Ode to Famous Pronto Pizza

Last week we didn't feel like cooking. Some days, just like everyone else in America, I feel like going out for a slice of pizza. We have been on a quest for a good slice since we moved to Florida. We heard that there was another Famous Pronto Pizza opening soon in the Heathbrook Shopping Center (off route 200, Ocala, FL for the Florida locals), so we decided to check it out.

To our delight, it was having its grand opening that very day! When we arrived we were greeted by the staff, who were more than accommodating. They excited our senses as they described all the wonderful offerings they could make us. The smells were intoxicating. There was an eggplant pizza in the oven about to come out. So I decided to go for that. My companion, an Italian native went for a spinach and tomato slice that looked beautiful and fresh. He was also convinced by George, the manager, to get a bowl of classic spaghetti with meatballs.

So what makes a good authentic Italian pizza and why is it so hard to find? There are many components to making a pizza great. Some places have part of the equation but lack the others. All the components have to be there to make a pizza unforgettable. The first component has got to be that it is cooked in a wood burning pizza oven. Check one for Pronto Pizza. Second is it must posses a full bodied tomato sauce with herbs and garlic as a backdrop. Check two for Pronto Pizza. Third, toppings should not be overdone. There should be a perfect blend of ingredients with each bite. Check three for Pronto Pizza. Then fourth, there is the cheese component. It must be soft and gooey, but taste like cheese, not just gooey plastic. Check four for Pronto Pizza - the cheese on their pizza has a nice tang and a salty bite at the end. Pizza tastes like pizza here. These are the things we love about Pronto Pizza and will have us returning time and again.

The spaghetti and meatballs had a wonderful sauce full of onion and oregano flavor. The pasta was cooked al dente, and the meatballs were so big they had to be cut in half for serving. All of this was topped with fresh parsley and melting cheese. It was so big, we had to bring some home and it lasted 2 more meals! For $6.95, that is hard to beat!

But there is more. Famous Pronto Pizza also offers fresh crunchy salads, made to order with over 20 items to choose from, like salami and sun dried tomatoes. They have baked pastas, chicken, seafood and even some low-card options! Most meals are under $12 and come with salad and the most delicious, garlicky rolls you can imagine. They also have desserts like the Chocolate Corruption Cake and Italian classics like Cannoli. For a quick meal kind of place, Pronto Pizza has a great ambience as well. So go check out the newest member of the Famous Pronto Pizza family. You will not regret it!

Jenn DiPiazza is a freelance writer living in Florida. She has a degree in Anthropology and Native American studies. Her recent writing topics include Romantic Getaways, Northeast Travel, Florida Travel, Mediterranean Travel, Mediterranean Foods, Social Justice Issues and Anthropology. You can check out some of her latest work on her blog Jenn's Travel Closeup at: http://www.travelcloseup.com

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