Thanks for the comments on yesterday’s post. Of course my blog friends would encourage my fro-yo for dinner habit. 
I consider myself to be a connoisseur of pizza. As a vegetarian in a mostly meat-loving town, a flatbread or pizza is one of the choices I can easily customize to fit my lacto-ovo lifestyle when dining out with my parents. I make homemade pizza a few times a month, and hardly ever get tired of it.
My parents and I were dining out last week (on a night my husband worked late) and went to Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, a new chain bar/restaurant in busy Robinson township. My parents had been there once before, but it was my first visit. The place was small and very crowded for a Thursday night at 5pm. The parking, in general, is a major headache.
The first thing that struck me as odd was the Diet Coke I ordered – it came in a bottle. Their website explains how coal is a “green” energy source, so why do they serve softdrinks in plastic bottles? It also seems like a popular bar scene, so I wonder where they get mixers for their cocktails.
Anyway.
We started with both a tomato mozzerella and house salad. I was happy with the caprese – it included roasted green and red pepper strips, too. A little heavy on the oil for my taste.
Going with the “heavy on the oil” theme, the rediculously overpriced house salad ($9.50, “for two”) was covered in it. Not a flavorful olive oil, but a plain, bland, canola-oil based “dressing”. The only other component I could identify was a lot of pepper. I did like the chickpeas.
Another strange observation – the industructible plastic plates reminded me of Steak ‘n Shake or Chuckie Cheese.
My dad is a “bread and butter” kinda guy, especially at an Italian restaurant, but the waiter said the only thing close to bread was foccaccia, which they serve with their wings. It was just pizza dough with some Italian seasoning (again, tasteless).
Since I’m super picky and there were only 3 of us, we decided to get one large pizza & split the toppings half and half. Because a traditional pie would have been over $25 with all the toppings I’d add, we went with two Specialty varieties.
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Although the cauliflower pie sounded the most interesting, it isn’t able to be split with another kind of pizza. My second choice was the Eggplant Marino – which, according to the menu, didn’t sound like deep-fried eggplant. But it was, and it’s my fault for not asking. My dad ordered the Paul & Young Ron (meatballs, sausage, ricotta, hot peppers) and added pepperoni as well.
The presentation was nice.
Can you see the eggplant? Me either. It’s sliced paper thin, breaded, fried, then covered in sauce and sprinkled with cheese. As you can see, the edges are burnt – which is part of their “Pizza Well Done” slogan and the signature of the coal-fired cooking process.
Flavor-wise, the pizza was good. Worth $20? Absolutely not. I was hoping for a pizza like the one we split in Rome – now that was eggplant pizza.
The alcohol was also overpriced, and inconsistent. My dad ordered one drink at the bar and was charged $11.50, but ordering a drink at the table was $7.50. When he asked the manager the reason for the difference (both were purchased during 5-7 “happy hour”), the manager explained that the bartender made a mistake on the first charge, but since we paid in cash, couldn’t do anything about it.
Overall, I wouldn’t bother going back to Anthony’s. There are lots of local pizzerias that I like much better for a reasonable price. I’d even prefer Papa John’s. Best option? Buying Trader Joe’s dough for less than $2, and making carmelized onion and pear, homemade roasted tomato and pesto, mushroom and spinach, or hummus, red pepper, artichoke, and feta.
Have you been to Anthony’s? I think the chain originated in Florida.
Do you prefer homemade, independent, or chain-restaurant pizza?
What a dissappointing experience! My dad owns a pizzeria. That would never fly.
Maybe I’ll have to make a trip there to try it!
What a bummer! It really sucks when you have a huge craving for pizza and you are let down. Better luck at the next place
I’m so glad you posted this. I’ve been thinking about going there.
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My husband and I went to Anthony’s on a whim one evening after a movie at Settler’s Ridge, and I have pretty much the same opinion, I wasn’t impressed. We went on a Saturday and even arriving at 4:45 (which I think is early for dinner, but we were already up there) it was packed and we had a significant wait! Not sure where in the area you live, but we had pizza at Slice on Broadway in Beechview last weekend and it was awesome. Pizza and salad were delicious, lots of topping choices, and decent prices. You should give it a try!
That’s a great recommendation – thank you! I also love City Oven on Banksville!
Too bad that you had such a bad experience, I hate when it happens!!! At least you spent time with your parents!
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Bummer
I hate when restaurants do that!
Matt @ The Athlete’s Plate recently posted..Dinner Last Night…
I am sorry your experience wasn’t what you were hoping! I love homemade pizza with fresh mozzarella and whole wheat dough using my bread maker! The best pizza I ever had was deep dish from Giordano’s in Chicago! Absolutely delicious!
I’m a thin-crust girl myself.
Urgh I hate bad restaurants! I think it’s because I always get my hopes up about the food and then end up ridiculously disappointed! Also tends to be why I order the same dish over and over! Minimises any food disappointment / order envy!
Hayley @ Oat Couture recently posted..thirty before thirty
Have been there once, won’t go back. Too expensive, poor, slow service. Man next to us had a full drink knocked over on to his lap by a server. They told him a manager was coming over shortly, but she was busy chatting with friends at the bar. After about 20 minutes, she paid him a visit, and offered a coupon for his next time in! Are you kidding? A comp on his bill would have been nice, since he might not be back. Also, the staff huddle (football term, Danny) in the back and stare at the customers. Bad business. Much better places in town, and cheaper.
And the pizza wasn’t even worth the bad service!
I so agree. Pi is much better, with great lunch specials.
I’ve never been there, I’ll have to check it out!
I am surprised..I suppose a lot of you are used to the pizza that comes out of a box in the frozen section of your supermarket.
Their salad was excellent and I had a small pizza with sausage and it also was excellent.I have been back many times to the one in Wellington, Florida.
Hi Frank, thanks for sharing your opinion. I love fresh, and especially, wood-fired pizza, but everything about my experience at Anthony’s was sub-par. There are just too many really excellent pizza joints that we can enjoy without spending a ton of money on mediocre food.