Seems like young writer's shops, fashion and news magazines, websites, and junk email surveys ("Pirate Surveys: Do you like Pirates of the Caribbean?") are stocked full of pirate related material. Johnny Depp and his gang of pirates have likely helped further this trend.
Growing up in Benicia, I was exposed to pirate goodies via Pizza Pirate. It was the place to hang out on weekends. Locals made a huge deal over the Pirate, even though there have always been other weaker pizza places around. Pizza Pirate had a dark and cozy atmosphere-dark wood, thick ropes hanging, ship and pirate gear on display. There's even a back room called the Captain's Quarters that is perfect for birthday parties and sports team celebrations. When I turned sixteen, my family let me take two friends and we all ate in the Captain's Quarters. I wore white Guess? jeans and a Limited shaker knit sweater, with my hair crisp from a curling iron and Aqua Net hairspray. How many more fashion clues do you need?
Now when I visit, I shudder at how light it is at Pizza Pirate. Sure, it's an upgrade that brightens the place, but I am wistful for the old times: Where are my Pac Man and Frogger games? Who will line up their quarters to play me? A life size creepy pirate sometimes sits above the "galley," and during the holidays, a giant glorious stocking stuffed with candy and toys is raffled to kids twelve and under.
Don't let the pirate theme fool you. Their dough is handmade from scratch, and turns out unbelievable crust. Sauce and toppings are also fresh. Heaping plates of pasta are available, along with sandwiches and daily specials. Draft beer is served in chilled hearty glass mugs. They were one of the first restaurants to install a salad bar (later covered by a sneeze guard) in the late seventies, when the owners were serious joggers and windsurfers.
I visit or have Pizza Pirate delivered whenever I'm in Benicia visiting family. My current favorite t-shirt is from Pizza Pirate. The front shows a gang of surly pirates drinking beer and eating pizza around a dark wood table. They make it look so fun and bawdy. One of the pirates has an eye patch, and they all wear a doo-rag or pirate's hat. Direct your eyes to the back, where it reads in large antiquated font, "Surrender the Booty." Give me yer pepperoni pizza, arrrrrrrrr!
Pizza Pirate, 72 Solano Square, Benicia, CA.
T: 707-745-1667
Thanks for the Pizza Pirate review -- we have a two-for-one coupon for there and were trying to decide whether to do a day trip to Benicia. You've inspired me!
Posted by: Kathleen | March 15, 2007 at 11:34 PM
pizza pirate is awesome. worked there for a while. and the hardest thing i had to do was quit, the foods good and when u walk in, u feel like ur at home. love it.
plus...best salad bar in town :)
and no one else in town serves garlic sauce on their pizza. <3
Posted by: Coco fo sho | July 25, 2007 at 08:36 PM