The first three letters of R&R Pizza Express should stand for Really Ridiculous Portions.
That's a good thing, of course. Who doesn't want to fall into a carb coma after consuming massive amounts of bread, cheese and sauce?
R&R is a Southwest chain, with 10 pizzerias in Arizona. The Stone Avenue branch opened March 19, and the newest Tucson location opened a few weeks ago at 7545 S. Houghton Road.
Joe Molitor, the 25-year-old co-owner of the R&R on Stone, has pizza sauce running through his veins. He first worked at the Marana location owned by his mom, Linda Molitor, for eight years. He also has a degree in business management from Northern Arizona University.
The vibe
A few tables sit inside the airy, well-lit market that sells sundries and other items on the shelves along the walls.
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Molitor said the restaurant can seat 18 inside and four outside. He is usually at the counter, taking orders and preparing food, which always is made to order.
The food
Staffers bake the dough and slice vegetables daily to keep things fresh.
Molitor likes that his pizza sauce has a little kick to it from the addition of some hot sauce.
Food specials are offered from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. We opted for a combo of one slice, six wings and medium drink ($4.62).
The pepperoni slice was one-quarter of a 12-inch medium, with a hand-tossed thin crust. Molitor said they can make it thinner by request. We liked that the pizza had a decent amount of pepperoni.
The wings were baked, not fried. R&R offers eight sauces, and we opted for the wings to be bathed in hot sauce — a traditional buffalo wing sauce that tasted more medium, which was perfect for us. There is an "extra hot," which is probably plenty for spice freaks.
The lasagna ($6.49) came with layers of cheese and meat sauce that tasted just like Mom's, and four giant twists of warm bread that sopped up the extra sauce. Because we failed to realize that bread already came with the pasta, we also ordered cheese bread ($4.59), which has eight to an order.
Holy cow. The warm twists were sprinkled with a garlic-and-herb spread like the pasta bread, but it was the pizza cheese — 90 percent mozzarella and 10 percent Cheddar blend — entwined in the twists that added even more flavor (and calories).
We skipped dessert this time — we were carbohydrated out — but next time plan to try the butter cinnamon sugar dessert sticks with white frosting ($3.99) that come eight to an order.
Tucson restaurant review
R&R Pizza Express
919 N. Stone Ave., 622-9029.
• Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays. R&R delivers with a minimum $10 order within a four-mile radius.
THE BILL
Lasagna and breadsticks: $6.49.
One slice, six wings, drink combo: $4.62.
Cheese bread with sauce: $4.59.
One medium soda: $1.29.
Total before tax and tip: $16.99.
