Boom's Pizza Van Aken — Restaurant in Shaker Heights

I haven't been this conflicted about a restaurant in a very long time, but Boom's made both some of the best and worst food I've had all year. Starting with the former, the pizza was delicious - the dough was chewy and flavorful, if also a tad thicker than I generally prefer. All of the pizzas were great, but the cheesy garlic was the clear winner for balance and taste, combining as it did caramelized garlic with fresh herbs. Of the appetizers, the chzy party fingers were outstanding: 12/10 for over the top cheesy, garlicky, salty goodness. The marinated mozz balls somewhat paled in comparison, though the pesto sauce was respectable. The whipped ricotta jar meanwhile was lacking and very much felt like a half-conceived dish - don't be afraid to give this one a miss. (Side note: Boom’s, do you really have nothing better to serve with your dips than prepackaged saltine crackers?!) Then we have the salads, which were downright terrible: the kale caesar was both boring and bitter, and the sweet and seedy was sugary enough to be a dessert, if only the various components didn't clash so atrociously with one another. The restaurant space was fine, though it could have used more of the charming and whimsical local art to offset the sterile industrial feel. Service was also fine, albeit a bit slow for there being literally no one else in at the time.

Bottom line: come to Boom's exclusively for the pizza and the garlic bread and you'll leave...

Boom's Pizza delivers a modern, cool vibe, reminiscent of those classic hangouts we all miss. I ordered the "OG Pep," and let me tell you, it lived up to its name. The atmosphere alone is worth a visit; it's a refreshing change from the usual pizzeria scene. The OG Pep featured a crispy yet chewy crust, sauce was tangy and sweet, cheese was it's mozzarella a excellent cheese pull with a richness that glued all the wonderful flavors together, pepperonis had to beef; the best beef pepperoni I had in a while and I'm not a fan of a lot of pepperonis but there's had me hooked. I paired it with their in house sangria it went down so refreshing with the flavors of the pie I highly recommend trying their In house drinks as well. The service at Boom's was friendly, fast, attentive, and never stopped moving and the price was reasonable for a quality pie Overall, I highly recommend Boom's Pizza for a delicious slice and a nostalgic atmosphere. The pizza and atmosphere really stood out and made this a memorable pizza experience. And I will be back for more! P.S. Sorry we couldn't get a good picture because we...

It was our first visit to the chain—acting on the recommendation of one of my students. I had asked her about good food for value because I’m pissed at paying a car note to feed 3 or more people. Boom’s Pizza is a winner. Me and the kids made sure to go back and thank her for the heads up!

We ordered the Vegan Garlic pie with chicken added. It was great! The kids were surprised how much they liked the vegan cheese, and the youngest, who doesn’t like garlic, remarked “the garlic was good and not overwhelming“. It arrived at the table piping hot and we devoured it.

The team is courteous and helpful. They were so patient with us because we took forever figuring out what we wanted. I apologize for that…traumatized by buying food that all clan won’t finish… I also observed that the team s conscientious about the care of the restaurant and patrons. They keep the space clean and organized, and are overall good energy.

Speaking of the space, the atmosphere is comfortable and friendly. We will return with my...