No, San Antonio is not traditionally known for being a strong Italian or pizza town. Tex-Mex rules the roost around here, and with very good reason, it’s freaking amazing here.
But the pizza scene is continually getting better. There are new spots that are making noise, and there are some hidden gems that don’t get a lot of fanfare, but absolutely deserve it.
So, the pizza journey begins, at the time of this writing, there are only two restaurants that I’ve visited for this article. Many, many more will be sure to follow. So stick along for the ride, and by all means, leave comments and suggestions in the comment box below! Let’s go!
Sorrento
If you are looking for an authentic Italian experience, Sorrento’s in Alamo Heights might be the main card in San Antonio.
And let’s get this out of the way first, this is a spectacular spot for a date night. It’s very cozy and romantic.
And if you are one of the cool kids, take the entrance in the back and then take in the wine laden corridor that leads into the main dining area. It’s fun.
Before we get to their pizza, which was very good, take note that they have an extensive wine on display lining the entrance corridor. Very nice touch!
The pizza is simply outstanding here, let’s get right to the point.
They were very well put together and so flavorful. The dough was high quality and delicious. And filling! I could only eat two slices of the meat lovers, and my cousin could only eat two slices of the Sorrento special, and he is a big guy!
So, you will definitely be taking pizza home with you. For that reason, the value is really great here.
I cannot wait to go back and try their other offerings, and will update this post as I do with more pictures!
Luciano’s – North Star Mall
Luciano’s first came across my radar when my son brought home an entire leftover veggie pizza from a function at UIW – which they also have a location there also. It looked fantastic, but when I heated a slice on a pan for a few minutes, it was simply out of this world.
But yesterday, my younger son and I stopped by Luciano at North Star Mall. The setup is very simple.
You order anything in the display case, and then they stick it in the oven for a few minutes so it comes out piping hot.
This is similar to how the Italian restaurants in the northeast operate, and I think it works really well.
So that’s all for now, but stay tuned as I will be adding pictures and my thoughts from these pizza spots soon: Maars Pizza, Julian’s, Mattenga’s, Dominos (Just kidding!), Capo’s Pizzeria, Stout Pizza, Florio’s, and many many more in coming days and weeks.
Florio’s
Florio’s has a great authentic vibe that I appreciated. That’s first and foremost. I might be wrong, but the pizza just tastes better in these kinds of joints.
The owner is clearly from New Jersey, and I think I remember reading an article some time ago about how and why they moved to San Antonio years ago.
We only tried a large Sicilian style Pepperoni, and we loved it. What you notice straight away is the fluffy crust. So soft and delicious! I think these pizzas you 100% have to eat right out of the oven. I can’t imagine having this pizza delivered and it being anything remotely to how amazing it is out of the oven. Looking forward to trying other pies there, Florio’s is one of the best pizza spots in San Antonio.
Napoli Pizzeria
VIA 313
I definitely enjoyed my visit to Via 313, but it’s going to depend on if you are in the mood for a trendier spot or something more old school. I recommend coming here for a casual date over drinks and pizza or a work lunch.
My pizza was a simple Detroit style pepperoni. Like the pizza at Florio’s, the fluffy and flavorful crust here is just outstanding. That is first thing you notice.
After that you notice the deliciously chewy cheese, so good. The pepperoni was actually very understated. Not bad, just well below the flavors of everything else. The sauce was very good also.
The staff were very nice, but a bit in their own world a bit. Friendly, but not hospitable, if that makes sense. I can easily recommend VIA 313 for their pizza, but again, if you are looking for a little TLC in an old school Italian restaurant ambiance, this isn’t that.
Until then, arrivederci!!
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