This New Bedford Pizza Is Unlike Anything Else On The SouthCoast

A neighborhood restaurant in New Bedford's North End is no longer a secret. The former Pub6T5 was sold to SouthCoast restaurateur Howie Mallowes last fall. Mallowes didn't take long to put his influence on the business by hiring a top notch chef, management team, and waitstaff.

Mallowes also made it a priority to super size Off the Boulevard's pizza oven, doubling its size. This has been the secret sauce to Off the Boulevard's quick success so far.

The Pizza

Their pizza is unlike anything else currently available at a New Bedford area restaurant. It's a Brooklyn style crust that Off the Boulevard isn't afraid to cook. In fact, that's my favorite part of their pizza. The crust is well done, crunchy, and extremely flavorful. The same goes for the toppings. Your pepperoni will be slightly blackened and cooked. Vegetable toppings are never raw.

READ MORE: Gazelle Calls Off The Boulevard Pizza "Nostalgic"

In my opinion, too many pizza places are afraid to cook their pizza and toppings through and through, making it a soggy, oily mess. The crispiness of the Off the Boulevard pizza is a refreshing change from the crusts you'll find at most places around the SouthCoast.

The Michael Rock Pick

However, the menu at Off the Boulevard is much deeper than pizza. The appetizer list is stacked with crowd favorites, but be careful not to fill up because the meal portions are generous. My wife is a superfan of the Drop the Beet Salad ($15) with a grilled chicken add on ($7).

The Michael Rock Pick for Off the Boulevard is the Shrimp and Sausage Scampi. Sweet Italian sausage is paired with shrimp, broccoli, and a seafood sauce served over pasta, topped with grated Parmesan cheese. It is $26 and bursting with flavor. It's so good that I actively try to order something different when I go to Off the Boulevard, but it's hard not to get the Shrimp and Sausage Scampi. Honorable mention goes to the fried rice bowl with shrimp ($22).

Entertainment

One of the biggest things setting Off the Boulevard apart from other New Bedford restaurants is the genuinely welcoming and fun atmosphere. I'm a sucker for music bingo, and they've got one of the best on Wednesday nights. Eddie Freitas is the host of Eddie's Crazy Music Bingo. Freitas will keep you laughing all night without being overbearing. He even announces the song titles so you can play along even if you're not familiar with the genre. The music is always fun with plenty of "oh wow" throwbacks. Pro tip: be on time. You won't be able to sneak in late without Eddie shining the spotlight on you.

Off the Boulevard also features Tuesday night trivia with Tom Stewart (another entertaining and talented host), and live music on the weekends.

For a lively bar, fun entertainment, and delicious casual food, Off the Boulevard is a can't miss restaurant.