We started out on NKy’s Pizza Challenge back in October of last year. For a while there, it seemed like we were hitting up a different pizzeria every week. We’d roll deep into a restaurant, armed with notebooks and iPads, write our individual reviews, and scare the collective crap out of servers and owners alike.
It’s been about 4.5 months since our last review of Toppers in Highland Heights. The plan was to always finish up our quest at our hometown pizzeria, Mio’s, however we wanted to give them a little time after opening to work out the kinks.
I’ve probably been there about 10 times so far, and I am glad that we waited as a group to grade them. I was the first person to ever buy a beer last St. Patrick’s Day, and had great expectations from the get go. Owners Mark and Allen have been hands on, and told me they understood the importance of good service, and how our community appreciates it.
Unquestionably, as most restaurants do, they had some serious growing pains early on, regarding their service. I do think however, they’ve righted the ship for the most part. They are getting feedback from the community, and they are listening, which is all you can ask for.
Atmosphere (1-10 scale) 8.5
It depends on who you talk to and when on Mio’s atmosphere. Undoubtedly, the biggest draw to Mio’s is its outstanding patio, but perhaps the biggest hidden gem is the inside. There’s no doubt, the once house-turned restaurant is a logistical nightmare for servers. It’s broken up into many different rooms. Once you get inside, though, you’ll see it flows a lot better than you’d expect.
A huge TV viewing area downstairs with a bar around the corner and nicely renovated dining rooms upstairs, including a kids room are some of what you’d be missing if you only eat outside.
We actually were almost forced inside during our visit, because of the unrelenting heat during the last few weeks, and it actually worked out great. The FTM crew (Darrin, Ben, Jess and her hubby, Steph and I) had our meeting of minds in one room, while Darrin’s wife and three rugrats rummaged through the kids’ area. It worked out great.
Back to the bigger draw, which is the outside. On a gorgeous day, nothing beats it. Great people watching, usually some type of entertainment and an outside bar to boot. Sometimes the music can be a bit loud, but it’s why a lot of people choose to go to Mio’s.
Overall Pizza Taste/Selection: 8
This particular time we went, we had the Bacon, Macaroni and Cheese Pizza. I don’t know if I was just freaking hungry, but I wished I had ordered my own instead of having to share with Darrin and Ben. It was really, really, good.
I’ve also had the Meat and More Meat Pizza, which was really well done as well. Perhaps what differentiates Mio’s from other pizzerias in the area is the stuffed, Chicago-style pizza they do. Sauce on the top, toppings melding together in the middle. Delicious. We didn’t get any on this trip, but I’ve had it on two occasions. The second time, was exponentially better than the first, which yielded me a lukewarm pizza. None too appealing. Granted, that was early on in the infancy of Mio’s.
Extras: 7
Stephanie and Jessica are usually our guinea pigs on this front, as Stephanie has a gluten allergy and Jessica tries to be all heath conscious. So they generally order salads. They give them a little bit better than average marks.
I’ve had some of their appetizers and a hoagie on a few different occasions. Again, not the reason to come to Mio’s, but I’m glad they are on the menu.
The best extra is the selection of beers they have on draft. Not an overwhelming selection, but a few surprises you wouldn’t expect to see at a normal pizzeria.
The management tries new things to entice customers to come in (Dan the Balloon Man, Kona Ice, a newly implemented Happy Hour) and takes feedback to heart via their Facebook page, which is refreshing.
Service: 4
If Mio’s has an Achilles heel, it is its service. It’s possible their completely new staff was overwhelmed at first, with huge crowds wanting to get in a try out Fort Thomas’ newest business, but there’s no way of getting around it: their service during their first month or so was terrible.
They have gotten much better, but it still seems as if the kitchen and the servers, along with the hostesses are still lacking some communication. I am no expert, believe me. I have never owned or run a restaurant and have no desire to ever do so, but it seems like there are not enough servers to handle the amount of tables outside.
When I go to Mio’s, I know I’m going to be there for the evening and I plan on just hanging out and taking it all in, but I can see why maybe a family or a couple on a date that want to eat, get their bill and leave may opt to try something else.
It will be interesting to see how things transition at Mio’s once the nice weather subsides and people are only going to have the option of eating inside. I do think the addition to the happy hour will get people to start eating inside.
Overall
I’m extremely excited to have Mio’s in Fort Thomas. I’ve been there my fair share already and will continue to go because each time I do, I have a better experience than the last. This tells me the owners, servers and barkeeps are learning lessons, learning their customers and learning the community and they are invested in each.
I may have them ranked fourth right now, but it wouldn’t surprise me to have them jump up in the rankings in the next year or so, based on their progress thus far.
Give people good food, outstanding service, a great value and something extraordinary they aren’t getting anywhere else, and the people will come. That’s probably the best advice I can give, not just to Mio’s but any of the places we reviewed.
Hope you enjoyed the NKy’s Best Pizza Challenge. It was a blast for us. Thanks for reading!
Final Tally:
1) Buona Vita – 8.15
2) Pepperoncini’s Pizza 8.03
3) Newport Pizza Company – 8
4) Mio’s Pizzeria – 6.875
5) Raniero’s Pizzeria – 6.8
6) Dewey’s Pizza – 6.15
7) 915 Pub and Grill – 5.75
8) Pasquale’s – 5.5
9) Fort Thomas Pizza – 5.375
10) Toppers – 5.12
