Eating Out: Emma’s

Bostonist has long heard tell of the treasures that await in the brick-walled confines of Emma’s pizzeria, but has been unable to verify the rumors until just this weekend. Happily, all the compliments ring true - Emma’s pizza does indeed top the charts in every category. But the true value of this tiny eatery can’t be quantified by sauce alone. Unique charm is found in the details: adorably matched wine glasses, handmade signs in the bathroom, individually painted wooden chairs. However, as the menu enigmatically pleads, “our dining room is small – please be courteous”, one might be ill-inclined to linger as impatient customers tap their feet in the entranceway.

Since reviews of Emma’s have a natural slant to the pizza side, one might be surprised to see that their menu offers more than simply pies. Aside from the moderately priced beer and wine selections, your visit could begin with goat cheese and toast points ($5.95) or a fresh green salad ($4.95), and you can easily eschew pizza entirely, opting instead for a gourmet sandwich. The goat cheese appetizer was a treat indeed, the room-temp cheese topped with plump, salty olives then drizzled with oil, served on a bed of mixed greens and encircled by dainty toast wedges. Further research is needed regarding Emma’s sandwich offerings, but the pizza is, without a doubt, phenomenal. The menu boasts a mind-boggling 22 road-tested combinations, but if none of those strike your fancy, you can make your own choices from the forty-odd in-house toppings. Do the math yourself to figure how many delicious possibilities that list could yield. Can’t decide? Emma’s will accommodate indecisive diners by serving half-pizzas, even splitting between their complicated combos. Hankering for something spicy, Bostonist chose the #7 - pepperoni, hot peppers, tomato sauce and mozzarella ($10.50 for a small) -and was blown away by the flavor. The toppings are tucked gently under a covering of cheese, discouraging greedy companions from snatching extra bites, while the crust strikes the perfect balance between thin and thick. It was definitely a mouth-burning experience – the pie was hot and steaming from the oven, but it smelled too good to hold off.

Yes, the rumors are true – you may have to wait up to 45 minutes for a table, but the payoff is well worth the effort. Once you’re seated, settle in and enjoy the gentle atmosphere of this quaint pizzeria… and try to ignore the impatient stares of those still standing in the entranceway. A solid five out of five hats here. Even though pizza is the main draw, the lesser-ordered offerings are as delicious as the slices.

Emma's, 40 Hampshire Street, Kendall Square
Post contributed by Erin Anguish