CONSTANCE: Our plan "A" for the week was Patty's Pizza per a reader's suggestion, but we just couldn't find a coupon this week for Patty's anywhere, even online - no luck! So, being the thrifty little bloggers that we are, put Patty's on hold and visited the phone book for money-saving options.
That's how we discovered Night Flights. Did you know that the Tom Hanks' movie "That Thing You Do!" was set there? "The pizza parlor by the airport" where The Oneders got their "start". Villapiano's!!!!
(Mathias: Best line from the movie? "But we're from Erie!!" The guitarist (Steve Zahn) said it to some Vegas types towards the end of the movie.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Thing_You_Do!
There was a killer coupon - $15.99 for a 1-topping large pizza and 25 wings. The deal of the day I think. We couldn't reach them by phone to order, (M: I was online courtesy of Netzero!!) so we drove out, placed our order and then had a nice albeit quick drive to the Peninsula on such a beautiful, sunny day. Everyone else had the same idea - it was packed with runners, cyclists, dogs, fishermen ... gotta love the Peninsula! (M: But we're not sharing the pizza and wings-it's every one for themselves).
Night Flights was packed on a Friday for happy hour, complete with a pool table and 30-somethings. There were some biker boys at the bar when we placed our order (M: they were really old men with tattered Harley Davidson T-shirts; maybe Hell's Angels pensioners??). We ordered "Ragun" wings which were Cajun and Ranch. The one biker boy joked that that was the worst flavor and proceeded to show me his order of Rajun wings. I joked back that he had better share his with me and let me try them to be sure. He laughed but I didn't get a wing - what's up with that?? (M: Constance is fibbing-she grabbed a handful of wings and told "Snake" he was now her b*tch; never knew she had the cajones?!?!)
For the pizza topping, we asked for banana onion ... oops on that! Apparently the phone book coupon had a typo. Here we thought we were being all adventurous by trying a new topping, and we got our "usual" banana peppers. (M: ever hear of a Jackalope?)
Our order was ready when promised and still hot by the time we got home. They threw in celery and carrots plus ranch dressing with the wings - no up-charge or anything! (M: So I threw the bartender a three dollar tip-got to spread the karma; besides he was being pulled in several directions at once and still kept his cool). The photos show what we got - a lot! And boy was everything delicious! I had the last piece of za for breakfast (inspiration as I wrote this blog) and Mathias is going to have 15 wings for lunch today (oink!!). Just kidding Mathias! (M: "za"?? Someone is getting too liguistically adventurous for her britches)
The crust was good, cheese authentic ... I'd have to say an 8 out of 8 slice rating again this week! (M: I'm only going with 6 out of 8-not enough sauce for my liking). This one is going to be hard to beat - the coupon was killer and you can see the high quality and value and the excellent service we received made this such a delicious experience. (M: the crust WAS tasty and crunchy almost like an almost stale soft pretzel but why be stingy on the sauce? The sauce is the quarterback of the pizza (not 'za) team!!)
The only thing that might have made this better would have been to watch That Thing You Do! while we ate ... (M: and more sauce-got to hammer that point!)
The 411:
Night Flights
4707 W Lake Rd
Erie, PA 16505
(814) 838-7118
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/nightflights11
Never been there but did know the background from That Thing You Do. I hear they have an awesome ladies night there and it's kind of a hook up bar. But as I said, this is all heresay. Sounds worth it to stop in!
ReplyDeleteSorry but the best "Erie" line from that movie and one I use all the time is from when they are playing cards and Steve Zahn says "You gotta be quick! I'm from ERIE PA" haha
Hello, DJ Edogg here and I just watch that movie last night for the first time. I am a cook and DJ at Night Flights and I did some research turns out that yes we are the inspiration for Villapiano's. According to sources when Tom Hanks was little his father would bring him to Night Flights (Called The Lantern at the time)when they would come to Erie.
ReplyDeleteBy the way we dont use myspace much any more so look us up on Facebook
ReplyDelete