Address:
808 N Milwaukee Ave
Deerfield, IL 60015

There are only a few restaurants in the Chicago suburbs, and those who live there are starting to get bored of them. However, there is a new make-your-own pizza place that recently opened in Deerfield called Pizza Amoré that may be a great restaurant to try. Pizza Amoré is conceptually the same type of restaurant as Mod or Blaze, but the Italian heritage of the owner causes the pizza to taste more authentic.

With its clean environment and modern design, Pizza Amoré is the perfect place to catch up with friends or family over a delicious pizza or salad. Between high tops and booths, there are many places to sit, all with a nice view of the unique features of the restaurant that reflect its Italian culture.

When Pizza Amoré opened three months ago, owner Anthony Donato had a vision to bring a slice of Italian culture into the Deerfield area. A restaurant modeled around authentic taste is a new and different concept for Deerfield, and I believe this variety will definitely be welcomed by those who want to try genuine Italian pizza. Also, the pizza takes just minutes to bake, so eating at Pizza Amoré may appeal to those who are too busy to sit down at a restaurant for an hour to eat lunch or dinner.

So how does Pizza Amoré compare to other nearby make-your-own pizza places? Like other restaurants of this type, there are seemingly endless salad and pizza toppings you can request to be added to your meal. For my toppings, I chose tomato sauce, mozzarella and asiago cheese, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach. I expected the pizza to taste the same as the pizza at Blaze or Mod, but it could not have been more different. For starters, the crust was much thinner, soft on the top with a cracker-like consistency on the bottom. This was unique, since most pizza crust is either chewy or crunchy but not both simultaneously. Unfortunately, the thin crust made it a bit difficult to eat normally, although this was easily remedied by eating the slices New York style. Aside from the unique crust, the freshness of the vegetables on top made up for this slight inconvenience. In fact, one of the pizza chefs said Pizza Amoré orders new ingredients every week. Also, the creamy mozzarella cheese and spiced sauce complemented each other nicely, and combined with the vegetables to create a savory, harmonious mix of toppings.

Restaurant hours are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the weekends, with Friday evenings being the most popular time that many people dine, according to restaurant staff. The modern setting and delicious pizza makes Pizza Amoré a restaurant I highly recommend eating at for lunch with friends, or a quick bite before an activity.

(If you don't live in the Chicago area and do not think you will be traveling there soon, this is still relevant because Pizza Amoré is open to becoming a chain.)

Ever feel tired in the middle of the day and wish the answer was as simple as a glass of water? Well, Yerbaé is a NEW brand of sparkling water that already comes in a variety of flavors. And, the unique thing is, it's caffeinated!

If you're someone who is conscious of the amount of soda or coffee you drink or you're just looking for more energy, Yerbaé might be the perfect new substitute, since it may contain just as much caffeine, yet does not include artificial products. Also, it is non-GMO and gluten-free! Therefore, you receive the energy boost you are looking for while drinking something that is very likely more healthy!

I decided to sample and compare five of the new Yerbaé's flavors; lemon, pineapple coconut, orange cherry pineapple, kiwi strawberry, and pomegranate berry.

Lemon
The lemon flavor wasn't too bitter, and it is packed with much more flavor than lemon LaCroix. In fact, it tasted just like real lemon except more toned down, not as sour. A classic lemon Yerbaé is something you would never get sick of.

Pineapple Coconut
This is definitely a very interesting flavor. It is a very sweet and strong drink, so I would only recommend the Pineapple Coconut to those who are fond of both fruits. I could taste the pineapple and the coconut in the drink like I was actually eating them, so it was nice to consume a drink that I actually felt contained a satisfactory amount of flavor.

Orange Cherry Pineapple
Nice job on this one, Yerbaé! I never would have thought these three fruits would compliment each other so nicely, but they certainly did. The citrus flavor of the orange, the sweetness of cherry and refreshing tartness of the pineapple worked together in perfect harmony to create a drink that truly "hit the spot."

Kiwi Strawberry
Similarly to the Orange Cherry Pineapple, the balance between the fruits is perfect. Neither the flavor of the kiwi nor the strawberry overtakes the other, and it isn't too sweet like I expected. I would say that the especially nice balance lands Kiwi Strawberry at #1 favorite on my list.

Pomegranate Berry
This drink is the most refreshing of the five, and it's very fruity. Pomegranate Berry is my favorite kind of Yerbaé in terms of idea, since the combination of the darker blueberry flavor and the brighter pomegranate go well together.

My take: I would recommend this brand of sparkling water to anyone who wishes to receive the energy boost of caffeine without having so many calories accompany it!

I would love to hear what you think. Give it a try, and comment here!