Though this place is an open when it wants joint when it does the pizza is soooooooo good Find the arcade off Carlisle Street and enjoy #protonepizzabalaclava #pizzajoints #pizza #food #foodies #woodfiredpizza #balaclava #melbourne (at Portone Pizza) https://www.instagram.com/p/CChKvJmBegq/?igshid=18ejlahexh9n0
My wife and I had to finish up some holiday shopping so we decided to do a little lunch first. Sure, we could have gone to any of the many establishments on Hwy 50 in Brooksville but we decided on a quick slice of pizza at our favorite place.
We arrived around 12:30 Sunday afternoon. The parking lot was peppered with a few cars as was the dining room with a few empty tables. We were seated right away. After a few minutes discussing our fare, my wife and I were ready to order: Bruschetta for an appetizer and two "Slice and Salad" lunch specials. We were in for a treat.
Our salads arrived first. I've seen my share of less-than-fresh salads at restaurants; never has that been the case at Pizza Villa. Sure, they could amp up their salad with some onions or some peppers, but hey, it's a side salad. The quality is what counts for me... as usual, the salads were cold, crisp, and fresh. The fat-free Italian dressing was tasty and the fact that I love croutons on my salad didn't go away wanting.
Up next was our bruschetta... this is a fairly new item on the menu, or at least I remember when it wasn't available. It's a decent bruschetta; tomatoes, basil, banana peppers, and an awesome balsamic glaze. The thing I like about this is that it's on fresh-sliced Italian bread, not too crusty.
Then it was time for our slice of pizza. Now, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I am a pizza aficionado. I've had pizza all over: Boston, New York, Dallas, even South Korea. I love pizza! There is something about pizza that brings me back to my childhood. I'm not sure what that is, but it's there. I vividly remember growing up in Southeastern Massachusetts and enjoying the pizza delights from Papa Gino's.
The pizza at Pizza Villa is just wonderful. It's a not-too-thin, not-too-thick crust with a nice sauce. The cheese is wonderful, creamy, and tasty. My personal favorite pizza is their "Danny's Special" -- a great (made to order) crushed tomato/garlic sauce and cheese. It sounds run-of-the-mill but your tongue will tell you different! It's just awesome! My favorite thing on the menu, though, is the Stromboli: sausage, pepperoni, & mozzarella wrapped in dough - to me, that says "heaven." The menu says "no substitutions" on the Stromboli. In my mind, there isn't anything that should be substituted.
Pizza Villa's prices are great too. A large cheese pizza is $10.75, an extra large for $12.50 (that's an 18-inch pie). Dinners are also available at an average price of around $12.00. This place is a Spring Hill/Brooksville staple -- I remember when the Brooksville location was across the Hwy 50 in the Bealls plaza! The Spring HIll location is a little smaller, a bit more intimate, but no less delicious. The Brooksville location recently opened a banquet hall available for hire for weddings, parties, and other events. They're great people at the Pizza Villa -- they treat you like family!
Do yourself, and your taste buds, a favor. Go to the Pizza Villa & Italian Restaurant!
More info can be found on their website: pizzavillaandrestaurant.com
Pizza Villa & Restaurant 7038 Coastal Boulevard, Brooksville
