Panayiotis Grill and Pizzaria

54 Main Street
Lee MA
413-243-8220

Panayiotis has a pleasant, simple atmosphere with high ceilings and tables spaced far enough apart for privacy. The lighting could be a little more intimate, but it works. It has the feel of a mid-range restaurant but the menu is huge - really more like a diner. If any of you have seen Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, you know Gordon sees a wide range of offerings as a danger sign. However, the one time I ate in rather than picked up pizza, everyone was happy with what they ordered.

So, let's get to the pizza, because I had heard this is what they are known for, and if you like classic Greek pizza, this is about the best I've had in a long time. The crust is thick, pillowy, and buttery, with a crispy, crunchy edge. Toppings are placed between the sauce and a thick layer of cheese. The cheese is generous and seems to be more than mozzerella as it has a sharpness as well. Pizzas are baked until the cheese has a golden brown crispness.

As you may be able to tell, I am a fan of this pizza. However, it has a down side. Unlike my very favorite type of pie, the crisp thin crust, the first two pieces of Panayiotis's pizza is delicious and you want a third piece but a third piece is a mistake, a recipe for indigestion. I have not internalized this lesson yet, so once I eat that third piece, I am convinced that I do not want this kind of pizza again for another six months.

Lee has a pizza option shortage. Arizona Pizza is really not very good at all - there is nothing so disappointing as a mediocre pizza as there is no excuse for it. Baba Louie's in Great Barrington is outstanding, but that's twenty minutes away - not really convenient for a quick take out choice. The small Boston chain Hot Tomatoes opened a location in Pittsfield - hey guys, why not come over to Lee?