On a Tuesday evening after studying at the library all day, I decided I was up for some pizza. So I flipped on my GPS and picked out a place to grab a slice. I chose a spot on Gaines St, Isabella’s Pizzeria Napoletana. I arrived at the restaurant around 8:00 pm. It was not crowded by any means, with only two other tables taken, there was plenty of seating. The restaurant is set up to order at the front counter, then find a table and take a seat.
The restaurant its self was clean. There is a sizeable wood-fired stone oven behind the counter and a kitchen in the back. The ambiance was that of a typical pizza joint, the smell of the pizza baking was tantalizing. As I perused the menu, I watched one of the cooks prepare a calzone. Stretching out the dough and layering the ingredients, with house made ricotta and house made mozzarella cheeses, then he popped it into the hot fire to work its magic.
Back to the menu, they do have a beer and wine menu, more beer than wine, though they were out of much of their selection. I had to choose four different beers before finding one they did have on hand. Maybe it is due to their location, being in “college town,” and that is why they were running so low on their selection. Well, I am giving them the benefit of the doubt. Also, be aware the wine list is somewhat limited, offering a few reds and a couple of whites. If you are a little picky about your wine, you may run into a bit of trouble.
I ordered their “Insalata di Casa”, it comes in a half and full-size order, I will say I do enjoy that option. The salad is Prosciutto di Parma, spring mix, artichokes, black olives, and a lemon vinaigrette. The salad was ok, it did lack flavor. The vinaigrette was bland, mostly just olive oil. The lemon would have given it a brightness that would have complimented the artichokes and prosciutto. Also, it could have stood to have a few more of the named ingredients, one artichoke was slight.
I also ordered two pizzas, one for myself to enjoy then and there, the other to take home. The first of the two pizzas was a ten inch pie. The “La Carne” pie consisted of tomato sauce, fresh basil, Italian sausage, homemade mozzarella, pepperoni, spicy soppressata (an Italian salami), and ham. Now this pizza may be close to perfection for some, but I have an affinity for sweet and salty or sweet and spicy, so I had them add pineapple. Yes, yes, I know this may be considered blasphemous to some, but I love it! Pineapple has that sweet and tangy thing going for it and it complements the spicy and salty meats so well. Hey, haven’t you ever had chocolate covered pretzels or a PB&J sandwich, salty and sweet, it is in fact a real thing. But I digress, let me get back on track.
The second of the two pies was a sixteen inch ( I was sharing this pizza) tomato base, with the homemade mozzarella, Italian sausage, pepperoni, fresh basil, bell peppers, and red onion.
I did try both pizzas while they were piping hot right out of the oven. The first, the “La Carne,” was delicious, dare I say near perfect. The crust was perfectly crisp and crunchy. The sauce is robust but a bit salty. Also, it was lacking for me, I like my pizza with a good helping of sauce. What wasn’t lacking though, were the toppings! So much meat and cheese, I was in heaven. The fresh cheeses really gave the pizza a creamy texture and a subtle tanginess. And of course, the pineapple just topped it off so nicely. In all it was a tasty pizza!
I can say much of the same for the second pizza. The crust was that perfect bite one searches for when it is baked in a wood or coal fired oven. They did not skimp on the toppings and all of the toppings were quite fresh. And again, if you like things a little saucy you will have to ask for extra sauce, it was lacking on the second pizza as well.
In all Isabella's is a cute little pizza shop. It offers a pleasant atmosphere and the service was good, with attentive servers. I may not go in expecting a diverse selection of beer and wine, but that comes second to the pizza. If you are in the area and have an uncontrollable taste for a tasty pizza pie, Isabella's is worth stopping in. Don’t forget to add the pineapple 😉.
Address: 799 W Gaines St #101, Tallahassee, FL 32304
Phone: 850-558-6379
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