OK, it’s time for a confession. These days, pizza nights look more like grabbing a Red Baron pizza out of the deep freeze and throwing it into the oven.
It’s actually my favorite brand of frozen pizza, and my daughter loves it. But there’s pizza, and then there’s pizza.
Because my daughter did a report on the history of pizza, I know that the first pizza was invented by a chef in Naples in honor of Queen Margherita, who was visiting his city. That simple pizza — red sauce, white mozzarella and green basil leaves — is still a classic, but today pizza comes in many different varieties. I’ve enjoyed both thick and thin crusts (but not Chicago deep dish yet) and toppings ranging from potatoes to salad.
In Augusta, arguably, thin crust is king. But if you’re hankering for thick, there’s one place you should try: Antonio’s Italian Eatery in North Augusta.
Located in the Jackson Square shopping center on Georgia Avenue (near our very favorite toy store, Orange Otter, and one of my favorite stylists, Jessica at Canvas Salon), Antonio’s serves up a hearty menu of hand-tossed Neapolitan pizza or thick-crust Sicilian pizza, by the slice or whole. There are also calzones, strombolis and other filled specialty items, more than 15 pasta dinners served with a salad and Italian bread, hot and cold sandwiches and subs, plus appetizers, salads and dessert pies.
On this Friday night at 6 p.m., we were lucky to get one of the last available tables. It was cozy and homey (at least when the door was closed to keep out a chill wind), with family photos on the walls, rustic brickwork, and a huge mural of the Italian countryside on one wall. Around us, families, couples and friends — all of whom looked like regulars — were happily eating.
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I was ready to dive in too. I originally planned on pasta — maybe linguine with clams or stuffed shells. But watching trays of pizza come out from the kitchen changed my mind. My husband already knew he wanted a pizza slice, Sicilian style, so I copied him, adding a garden salad and appetizer breadsticks with Alfredo sauce.
This is where things got dangerous. The breadsticks arrived in their golden, salty glory, all soft and fluffy inside, with a cup of homemade Alfredo sauce, its edges gleaming with melted butter. Friends, I ate four of the five breadsticks, leaving just one for my poor husband. Trust me when I say it was a meal all unto itself.
The salad was my saving grace. We shared it (and I was a little more generous this time) — fresh, crisp greens, tomato, cucumber and red onion, with a terrific freshly made homemade ranch dressing on the side (dressings are also available by the bottle to take home!).
By the time our pizzas arrived, I did have to ask myself: Could I eat more? The Sicilian thick crust is a good half-inch to an inch thick crust, beautifully bready. Mine was loaded with cheese, a light red sauce, mild sausage and bright green spinach. I took one look and had to say yes. It was thick and little chewy, but the crust was so tender and fluffy and the toppings were the perfect balance of savory and slightly sweet from the tomato and the cheese.
So if you go to Antonio’s, do what we did. Embrace the bread and the cheese and add in a little salad. And when you step back out into the world, it will feel a little less chilly and cold with a belly full of home-cooked Italian goodness.
Make Your Reservation
Antonio’s Italian Eatery
336 Georgia Ave., North Augusta
Antoniositalianeatery.wordpress.com
Entrée cost: $6.90 to $19.50
