While on our trip through southern Oregon we stopped in Ashland to visit my brother, and to see his new house. Since it was nearing the dinner hour after we saw his home I asked where we should eat. He and his girl friend love a pizza place in Ashland called Creekside Pizza Bistro, and of course the kids quit listening after he said pizza, so we decided to give it a try.
The Creekside Pizza Bistro has a very interesting location, the kind of location that only a city like Ashland could provide. It is in a building that was built UNDER a bridge downtown, at the junction of two creeks which divide the city.
The result is a quaint little bar and pizza joint with a great atmosphere and I've been told an even better deck to enjoy the weather. Since it had been raining off and on all day the deck would have to wait.
Creekside boasts a large vegan and vegetarian menu, which includes a gluten-free crust which my wife enjoyed greatly on the pizza she shared with my brothers girlfriend Shawna .
My calzone was filled with Pepperoni, Sausage, and Anchovies
I opted for a Calzone, and ordered it with Pepperoni, Sausage, and Anchovies. Anchovies can be a risky proposition at a pizza place, but since Creekside boasts of the freshness in their menu I thought I'd put them to the test.
I am glad to say I was not disappointed. The calzone arrived perfectly browned and the filling was piping hot. The flavor was great in both the crust and the sauce, and the toppings were great. The only downside of my calzone was that the anchovies were all placed in the middle of the crust before it was folded instead of being well scattered across the other toppings. This meant that the saltiness of the anchovies was overwhelming from bites near the fold, and nonexistent in the rest of an otherwise perfect calzone.
The placement of anchovies not withstanding I was overall pleased with the dining experience and the quality of the food I was served. The wait staff was friendly (although the fact that my brother and his girlfriend are there 3-5 times a week may have influenced that) and attentive.
It isn't the perfect pizza place, but it is worth a visit if you find yourself looking for pizza and a beer while in Ashland.