But no Bella Napoli! You missed the best pizza in the area!

I used to eat GIl's Pizza about 15 years ago and I really liked it. I remember that the pizza was bigger than the box and they would bend the pizza to fit in the box. I don't know if they started using bigger boxes (or smaller pizzas).

The old Bella Roma on Keswick Rd. in Hampden was by far the best pie ever in Charm City. The palce there now (Angelos) might have slices as big as manhole covers, but the pie ingredients don't even come close.

Same goes for the "new" Bella Roma on Falls Road. The people who run that place can't possibly be the same folks who owned/ran the one on Keswick. At least I hope not, because if they are, they ruined a truly great thing.

I love the pizza discussions.

Does anyone remember the old Pappy's Pizza restaurants. I seem to remmeber it being a chain, but I don't know if it was regional, national, or just a handful of locations around town?

I remember two locations: One was on Taylor Avenue just off Loch Raven, across from the old Greetings and Readings. It was in a stand alone building in the same little strip mall where the Crack Pot and the Giant is. Always a big hangout for little league parties, birthday parties, etc, but I also seem to remember the older folks spipping on draft beer.

The other location was on Joppa Rd, off of Perring Parkway. it was on the other side of Joppa from Milano's and the old Ground Round.

Does anyon e else remember Pappy's, and were there any other locations.

It's amazing how these places of our younger days seem to fade away--Steak & Egg,Toddle House, Ginos, White Coffee Pot, Jr., and Little Tavern (although there is exactly one still remaining--Hollibird Ave near Broening Hwy.)

Norman & Pappy's Locations: I recall a Pappy's near me in Southwest Baltimore. It was on Washington Boulevard near Hammonds Ferry and Patapsco Road. It my memory is a bit dim but I do recall usually having pizza. I was just a kid when they closed. But can still see the cute logo in the red circles around the letters.

Pappy's!!! Good call! Yes, the red circles that surrounded each letter of the name "Pappy's."

And the mascot for Pappy's was the fact of a little cartoon man with features that resembled a cross between Mr. Boh and Mario from Donkey Kong.

Please tell me there are other folks out there who remember Pappy's.

Norman--I remember those two locations as well. I always thought there were several more around town, but my mind is drawing a blank. I want to say maybe up in Cockeysville on York Rd., but maybe that was a Shakys.

One oher thing Norman, throw "Polock Johnny's" into that categories of faded eateries from our yester year (still one left though at lexington market. Any others around???)

I remember Pappy's. Don't remember much about it, but I did eat there.

I used to love the fried chicken at White Coffee Pot Jr when I was in elementary school.

And there's still a Polock Johnny's at the corner of Patapsco Avenue and Washington Blvd.

I want to say maybe up in Cockeysville on York Rd., but maybe that was a Shakys.

There was both a Pappy's and a Shakey's on York Rd. in Cockeysville. Shakey's was just north of Cranbrook Rd. on the west side of the street. Pappy's was farther south, on the east side of the street.

There were also 2 Pappy's locations in Ocean City. I worked there for 2 summers. One was at 28th Street in that little shopping center (now Coins Restaurant) and the other was at 17th Street.

I spent a lot of time also at the one at Loch Raven and Taylor since it was a big place to go after high school mixers/dances!

I remember Shakey's Pizza. I think it was the only thin crust, crispy pizza I've ever liked. I had friends who worked at various Shakey's pizzas and they agree, no one else could do crispy and thin without it turning into a soggy mess.

I remember Shakey's Pizza. I think it was the only thin crust, crispy pizza I've ever liked.

I also worked at the Shakey's in Cockeysville decades ago when I was a much younger pup. The thin crust was indeed good. The dough was made from a mix of high-gluten and regular flour. I wish I had paid more attention and could remember the ratio, but it was definitely less high-gluten than regular.

And the cheese mix was mostly mozzarella, with smaller amounts of cheddar and provolone.

I wasn't that wild about Shakey's sauce, though, and would often make my "employee meal" pizza with no sauce. This was many years before I learned the term "white pizza". :-)

For those who are old enough to remember Johnnycake Junior High, Pappy's in Catonsville (corner of Ingleside and Rt. 40 West) was the place to be after Friday night school dances! Wish I had the mirror that made you look tall and thin now!

We had a Pappy's Pizza in Seaford, Delaware back in the early 70's. It was a chain, but I am not sure how big. It was our favorite hangout as teenagers. The pizza was great, and they had drinks by the pitcher. My fav was the birch beer. It was just a great place to gather. I miss those days!

We got a flyer on our door for Mickey's Pizza on Belair Road in a few months ago and decided to try the place for delivery. We've called them again several times since.

The pizza arrived pipping hot (we're about 4 miles west of them along Frankford/Belevedere and it was COLD outside), so we were impressed from the start. I thought the crust was really good and really held it's own with the many toppings my hubby ordered. I hate a soggy crust and was surprised that this crust was cripsy without being hard.

I also liked their take on one of my most beloved comfort foods - hot roast beef sandwich with french fries all covered in gravy. On a cold, dreary night, this really hit the spot, especially since it was loaded with beef.

So, our new favorite pizza that also delivers to our house is now Mickey's.

Another place that disappeared is Bickford's on York Road across from Govane Ave. We used to walk there from Govans and get the french fries with gravy. So good! The fries were perfectly crispy and gravy was delicious. I think they used a beef gravy.

Another really good pizza place was Maria's on York Road in Govans across the street from St. Mary Govans. (And Fowler's Bakery, the best, also gone.) My parents used to let my friend and me walk to Maria's by ourselves when we were 12, 13 years old and enjoy the pizza there at the restaurant. Great sauce, cheese and crust. Also the subs were really good.

Bella Roma's! What a great place for pizza - I used to cut out of classes at JHU, go to the one behind Homewood campus, grab a cafeteria tray sized piece of pizza - like a plate from Heaven - then walk up to the Rotunda for (more) cheese in flicks like The Beastmaster. Those were the days. After the BR folded, there was a short lived version on Harford or Belair Rd?

And yes Pappys was great for family outings, we used to go to the one opposite G&R. Good pizza there too!

Finally (off topic) does anyone remember another lost Bmore great - Kasper's Classics Cheesecakes? - oh to die for their Oreos cheesecake.