PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW!
I see that there have been a number of negative reviews posted here for DeRango's. Some have said the service was rude; others didn't like one thing or another. I can tell you this: I have no "ax to grind" - I'm going to tell you what I think and that's all.
I'm still relatively new to the area (just 18 months now), and there a quite a few local restaurants I haven't had the chance to patronize. But knowing that DeRango's has long served this community, I wanted to finally try their pizza this evening. And yes, as I said, I know there have been some negative reviews...but what do you REALLY know until you try something for yourself? My experience was truly great, which I'll explain in a moment.
First let me say that I believe some measure of people's disappointment can always be marked up to "managing expectations." If you expect a restaurant to be something in particular, but it's not, then it's not always a case of knowing what you like - it may be a case of liking what you know. DeRango's is a carry out pizza stand (with many other food options in addition). It doesn't TRY to be anything more. If you expect it to be something more, then of course, you will be disappointed. But it won't be because THEY let you down - it will be because YOUR EXPECTATIONS were not met. That said, let me tell you about my experience this evening.
At 5:15, I ordered a 14" pizza and an order of onion rings for carry out. I was told it would be ready in 25 minutes. I could tell there were many calls coming in, because I had to be placed on hold before I could place my order. I say this so you will know that I ordered during the peak dinner hour on a Friday night and not at 3:30 on a Tuesday afternoon. I arrived at DeRango's at 5:30 and waited only 5 minutes for my order (my food was ready 20 minutes after I had placed the order). In my book, that's called, "under-promising and over-delivering."
Some have faulted the quality of service. I can only say that the service I received was perfectly fine. There was a young woman - probably a part-time employee who is still a student in High School - working the counter, the register and the telephone and also communicating with the cooks and bringing orders to the front. She was moving FAST. The whole while, waiting on me and several other customers, while also taking phone calls and conducting the other activities I have mentioned, she was pleasant, cheerful and polite. I would call her a model employee. And since she probably works for minimum wage, I would say the business has found a real asset in her.
Now to the food. The smell in the car was so good, I couldn't keep myself from dipping into the onion rings on the way home. They were hot, crispy and very tasty. They also came with a (warm!) cup of marinara dipping sauce, which to me was a nice bonus. When I reached home, I opened the pizza. As you'll see from the photo, I had jostled it a bit getting it in and out of the car, but that's on me, not them. I was surprised at how appetizing it looked - lots of cheese, flakes of Italian seasoning and cooked to perfection. But the best part came when I began to eat the pizza.
Now I grant that one's enjoyment of pizza is very much determined by his or her preferences. I like a thin and crispy crust. Not everyone agrees - and DeRango's offers FOUR different options on thickness, including hand-tossed, pan and even stuffed pizza for those of you who prefer it thick and chewy. Often, when I order thin crust pizza, there is no crispiness, or "crunch," if you will, when I bite into the crust. I was delighted that DeRango's crust was CRISPY! (By the way, I consider this the true "Milwaukee Style" pizza). The toppings were generous and the sauce had a unique "zinginess" that I really enjoyed. You can see from the picture that there is a great deal of cheese; and I'll admit to you that I ordered extra cheese, because I like it that way. BUT - the extra portion of cheese only cost me a buck and a quarter, and I find it to have been well worth it. By the way, this 14" pizza would EASILY feed three adults. Some have called it "pricey" or "expensive." I suppose so, if you're comparing it to the "Pizza! Pizza!" place, but I wouldn't bother buying pizza there. This pizza cost me less that 15 bucks and it's the best I've had in the area - yes, even better than another nearby restaurant that I've given a rave review.
To be clear - I don't know the DeRango family and I have nothing vested in giving them a good review. But I do want those of you who actually read these reviews to know that MY experience was great and I WILL be purchasing pizza there again. 'Nuff said? Okay.
UPDATE: After many carryout meals, I can offer some specifics on a few more menu items. The Italian Beef is a delicious sandwich and a good value (ask for extra marinara). The chicken wings are great but the fried chicken dinners are made with thin pieces of chicken - sadly not plump and juicy. read more