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Combining two of America’s favorites

The burger is part of the pizza at The Cloverleaf

DYNAMIC DUO: The Cloverleaf’s bacon cheeseburger pizza features secret sauce, hamburger meat, tomatoes, onions, bacon, cheese and pickles. Though it might sound like an odd combination for a pizza, it really hits the mark. Jason DePaul

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Jake: It is difficult to mention pizza around someone from the North End of Tacoma without them talking about the Cloverleaf on 6th Ave.  So I figured I was about due to make a trip down Bridgeport Way.

Jason: I'm glad you did, Jake. The Cloverleaf has been serving up quality pizza to Tacoma residents since 1950. There is both a bar in the front and a family dining area in the back available.

Jake: I was hoping that would be the case, especially after the confusion over delivery charges.  Since I was headed to the North End to watch football with the guys, I decided to bring along some pizza, but could never quite get a straight answer on what the delivery charge would be. In the end it was double what I was quoted.

Jason: Football at a friend's house? Did you not notice all the TV screens available in the bar?  But I understand your concerns, as it was difficult for us to gather any sort of information about the food from our waitress as well.

Jake: Fortunately, the pizza does speak for itself. The house-made crust is by far the best crust I've ever enjoyed on a pizza. The sauce was sweet with just a little bit of tang, and each of the pizzas had the right amount of cheese; not too much and not too little.

Jason: Before I could even hit the pizza, I gave some of the Cloverleaf's other menu items a try.  The side salad is exactly what one would expect for $1.95; lettuce, tomatoes, croutons and dressing on the side. Additionally, we gave the wings a sampling. The wings are available in BBQ or spicy, and both come with a side of ranch for dipping. The BBQ wings were sweet and smoky, with just the right amount of sauce to make you reach for the napkins, but not quite head to the washroom.

Jake: I was all about the pizza; I was told that the Monster pizza was the most popular, so I couldn't resist giving it a go ($13.50 / $23.95). The Monster clearly gained its name from the large number of ingredients offered: pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, bacon, mushrooms, black olives, green peppers, onions, extra cheese and even anchovies upon request. All these flavors came together for a flavorful and hearty slice of pizza, which will pair well with any of the numerous beer offerings at the Cloverleaf.

Jason:  Well, while you always want the most popular, I'm always going to give the most unusual a try. The Cloverleaf offers a bacon cheeseburger pizza ($13.50 / $23.95) with secret sauce, burger, tomatoes, onions, bacon, cheese and pickles. Though this might sound like an odd combination for a pizza, it really hits the mark, because it tastes exactly like a bacon cheeseburger! I was half tempted to order the bacon cheeseburger ($7.25) just to do a side-by-side taste test.

Jake: We gave some of the basics a try as well, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, sausage, cheese . . . and they were all a hit with the guys, even receiving a "Oh, so THIS is what pizza is supposed to taste like" from one of the out-of-towners.

Jason: In addition to pizza and burgers, the Cloverleaf offers hot and cold sandwiches, as well as a wider variety of salads.  Furthermore, most of its menu is available for both carry-out and delivery.

Jake: Though I was unimpressed with the level of service and knowledge, it is easy to see why the Cloverleaf is mentioned in all pizza discussions within the Tacoma area.

The Cloverleaf; 6430 6th Ave, Tacoma; 253-565-1111

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