Daily Slice gives a quick snapshot each weekday of a different slice or pie that the folks at the Serious Eats empire have enjoyed lately.
[Photographs: Daniel Zemans]
Tony's Southside Pizza is one of those places where the ambiance and the people make it a great experience regardless of the quality of the food. The restaurant originally opened in the early 1980s, closed a couple of decades later before the kids of the original owners reopened it in the same location three years ago. The tiny restaurant seems much older than it is thanks to the large wooden bar, wood-paneled walls, dim lighting and the quiet music from Sinatra and his peers setting the tone.
All of the pizzas on the menu are six-inch personal affairs, and are available in red and white. The sauce is apparently cooked with meat, though it's not noticeable on the pizza. What is noticeable is the heavy dose of herbs in the thick sauce. My pizza came with pepperoni and sausage, neither of which is particularly memorable. The crust is thick and doughy, and is reminiscent of a chewy garlic breadstick. The massive pile of stringy melted cheese, a blend of mozzarella, provolone, and Parmesan, was the highlight of the pizza. This is far from gourmet stuff, but great for a late night bite. Along those lines, Tony's is only open on Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm until 1am, though they'll stay open later as long as people are interested.
Tony's Southside Pizza
2193 Professor Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113 (map)
216-771-0515