Carlo’s Pizza
Somewhere between the two home depots in the Ortigas area is a row of restaurants. Some are familiar names, other’s aren’t. We were hunting for lighting accessories yesterday and, after going around the stores in the first home depot, we realized we were hungry. No wonder — it was almost dinner time. Food first before the second depot. There weren’t too many choices; most of the restaurants looked more like watering holes (okay, there is a nearby auto place too selling second-hand cars so I suppose that the male-oriented eateries shouldn’t be surprising). There was Dencio’s (too boring already) and right beside it was a place called Carlo’s Pizza.
We chose Carlo’s Pizza primarily because the specialty and the atmosphere were both family friendly (the girls were with us). We hadn’t heard of it before but we’re never averse to trying new places so we went in. It was generally a good meal. No fast food fare. The food is prepared only upon order so everything was hot. But some items were good, some so-so and others not worth ordering again.
The onion rings were fine — crisp and surprisingly not too greasy. However, they were served with plain mayo instead of sour cream with garlic and I was a bit disappointed. The French fries were better, newly cooked and without that recycled oil taste. But they were served plain and we had to ask for ketchup.
Older daughter Sam ordered Kiddie Spaghetti. She offered me a forkful and it was good.
Husband Speedy ordered the fettucine with Alfredo sauce. Also good. After tasting both pasta dishes, I fully expected my cannelloni to be just as satisfying. I was disappointed.
For starters, Speedy was already done with his fettucine by the time the cannelloni was served. Secondly, the meat filling tasted too much like it came straight out of a can. Younger daughter Alex’s baked mac was served even later and only after we followed up on her order twice.
The biggest disappointment was the slice of toasted French bread that came with the pasta. One bite told the whole story — it was stained with margarine, not butter. And not just any margarine but the kind that leaves an aftertaste. Like Star Margarine and Dari Creme. And because Alex did not want her toast, I was obliged to eat it, bad margarine and all.
The hands-down winner was the pizza. Thin crusted and practically greaseless. The crust leaves a toasted flour taste rather than the greasy taste that characterizes pizza from American chains like Pizza Hut and Domino’s. Newly baked, the cheese was soft and gooey and the chicken strips were cooked through but still moist. Considering how many of the other customers were there for take-out pizza, I suppose we’re not the only ones who found the pizza to be quite lovely.
Of course, there are very few restaurants where all the items in the menu are sure-fire winners. But since Carlo’s Pizza essentially serves good food (even the mix-and-match of items in the menu is good), perhaps, a little improvement here and there can make the customer’s dining experience more memorable.
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Hi Miss Connie!
By the way, I hope you won’t give up on Domino’s pizza. Based on our last order three days ago, they no longer use lots of oil. Para nga pong walang oil. 
I’ve tried Carlo’s Pizza at SM Baguio branch (although there is one a few blocks away from our house). My friends and I have to follow-up with the waiter three times before our orders arrived (probably because there are also lots of other customers). However, their pizza is really good.
Yep, pizza’s great! And I am glad to hear that about Domino’s. Thanks. Time to try their pizza again.
Hi Connie,
Carlos Pizza has been around for awhile. They have branches in Baguio (John Hay Commissary) and Tagaytay. I love their 4 cheese pizza ! i realized that we never really ordered anything else other than their pizza. Yup, they’re not greasy at all
Got to eat at the Carlo’s Pizza branch in Tagaytay, and yes, masarap nga ang pizza nila. But their carbonara was maasim, and there were several items not available kasi it was a Monday and everything was frozen pa daw (this despite it being past noon; siguro dahil patay na araw for them ang weekday).
We actually complained about the pasta, but they said ganoon daw talaga yung lasa, and they replaced it with another serving of the same.
But am not giving up on them; will try their branch sa Metrowalk, but won’t order carbonara anymore.
every time i visit here, my mouth waters. my list for restos to visit is getting longer. i enjoy being here…
dami na ring pizza place na di ko alam.
at least iilan pa lang branch ng carlos.
pag dumami, baka mag-iba na ang lasa, corporate taste na!
meron pa ba nung 3M? paborito ng nanay ko yun dati eh. keso at triangulong ham or pepperoni ata yun.
pero masarap naman ha.
mamantika lang nga minsan.
can you help me find the telephone or address of carlos pizza office for franchising