Talk of The Villages Florida

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- Restaurant Discussions (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/)

- - Pizza (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/pizza-317426/)

There are no joints that compare to Chicago legends Malnati’s, Gino’s, Giordano’s, Aurlieo’s, UNO’s, and others. It’s a pizza desert here.

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Originally Posted by Fredman (Post 1915420)

Piesanos:mademyday:

dittos. it's the only pizza joint we use

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Originally Posted by chinook234 (Post 1915776)

being originally from the New Haven ct area...I have tried many places here in TV...so far Mallory Hill club house gets my vote

Pepe's in New Haven!!!!!!!!!!! they're still around from what i hear

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Originally Posted by Pairadocs (Post 1915809)

You've summed it up pretty well, but maybe should have added "in central Florida", as a native I can tell you you can get some great pizza, non chain, in south Atlantic coast Florida... but that doesn't help us much here, LOL ! Canned, sour tasting almost, sauce at all places. One or two non chains in Ocala have good pies, but 18-20 mile drive each way ? Haven't found anything in Leesburg, many rave about Belview pizza, but it was more a midwestern style in our opinion.... it's like trying to find really good Chinese, it's like looking for pot of gold at the rainbow !

still looking for decent Chinese, still haven't found one, lol

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Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr (Post 1915705)

Pizza is like Chinese food. Whatever was the style in your home town or home state is what you consider good. Everything else is terrible. They are also the same in that neither one is authentic. Pizza in the US is nothing like Pizza in Naples where it was invented. Most Americans would balk at true Italian pizza. Same for Chinese food. It's nothing like what is served in China.

Recently, I saw a documentary about pizza in the US. It was about two pizza chains that started in mid-west. One was Pizza Hut. They were hugely successful when expanding throughout the mid west, but when they opened stores in the northeast, they failed miserably.

Most Italians who emigrated to this country settled in the northeast. So when this different type of pizza came to them, they rejected it. American style pizza had been around New England, New York and New Jersey for decades, so this new mid western style was not what people were used to. Pizza Hut added a thinner crust to their menu and it helped, but where I came from it still wasn't very popular.

Then there is Greek or cafe style pizza. I lived in an area where there were two restaurants that served this style and local people raved about them. I never understood it, but they were very popular locally.

Having said all this, it's very rare that I complain about pizza or Chinese food. Even the worst of it is pretty good.

The greek style and the south shore bar style are completely different. Bar style has the crispy edges from cooking in the pans and the greek style is very "floppy".

And to the person that said pizza in Italy is not as good in the states, I have no idea what you're thinking. Pizza in the US is overloaded with cheese and toppings. In Rome it's fresh crust, tomatoes, and proportionate toppings and you can get a great slice just about anywhere.

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Originally Posted by WindyCityzen (Post 1915819)

There are no joints that compare to Chicago legends Malnati’s, Gino’s, Giordano’s, Aurlieo’s, UNO’s, and others. It’s a pizza desert here.

Malnati will ship but it costs an arm and a leg and cannot imagine a pizza would travel all that well.

If in Mt. Dora, Mellow Mushroom has unique pizzas, asked several times if considering coming to the villages, hopefully?

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Originally Posted by Peazoup (Post 1915417)

In your opinion, which restaurant has the best thin crust pizza in The Villages?

Pisano's Lake Deaton Plaza

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Originally Posted by Peazoup (Post 1915417)

In your opinion, which restaurant has the best thin crust pizza in The Villages?

No one mentioned Napolinos on 301 in Wildwood....thought pizza pretty good...others opinions?

Check out Gio's on RT 301. Close to an upstate NY pizza. Great sauce and crust.

In your opinion, which restaurant has the best thin crust pizza in The Villages?[/QUOTE]

Has not person been to Napolino's on 301? As far as I'm concerned they rank one (especially their Sicilian Pie) and Pisano's second

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Originally Posted by ladyastor1948 (Post 1915855)

No one mentioned Napolinos on 301 in Wildwood....thought pizza pretty good...others opinions?

I agree

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Originally Posted by barkriver (Post 1915664)

takis in leesburg, but keep it a secret!

pasta faire in belleview.
Great bogo pizza orders & great food. Omerta

One more vote for Napolino's on US Hwy 301

Granted it's not thin crust, but they make a "Napolino's Special" pie that is superb and that we've seen nothing like anywhere else here. Our kids have lived as far as halfway around the world, but when they're here, they want Napolino's. And they'll want to eat out only occasionally, as they say (and it's true!) that they can cook a better and healthier meal than many (most?) restaurants!