Leonardo’s Pizza, winner of Beacon Journal pizza contest, Gasoline Alley, winner of the Best Deli in Northeast Ohio award and Musketeers Bar and Grill, sports-obsessed eatery and bar, represent some of the diversity in locally owned pizzerias and restaurants.

Gasoline Alley was started twenty-one years ago by Al and Susan Kerkian after being in the restaurant business for several years prior. Prior to converting Gasoline Alley into a restaurant, it had been a gas station, hence the name. They have used the same recipe for about twenty years despite minor tweaking.

Arami Kerkian, daughter to Al and Susan, commented on the crowd of people she encounters.

“We have a large regular customer base, people that come in at least twice a week who live in the area, but we often hear of people who make it a point to come once a month from places as far as an hour away. We have a decent following on Facebook and sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp which I think helps to draw customers from all over,” said Arami.

In addition to pizza, Gasoline Alley also offers all kinds of sandwiches, burgers, salads, and daily specials, though pizza is one of the most popular items on their menu. They offer pizza by the slice for lunch, several specialty pies and the option to build your own. Arami noted that all of their ingredients are always fresh and that their dough and sauce are homemade.

Surveyor and Lantern staff member Aaron Kelley commented on the appearance of Gasoline Alley’s pizza.

“The crust of the pizza was twisty and cute, and there was a good cheese to sauce ratio,” Kelley said.

Musketeers was started twelve years ago by three friends who decided to get together and open a bar and grill, hence the name.

One of the owners Dave Fontana commented on his relation with the other two owners.

“[Though] it is not family owned, but our friendship is like a brotherhood,” said Fontana.

Some of their entertainment includes poker runs, car shows, and many fundraisers. Musketeers strongly supports the local community, schools, and fundraisers.

Musketeers has used the original recipe for their pizza since day one of opening. It was inspired by the original Romito’s Pizza recipe that one of the owners had started about 20 years ago.

Fontana commented on the effort put forth into making their best seller.

“We make all our dough and sauce every day, so people get fresh pizza daily. We use the highest quality cheeses and meats,” Fontana said.

Musketeer’s has had some of the same staff since their creation. Fontana commented their workers.

“Musketeer’s is owned now by one original partner and one of the original head cooks that started twelve years ago,” said Fontana.

Leonardo’s Pizza, located in Fairlawn, has been under its current management for eight years. The pizzeria has been using the same recipe since 1988 due to its success.

Leonardo’s not only offers pizza, but also French fries, hot wings, hamburgers, deli sandwiches, and more.

Revere staff and students sampled pepperoni and cheese pizzas from each location, noting preferences from each.

Comments about Musketeers
“It is really rich and cheesy. It’s a classic pizza,” senior Jessica Hill said.
“It had the best toppings; the pepperoni was incredible,” sophomore Cole McKee said.
“[It] looked the most appealing. The combination of grease and toppings made it exceptional,” McKee said.
“It had the best combination of all elements,” teacher Alan Silvidi said.
“The pizza crust was nice and thick and delicious,” senior Beth Gillette said.

Comments about Leonardo’s
“There was not too much cheese, and it was not greasy,” sophomore Danielle Kaskish said.
“The pepperoni was flavorful,” junior Bharat Kumar said.
“[There] wasn’t too much [sauce]; [there] wasn’t too little, just enough,” senior Beth Gillette said.
“The sauce was sweet and savory and really enhanced the cheese’s taste,” sophomore Jacob Zimmerman said.
“I preferred [Leonardo’s pizza] the most. The sauce and cheese complimented each other perfectly, and the quality of the pizza itself was great,” Zimmerman said.

Comments about Gasoline Alley
“I really liked the crust and there was a good cheese to sauce ratio,” senior Aaron Kelley said.
“It [looks] very neat, and the cheese looks good,” Hill said.
“The sauce had a lot of flavor,” Kumar said.
“It had the best sauce, and it really retained its full flavor,” McKee said.
“The pepperoni was superb. I loved the sweetness of it, and it was really thin,” Gillette said.