In most cases, the hip urbanites outgrow their pad and move to the ‘burbs. In the case of local twins Max and Leo Candidus of Max and Leo’s Pizza (ww.maxandleos.com), the opposite was true!
Long beloved for their tiny pizza joint in Newton, the adventurous brothers made a deal with Boston entertainment boss Patrick Lyons and moved in to his already popular Game On! space (www.gameonboston.com). The result is coal-fired heaven!
Using the same ovens, techniques and special chef training that has helped make the Newton store a destination for pizza lovers from all over, Max and Leo’s in Boston serves up crispy, thin-crust pizza unlike anywhere else in the region. From the classic Margherita to such creative combos as the L’Enza (with Italian sausage and wild mushrooms), the Brooksy (a white olive oil pizza with grilled chicken, caramelized onions, mushrooms, mascarpone and mozzarella), the Paradigm (with all-beef pepperoni bacon, and sausage), and Jero’s Pineapple (with house-made mozzarella, bacon, pineapple, and jalapenos), there is something for every taste and many tastes you may not have tried before (which also makes Max and Leo’s a great place to return to even when there is no game on). While most are available in 15” sizes, lunch lovers can get most of them as 10”, as long as you treat Max & Leo’s helpful staff nicely and say “Please.”
Among the limited edition specials are piping hot daily varieties of mac and cheese, fire-roasted stuffed peppers and a quartet of wings (including lemon rosemary, honey habanero, chipotle lime, and maple orange) that make your mouth sing. There are also a slew of salads that offer arugula, spinach, mesclun, and romaine and a sandwich board that goes from BLT to veggies with chicken, grilled cheese, tuna, and their famous meatballs in the middle. If you insist on game day fare, Max and Leo’s in Boston offers hot dogs and nachos that are fired in the same ovens as the pizzas for the best of all possible worlds.
In addition to their trio of customized coal-fired pizza ovens, Max and Leo’s is worth the visit for the scene. From the giant windows overlooking Boylston and Lansdowne to bevy of TVs that ensure that, just like at Fenway, every seat is a great one, Max and Leo’s offers as much to see as to taste. While still boasting Game On!’s famed Fenway batting cage (Yes- the actual one used by visiting teams!), the complex has recently installed the Blazing Paddles table tennis emporium (www.blazingpaddles.com). With 10 tournament-ready, reservable tables on multiple levels, BP is a great place for a casual game, a hand-eye coordination clinic, or a friendly or competitive tournament. In addition to league play, BP also offers cornhole sets and even a ping pong pro shop! While downstairs, be sure to check out the “Green Monstah” walls accented with murals of our Nation’s rabid fans and photos of the many famous fans who have dropped by, and stop by the restrooms to see Game On!’s tributes to retired Red Sox and other players of note.
So whether you are headed to the game or just missing your favorite suburban eatery, Game On! and Max and Leo’s is a match made in food- and fun-lover’s heaven! Drop by for a pie, a game, a tournament or any other special event. You may just pack up and move into town too!