Just Because it's Florida, Doesn't Mean There isn't good Pizza
Published: 01/02/2012 at Richard Gonzalez
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Who doesn't like pizza? I know the thought of someone raising their hand to that rhetorical question is mind-numbing. Think of pizza and some of you may have images of gathering with some of your Little League baseball teams for a party on your coach after dropping 4 of your last 5 contests. Or, maybe a work function where the smell of melted cheese and some sort of salty meat come finding you at your cubicle. Regardless of what conjured up images you have when the mere mention of the nation's favorite pig-out food is you want it done right...even if you're re-heating it for breakfast.
I have been grown up eating New York style pizza - that is a thin slice where you can eat with one hand by folding it into itself. This past year, I made the dive into deep dish pizza when I visited Chicago and was introduced into not only a different kind of pizza, but a different kind of way in which you consume it - a knife and fork please.
Now, as I reside in Florida I have been left with not so many places where the pizza was something to write home about. The main chains really don't do it for me, unless I a hunkering for some overly-doughed bread with some sauce and cheese on it. A few mom & pop places are a good alternative, but if you don't already know what their like it could be a little scary -- if there is such a thing as 'scary' when it comes to pizza. Then, I discovered one of the best places to order, eat and enjoy a good pie.
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza is the place where other pizza joints want to be. The one located in Pompano Beach, Florida on Federal Highway this diamond popped up in my search on Bizzability and, after hearing it a few times on the radio, decided to give it a look. The result was nothing short of exemplary.
The entrance seems to be through a side-door, and when you enter, the dining room is to the left and straight ahead is the fully stock bar - one really interesting part of this pizzeria is the actual store fireplace where they blaze up the pizza is visible to the right of the reception station. The eating stations are big and they have a good amount of televisions playing sports - (they actually have the hockey network and weren't embarrassed to have it on.)
A long list of traditional pizzas from Margareta to some special deals like the Paul and Young Ron -- the name of local radio personalities that have been singing Anthony's praises for years. This specific pie comes with peppers, three different chesses and meatballs all on top of one of the crunchiest, tastiest crusts I have ever eaten. Truly heaven!
The beer list, which is a staple when it comes to eating pizza as an adult, was very impressive. Once again, they have the regular staples, but also some really good micro-brews that I haven't even seen in some pubs. A nice Magic Hat #9 complemented the sweet peppers just fine.
I know Florida being the melting pot that it is, has a lot of people talking about there isn't a good place to get a slice of pizza - and I have to admit that for a long time I had to agree with that statement. But after discovering this place, and not too far from where I reside, there really isn't that much time thinking about 'where to go for pizza'.
