Friday night is family pizza night, and with two hungry kids in the backseat, we headed towards Jefferson County’s newest restaurant, Monticello Pies. The pizzeria is located at 865 N. Jefferson Street (US 19N), in a recently reopened building just north of the historic courthouse.
Monticello Pies offers 10 specialty pizzas, in addition to salads, pasta, sandwiches, appetizers and a build your own pizza option. The menus had a familiar feel, and after questioning the owner, we learned that Monticello Pies is affiliated with the Gaines/Midtown/Northside Pies restaurants located in Tallahassee.
Following a family conference to decide on our dinner, we ordered a large pepperoni, small Figure Four, and cheesy bread. We waited for the pizzas in a large green vinyl booth, which Mason remarked were the tallest booths he had ever seen (in his short 8 years).
After a short wait, two piping hot pies and an order of cheese sticks were produced from the kitchen. The kiddos had their sights set on the cheese sticks, and had devoured two each in no time. A perfectly cooked pizza dough base was slathered in garlic butter and cheese and baked until golden brown. The cheesy, gooey bread sticks were delicious and before we knew it, they had mysteriously all disappeared.
The 18” pepperoni pizza ($12.50 plus tax) was topped with huge slices of pepperoni, a tangy marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. The bottom was well cooked without being burnt, and the crust (my favorite part of the pizza) was the perfect combination of crispiness and chewiness. As the kids worked though their slices, I monitored them to see if a crust or two would fall by the wayside. Unfortunately, I was not that lucky as they ate their slices from end to end.
The star of the Monticello Pies pizza show was the Figure Four ($9.99 plus tax) that was ordered for the adults. Capicola, goat cheese, and roasted figs topped a garlic and olive oil base. The saltiness of the capicola paired with the creamy tang of the goat cheese and sweetness from the figs, to present a great combination of flavors. Having grown up slinging pies for eight years in a family pizza restaurant, Kirsten can be choosy when it comes to her pizza, but she confirmed that this restaurant’s entrance to the pizza market was more than deserving of a return visit.
The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm. For more information, visit Monticello Pies on Facebook.
Sweet Tea & Bourbon’s Rating:
Atmosphere: C
Taste: A
Presentation: A
Service: A
Cleanliness: A
Price: $$
Sweet Tea & Bourbon 