Chuckie Pies — Restaurant in Lake Oswego

Welcoming, casual-but-chic, foodie-grade pizzeria, somehow in the heart of downtown Lake Oswego.*

Delightful, knowledgeable staff.

There's so much to like here, from the dishes to the drinks to the service (delivered at competitive prices!). But since it's a pizzeria, I can tell you all you need to know by reviewing the sine qua non of pizza: the crust.

Their dough is delightfully well-suited to their ovens. It develops a satisfying toothiness at the base, such that you can pick up a fresh slice with confidence: zero sogginess. The base is not especially blistered or charred. [Many fine pizzas are, but these fine pizzas aren't.] The crust is mostly neutral on the tongue, neither yeasty nor sweet. It's salted just enough to let toppings assert their own saltiness. The crumb is tight, with a stiff skin and a taut interior.

At lesser pizzerias, there's a confused, gluey millimeter or two between crust and topping where the dough didn't quite bake. Put that horror out of your mind.

Their pies don't skid around on a layer of coarse cornmeal. That works for some styles, but it's not missed here.

Don't ignore their calzone. On this menu, it's a single option but far from an afterthought. If you have never enjoyed a calzone before, ask yourself: was it made by a kitchen whose pizza crusts are nearly as enticing as the toppings? As those pizzas began to cool, did you fear to lose out on the freshness of the crust almost as much as you feared to lose out on the "center" of the pie? Elsewhere, too many calzones are fluffy bread loaf, wrapped around grade-school cafeteria contents, then sprinkled with Kraft parmesan and garlic salt. This ain't that. This rivals anything on their menu.

Disclaimer: I'm not a carb or bread fanatic... except when it comes to pizza. Credit where credit is due: Chuckie Pies does crust -- one of the things that most distinguishes the best pizza from the merely good or great -- very, very well.

Their meats, cheese, and tomato sauce are remarkable as well. Also the staff. But I'm not writing a novel here, simply a loquacious review.

*[Transferred from an earlier incarnation in, um, a different ventricle of the...

Visited your new location this evening. Awesome Food!!! And AJ always delivers outstanding customer service!!! . We have been a long time customer.... BUT being in the food and beverage industry for over 38 years and still working as a Director of Food Services Please!!! don't tell me your policy is to take customers names for a waiting list. Specifically a party of 2( myself and Husband) Tell your customer it's a 15 min wait and as parties of 4 come in the door theyget seated right away in front of you because you have a 4 top open. And we wait more then 30 minutes as you seat everyone ahead of us because we are only 2. Terrible buisness decision on your part and you will lose your customer base as I became Very upset and ready to walk out as your hostess told me that is the policy. .. .SEAT!!!

your customers on your waiting least even if there is only 2 on a 4 top.You will generate your revenue and have returning customers. Everyone waiting could clearly see what your hostess was doing. I'm sorry cause I love you guys but very disappointed to see that... Had to give my feedback. Would give 5 stars but can't ...I am editing my first post from last year! This is a awsome place with awsome food. It is and always has been our go to place for pizza and drinks since they first opened. Everything and everybody since this post has done everything right for the customers. I want to thank the staff for always taking care of our needs with a great attitude now. Please continue to do what your doing for your customers and serving quality food. You have something special going. I can see this restaurant growing...

What is the fascination with this place? Did I miss the secret menu? The underground speakeasy behind the walk-in fridge? We had a reservation and were seated quickly—which was promising—until we realized we’d been sentenced to a high-top table with bar stools. Not the cozy bar with high-backed chairs that whispers date night, but the kind of seating that says, “You might be here a while… and you might develop sciatica.”

It took 10 minutes for a server to notice us. That’s not tragic, but it’s long enough to memorize the cocktail menu and question your life choices. Once we ordered, it was 38 minutes of watching our server and their friends huddle at the end of the bar like they were plotting a heist. Meanwhile, we were plotting our escape.

We shared a Caesar salad and a spicy sausage pizza. Spoiler alert: the salad was the high point. As for the pizza… folks, I’ve had better frozen pizza while half-asleep. It was small, watery, bland, suspiciously low on cheese, and somehow cost $20. You’re telling me people choose this over Apizza Scholls or Baby Doll? Why? Are they being blackmailed?

Atmosphere-wise, the vibe was oddly sterile—like eating in a dentist’s waiting room that serves red wine. A few reviews mentioned it didn’t feel inviting. Can confirm. It’s not the kind of place you linger—it’s the kind of place you make eye contact with your dining partner and silently agree, “We’re never coming back here.”

Portland is full of phenomenal Italian spots. This, sadly, is not...