Dion's Pizzeria: In Las Cruces

Saturday night is the best night for pizza. Especially since, I don't have to cook after working all week, whether at home, or out in the community. Incidentally, I have a little secret about that, my preferred pizza place is not one of those popular franchises with all the commercial ads on television; you know the funny ones? I prefer a pizza right here in Las Cruces, it's Dion's.

I love Dion's pizza. Dion's is located conveniently on the northeast part of town, 3950 E. Lohman Ave., across from Lorenzo's, another Italian eatery. Having spent 11 years in Europe, I can tell you, Dion's pizza is reminiscent of European pizza only with a thicker crust, much to the satisfaction of our American eating habits.

I found the cheese plentiful and the crust surprisingly done, not doughy, like some other places. The sauce wasn't too sweet or excessive; I hate it when oh-too-sweet pizza sauce splatters onto the plate and then onto my shirt. The sauce on Dion's merely seals in all the mozzarella cheese. And, by the way, since the pizza is actually cooked, the cheese is browned to a crispy goodness, certainly the way I think a pizza should be.

Dion's has a tempting menu. If you're taste takes on a gourmet flavor, Dion's provides you with specialties like, The Kansas City, The Tuscany, The Napoli, The Santorini, and The Duke City. They also offer salad, submarine sandwiches, and extras like brownies and fruit cups. I simply went for the basics, Canadian bacon. With these first-rate ingredients, I didn't have to over-indulge.

Like most things, along with the good, comes the boring. Aesthetically, Dion's is not Europe. The atmosphere is all American, complete with large, comfortable booths. For me, the hanging tiffany-style lamps, although appealing, just don't fit in. I found them to be kind of an oxymoron for the ordinary seating area. This said, aesthetics don't mean a thing when the pizza is just that good. They have a take-out menu too.

The ordering is cafeteria style. I ordered at the counter and waited to be called up to collect my pizza. Not a problem, the customer service girls and guys were friendly, efficient, and only too happy to refill my soda for free. Dion's also offers a viewing area so hungry pizza enthusiasts can watch their pizza being made to order. The wait seemed a bit too long, or could it be that I was just too anxious for my pizza?

Dion's pizzeria at the top of Lohman Avenue provided another delicious Saturday night for my family. I recommend their pizza to anyone who wants a European flair, right here in Las Cruces.