Twin Trees in Liverpool has always been in my top 3 as far as pizza goes in this area. I love the way they cut the pizza up but I’ve always loved how it tastes as well. If they ever add hamburger as a topping they might have a shot at moving into the number one spot. 🙂

With that said, for decades they had this small space on the western side of Route 57, which pretty much meant that you picked up your food and went home. I’m sure they thrived in that environment for a long time, but at some point they had the opportunity to expand into the space created by a restaurant that left in Bayberry Plaza, right across the street, a space that used to be the location of the movie theater that, in its last gasp, showed Star Wars for 69 straight weeks.

Thus, Twin Trees became a full fledged restaurant like all the rest, and they finally had an opportunity to show what they could do. It still has a take out side, but the restaurant part includes booth seating in the bar area in front, along with one of those fancy new jukeboxes, and extra seating in the back area, which looks and feels more like a true restaurant. In the back area is where they also have a small salad bar and a pizza bar, which is pretty convenient for lunch but is also open for dinner.

Before I get to the meal, let me briefly talk about the decor. Truthfully, I think it’s a little too dark because of the dark green paint on the walls. I always thought it was because I hate the color green, but since I’ve started watching this show called Restaurant Impossible I realize that I’m not incorrect on this point. This guy Robert Irvine, a world class chef with large arms, goes in and helps failing restaurants prosper, and something he always changes is dark decor, where other restaurants have painted their walls a dark green as well, and adds a lighter, more inviting color.

On this particular day I decided that since I’d already had the pizza numerous times that I wanted to try something different. I went with the fried shrimp and fries dinner, which also came with the salad bar. I had a small salad, but something I actually love is that they had chocolate pudding on the salad bar, and it was good. Probably not homemade, but it reminded me of the chocolate pudding that Ruby Tuesdays used to have on their salad bar before they made a corporate decision some years ago to remove it.

Finally my food came and I have to say it was fantastic. The shrimp was fried just right, lightly breaded, which I like better than the beer battered kind, and the fries were perfect as well. The waitress was nice and kept my glass of diet soda filled with both soda and ice.

I can’t say it’s gourmet after one meal, and it won’t replace Pier 57 as far as being my favorite restaurant, but it’s a great alternative if I want a different eating experience for a change, and less than 200 yards from Friendly’s if I’m craving dessert.