Maybe it was the 'super' name that helped push them over the edge. Whatever it was, Pat's Pizza in Lower Mills was the clear winner this week in the Reporter's first online Pizza Poll, wracking up 117 total votes for the best pizza place in Dorchester.

The unscientific vote was conducted at the Reporter's companion website over the last 12 days. The Lower Mills village restaurant took a commanding lead in the second week of polling, vaulting over early leader Hi-Fi of Fields Corner.

Pat's took home about 34 percent of the 342 votes cast at DotNews.com. The runner-up was "other"- an option which voters could pick and then write-in their pizza choice- which garnered about 21 percent.

Hi-Fi ended up a close third with 19 percent, followed by Patty's Pantry (15%). Also in the running were Sonny's, Nanina's and Uphams House of Pizza.

Mario's in Adams Corner was a favorite write-in choice among those who picked 'other' in the poll. Here is a sampling of some of the comments left on the poll chat room:

•Cindy: "How could Johnny's pizza in Ashmont not be on the list?? Consistently great pizza [and they make a mean meatball sub] and they're nice people too."

•Susie: "PATS has the best pizza around...and good looking guys to boot!"

•John: "What more can be said about Patrick's. Since moving over to the even side of the street, Chef Newell has managed to put out a product that is unparalled to any other pizza in town. Keep up the great work."

•Dan: "CeeCee's in Fields Corner. Good basics, a few original things, but nothing frou-frou."

Congratulations to Pats! Watch DotNews. com every week for more sampling of opinion in the neighborhood.

-Bill Forry

 Busy Season Keep Pizza Spots Hoppin'
By Kellyanne Mahoney

(Feb. 21, 2002)- When the late afternoon winter sun beams from behind the Blarney Stone across the street, you can barely see David Ward through the glare in the front window of Hi-Fi Pizza on Dorchester Avenue&emdash;but chances are he's there, kneading and flipping dough.

Two Red Line stops, and a bit of a walk away, near the corner of Dorchester Ave. and Richmond St., another neighborhood institution, Pat's Pizza, is still reeling from the mid-day rush. The cashier, Jean Cahill-Donovan, is wiping down the wooden tables.

At right: Brendan Newell and Joas Alencar of Pat's Pizza

"From 11 to two it gets pretty busy… Even just the phone, five lines goin' all the time," she says.

Last week Dorchester chose its favorite pizza&emdash;well, sort of. In an on-line poll conducted by the Dorchester Reporter, Hi-Fi of Field's Corner and Pat's of Lower Mills stayed neck and neck all week. Voting will continue for the next week and, although Pat's and Hi-Fi have strong leads right now, the margin could shift to any pizzeria over the next seven days.

Pat's has been in the neighborhood since 1990; Hi-Fi opened in 1966. Pat's revamped its image a few years ago, moving across the street from its original location. The seating has expanded to seven tables with slated wooden benches. Another bench sits outside the entrance facing the avenue. Pat's still shares the same strip of Dot Ave. with other popular local haunts: the Ice Cream Smith with its hand-made treats and Donovan's with its hearty Irish Breakfast. Closer in proximity is a senior citizens' housing complex, Marie Edith's popular Cakery and the Liberty Deli.

At one in the afternoon on President's Day, customers crowd the counter. Owner Pat McDonagh and Cahill-Donovan take orders and call out numbers midst the pounding, sizzling, rustling and scraping of the open kitchen behind them. After ordering, most people wait patiently away from the counter. Some crane their necks to watch ESPN from the television hung high on the wall in the dining area. Others munch on chips or flip through newspapers. One little boy sits down with his feet swinging and face pressed against the table.

Taking up most of the dining room's sidewall is a large American flag, carefully hung with alternating red, white and blue tacks, over the restaurant's existing decorations.

A four-foot high wall shields diners from the rush of the counter. The atmosphere on this side is markedly more relaxed. A young man pushes away crusts from his large turkey sub and turns from his older dining companion to watch a documentary about John Wilson, an obscure football player from the '70's. He stretches out in his bench as if it's a living room sofa. When done nibbling on his salad, the old man drops his crumpled napkin in the plastic container, and bats the younger man with rolled up newspaper to get his attention. The two soon clear their trash from the table and leave.

Regular customers thank McDonagh directly as they sweep up their orders. "Take care," he says in his burly voice between tending to other orders. As things slow down, he has more time to talk. "Quite a night last night, huh?" he says to one customer. To another he talks about the unseasonably warm weather. "It's been beautiful," he says. "Not as beautiful as you Pat," she jokes as she leaves.

"What number's that Jean-o?" McDonagh asks as the final customer exits.

"One," Cahill-Donovan replies.

"Just like yourself," he says. Cahill-Donovan has worked at Pat's for four months.

McDonagh, who grew up in Uphams Corner, now shares ownership of the restaurant with Brendan Newell and Wilson Pavia.

"[Together] there's about 20 of us here," he says of Pat's employees. "And I wouldn't be anywhere without them."

McDonagh says most of his clientele come from Lower Mills, Cedar Grove, Mattapan and Milton.

"We do the school lunches [for Saint Gregory's, Saint Ann's and Saint Agatha's.]… Dorchester High is a new account for us."

Pat's does a lot of extra business during Lent, especially since they have added fish and chips to the menu. The most popular pizza&emdash;"still the cheese," he says.

Cheese is also the most popular pizza at Hi-Fi, according to Ward, its manager. Both Pat's and Hi-Fi serve up a thin, doughy slice with juicy cheese. Pat's end crust is denser and crispier than Hi-Fi's, which is more soft and airy.

Besides cheese, he says, another popular type is the Special&emdash;"everything but anchovies and olives." Ward says the Special is a favorite among his Asian customers, who make up a large part of the clientele. Unlike Pat's, he doesn't see much of a pick-up in business during Lent. "The majority of people here eat steak and cheese or chicken." Pizza orders remain consistent throughout the year. "In the day-time people who work around here come for lunch."

Ward, 24, has worked at Hi-Fi for 10 years, "through elementary and high school&emdash;since sixth grade actually," he says as he dusts the counter with flour. Dressed in a white chef's coat and blue and yellow Puma cap, Ward paces his narrow kitchen space while he talks, effortlessly tossing dough or slicing a pizza fresh from the oven. He started out "cleaning the tables, taking out the trash." He has been making the pizzas at Hi-Fi for four years now, and works there often 56 hours a week.

Owned by Robert Sherman, Hi-Fi is sparely decorated, but neat inside. There are 11 tables with red Formica seats and red and white tiled walls. In front of the counter are a few flashy games, a sticker machine and several candy machines. Outside are a dark green and white striped awning and a large window. It faces the Blarney Stone and the Emerald Isle bars, and the My Tien Gift shop.

Ward, who attended Saint Gregory's Elementary School and John D. O'Bryant High, says he's "eventually looking to buy [his] own place." Right now for him, Hi-Fi is a "foot in the door."