare your meal while you relax at the bar.
Photo: Meet Jill, my friendly hostess who brought my delicious lunch to me with a warm smile. Jill was very attentive, but not intrusive, and treated me like family. My lunch arrived in less than 20 minutes after I placed my order, which made for very fast service. I wasn't in a hurry, as I was sipping my beer, relaxing and enjoying the beautiful late morning on the patio, outside the restaurant.
Photo: I'm all smiles as I get ready to enjoy my delicious lunch of "Fish and Chips," on Original Pete's patio, on the sidewalk, just outside the restaurant. Today was a perfect day to enjoy lunch outside, on the beautiful late morning in mid-July.
Photo: From the "Pete's Favorites" section of the menu, I went with "Fish and Chips," which always scores as one of my favorite meals. The menu describes this delicious selection as, "Half pound filet of cod, fried golden brown in Pete's beer batter, served with French fries, coleslaw and our homemade tartar sauce." My friendly server, Jill, made it a point to mention the meal would be served with malt vinegar. The highlight of the plate was the delicious fish, three pieces of beer-battered cod, perfectly deep fried to a beautiful, crunchy golden brown on the outside, and tender, flaky and juicy inside. The cod filets were deep fried perfectly, and had the perfect fish-to-batter ratio, so the batter enhanced the fish, rather than overpowered it. There is nothing better than to enjoy the contrast between the crispy batter on the outside, and the tender, juicy fish on the inside, and with each "crunch," I was rewarded with a taste sensation. Unlike our British cousins - I'm not British - I'm not a fan of malt vinegar, so I went for the tartar sauce, which is my "go-to" for fish and chips. The tartar sauce was delicious, creamy, well-balanced, and made for great dipping. The contrast between the hot fish and the cool tartar sauce is simply amazing, and one of the many things I love about "Fish and Chips." The so-called "French fries" were actually steak fries, as they were large, coarsely cut, and flat... yes, just like the steak fries you'll find at a Texas roadhouse! The fries were deep fried to a perfect semi-crispy golden brown on the outside, and tender-white inside, which is the mark of great fries. The fries were simply delicious and made a great side dish! My lunch included a small dish of coleslaw, made of shredded cabbage, both of the green and purple variety, shredded carrot, and a tangy, sweet dressing, that tasted similar to mayonnaise, but way, way sweeter. The coleslaw was good, but way to sweet for my taste. Sorry... I prefer "diner-style" coleslaw, but that's just "me" along with my individual preference. My meal was simply delicious, and Jill's friendly and attentive service made the meal even better. At $19.95 for the meal alone, you can't say it was inexpensive, but it was a great, satisfying meal, so what more could you ask for? At Original Pete's, the food is delicious, the beer is cold, the dining atmosphere is top-shelf, and the service is super fast and friendly. When you're in the mood for fine, casual dining in a relaxed atmosphere, think of Original Pete's Pizza Pasta Grill, located on Foothills Blvd., in Roseville, CA. Back on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, I paid a previous visit to Pete's and enjoyed a "Pizza Lover's Dream" pizza, from the "Lunch Specials" section of the menu... There must be something in the air near the corner of Foothills and Junction Blvds. as there are FOUR pizza restaurants all clustered near the same corner! Each restaurant is unique, but if you want to combine delicious pizza, with a sports bar-like atmosphere, and add some of the friendliest people in Roseville, than look no further than Original Pete's Pizza Pasta Grill.
Photo: Original Pete's is located at the eastern end of a very quiet shopping center, and offers plenty of safe, convenient parking. Lucky me, as I only live a couple of miles from Pete's, so it's within walking distance for me, which makes it easy to enjoy a pint or two with no worries. If you don't care to drive or walk, Original Pete's will deliver everything on their menu.
Photo: Original Pete's decor very much resembles a sports bar, and offers a variety of tables, and seating at the bar. The pizza oven is in the center of the photo, and the open kitchen is to right, behind the dishes stacked on the counter. I sat at the bar stool on the end, just to the left-center of the photo. On this late Tuesday morning, Octiber 29, 2013, I arrived just after the restaurant had opened, and nearly had the place to myself, but when I left, an hour or so later, the restaurant was packed. Note the menu boards with list the large beer selection.
Photo: Original Pete's is serious about "old school" pizza making, as they twirl the dough by hand. As I sat at the bar, Al and his helper put on quite a show, as I enjoyed watching them twirl the dough, and I noted they didn't miss, as the dough came out perfect, after every twirl.
Photo: Any restaurant that features an open kitchen advances a couple steps up my ladder, and from my vantage point at the bar, as was able to check out the open kitchen in action, and watch the friendly staff in action. Yes, Original Pete's Pizza_Pasta_Grill features this open kitchen.
Photo: I chose to order the "Pizza Lover's Dream" from the LUNCH SPECIALS section of the menu - more on my selection in couple of paragraphs - and my friendly server, Mandy seemed to think it a bit hilarious that I asked to snap her picture. Oh course, as I love to photograph beautiful women!
Photo: "Pizza Lover's Dream" starts out with a house salad, which includes shredded carrots, cucumbers, jack and cheddar cheese, with croutons, on a bed of garden fresh lettuce. I chose Ranch dressing, which was a treat for me, as I rarely order salad dressing. The vegetables were crisp, fresh and perfectly blended. Note the croutons are placed on top of the dressing, to enhance the presentation, and to avoid becoming mushy from the dressing. A pint of "India Pale Ale" helped to get things rolling...
Photo: Al Rosenberg, owner of the restaurant, delivers my personal-size pizza to me, with a smile. As I walked into the restaurant, I was greeted and welcomed by Al. It wasn't just me - and my charming personality, lol - as he personally greeted everybody that came in, and knew many of the patrons by name. At first I didn't tell him what I was up to - in regards to a write-up of his fine restaurant - and after I took a few photos, he jokingly kidded me, and said, "I know this restaurant is fantastic, but it can't be all that great to take that many pictures." At that point, I told him my "mission," and he thanked me for the review that I was to publish. Note: Al, you thanked me before you read this? Such confidence in me...! Al told me that he's the original owner of the business, and has built the restaurant "from scratch," and they've been operating for 19 years. With the great pizza and the friendly service, here's to the next 19 years!
Photo: I asked Al to snap my photo, with my delicious lunch. Photo gives another view of the attractive and comfortable dining room. Notice the television screen on the wall, as there are television screens so you won't miss any sporting event as you enjoy a delicious pizza.
Photo: From the LUNCH SPECIALS, I ordered a "Pizza Lover's Dream." Pete's menu describes it as follows: "This pizza for one comes with your choice of two toppings. Served with a cup of soup or a house salad, $7.99. Make it a specialty pizza for only $2.00 more." In my case, I opted for two toppings, and I chose pineapple and ham; can you say Hawaiian? Quite a deal for $7.99! Naturally the beer was extra... Original Pete's menu states their mission: "Our Goal Is Simple: Good Food and Good Beer. Let's Eat!" I can identify with their core values...
Photo: Close-up of my two-topping pizza, and this pizza is even more delicious than it looks in the photo! Everything about this pizza is perfect, including the lightly browned crust, the seared ham and pineapple, and the lightly-browned, bubbly cheese. For $7.99 including a house salad, this is a real "deal" for lunch! Original Pete's Pizza_Pasta_Grill makes a quality pizza, which is as good as it gets, and the super-friendly atmosphere in Pete's which really stands out, as the owner, Allan Rosenberg, is smiling, friendly, greets every patron, and makes you feel like family. Combine the great food, outstanding service, the fun, sports bar-like atmosphere, along with a vast array of beer on tap, and you've got an the right combination for good times and delicious pizza. Original
Pete's Pizza Pasta Grill Copyright(c) 2022 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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