Restaurant Review: DiMeo Pizza

Restaurant: DiMeo Pizza
Address: 444 Swedesford Rd, Berwyn, PA 19312
Rating: ★★ out of 5 stars
Style: Eat-In / Take-Out / Delivery
Food: Italian
Atmosphere: Pizza Parlor
Service: Counter Service
Price Range: $5 - $20
Parking: Lot
Unique Feature: DiMeo’s menu offers a variety of gourmet pizza offerings and Italian inspired dishes, but it’s the Panini sandwich on house-made focaccia that stole the show. 

A busy night in town led me to DiMeo Pizza for dinner this past week. I parked in the near empty parking lot off of Swedesford Road and walked inside. One look around and it was pretty clear where my meal was going to go; DiMeo’s looked like a pizzeria, and smelled like a pizzeria. But its menu offerings went far beyond the cheesesteak slingers I had presumed were working behind the grill.

I checked out the menu, and quickly the pizza was pushed to the bottom of the dinner wish-list. I decided on a grilled chicken Panini, an order of ravioli and a slice of white, broccoli pizza; my favorite, as slices go.

“Would you like the ravioli in a red sauce, or a creamy,” asked the counterperson. The “creamy” was a more cream-based rendition of the red, he explained.

It sounded nice, so I agreed to the “creamy.”

I paid for my order, and sat down in a booth to wait, noticing the near empty dining room. There were booths, tables, and even a small, high-top counter section.  A flat screen tv hung on the far wall.

The order took quite a bit, but assuming the time it took to make the “creamy” sauce, and grill the chicken fresh, it wasn’t a big deal.

Finally my order was up and I was out the door. It wasn’t until I had already pulled away that I realized I was missing my slice of pizza. Back inside I went for my slice, where I was also given a double dose of chips; one to accompany the Panini, one for my troubles.

First on the evening’s menu was the order of ravioli. As I lifted the tin lid, a waft of steam and the smell of melted cheese and sauce took over my senses. When the steam cleared, I found myself looking down at what seemed to be a crust-less pizza. It had all the makings of pizza; the cheese…the sauce…just no crust. And hidden underneath this pending belly-ache was the cheese filled ravioli.

To be honest, I had ordered the kids portion. The price was right, as was the serving size, for this occasion. But when digging in, I couldn’t ever imagine serving this melted, cheesy, “creamy” sauce topped trio of ravioli to a child.

Diet-busting stoner food? Yes. Child’s dinner? Not so much.

The Panini was next on the list. I opened up the plastic container to reveal an enormous chicken Panini. The freshly grilled, thick breast of chicken, was situated between a house-made slice of focaccia, topped with lettuce, tomato and mayo. The focaccia had been scored and baked to a golden brown and the chicken was perfectly seasoned. This sandwich was the highlight of the meal, and made the trip absolutely worthwhile.

The slice of broccoli pizza, heavy on the garlic and the broccoli stems, was now cold and as forgettable to me as it was to the man behind the counter. Next time, I would skip the slice and see what the cooks at DiMeo’s can do with one of the gourmet pizzas that they offer.

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