A Waterfront Spot Where Pizza Rules
Boston Globe: October 14, 2007
Open daily, 11 a .m. to midnight
Accessible to the handicapped

Fifty years ago, thirsty tannery workers would spill out of the Creese & Cook tannery in Danversport and walk to nearby bars, where they quenched their thirst at Sam & Joe's, the Triple T, and the Bucket of Blood. These days, Danversport's Water Street has a decidedly suburban feel, and only Sam & Joe's survives from the 1950s. The bar and restaurant, owned by the Calitri and Ciruolo families, has been expanded over the years, and now has two dining rooms that overlook the Crane River.Most of the customers are repeat diners and come from Danvers, Peabody, Salem, and Beverly.While Sam & Joe's boasts an extensive menu, regulars keep coming back for the restaurant's thin-crust pizza, according to Antinetta Ryan, the daughter of cofounder Joe Calitri. Ryan, who has worked at the restaurant for 47 years, traces the pizza sauce's recipe back to her grandfather, who came from Panni, Italy.On this narrow street, the first road that connected Danvers to Salem more than 300 years ago, everyone seems to have a pizza story from the restaurant."We've had customers who have moved to Florida who come here straight from Logan to get a pizza," said Ryan.We asked for a seat in the back of the dining room overlooking the river. The neighborhood is still recovering from a blast that shook this side of town about a year ago.On this night, the river was still, and the only sounds came from the next table, where a couple of generations of family members were gathered. "We're here for the pizza," said a smiling middle-aged man.We also had come for pizza but wanted to sample several appetizers and entrees. The best of the appetizers were the fried mozzarella sticks ($7.30) and the potato skins ($7.80). The mozzarella sticks were lightly fried, hot, and did not require marinara sauce. The potato skins were deep-fried, but each skin was crispy, similar to crunchy french fries.We also ordered a Caesar salad ($7.30). Unfortunately, the salad was drenched in oil and lacked the advertised anchovies.We also tried the baked lasagna with tomato sauce ($11) and the fettuccine Alfredo ($11.50). The ricotta-based lasagna was acceptable, with sauteed mushrooms, peppers, and onions.The Alfredo was a disappointment: The fettuccine was not fully cooked, and the Alfredo seemed overly bland. But the pizza lived up to its billing. They serve a 12-inch pie, and we chose the cheese ($10.50) and the Mediterranean pizza ($13.50).The cheese slices are similar to other excellent pizza shops north of Boston - like Monte's in Lynn and Nana's in Everett. The Mediterranean also was above average. It's a white pizza, topped with Roma tomatoes, spinach, black olives, garlic, and a blend of feta and shredded mozzarella.While there are numerous pizzas that include meat - such as the Sam and Joe's special ($13.30), a pie topped with salami, green peppers, and mushrooms - there are also several that will please vegetarians.If you don't eat meat, try the artichoke ($14.50), Pizza primavera ($13.50), or the spinoccoli (spinach and broccoli, $16.50). And if you go on Monday and order two pizzas, you'll get a free cheese pizza with your order.
STEVEN ROSENBERG© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.

BOSTON Reviews:
3/19/08: Andrea A. writes: the pizza here is downright AMAZING - thin crust, crispy, totally super. i've never ordered anything else, so really, just take my advice and grab a seat at the bar and order you a pie.

FOODIEVIEW: Current Rating: "5 Stars"

Chowhound:

January 14, 2008: For pizza in Danvers, I hope you will try Sam and Joe's on Water St in Danversport. The crust is thin and they have been selling it for at least 40 years that I know of. Almost (maybe exactly) the same pizza is sold at Calitri's on Rt 1 south,there may be a co-ownership there.