Pizza Italia

Pizza and beer. If civilization stagnates, one can make the argument that it was a successful venture based on the development of these two creations alone. Pizza is modern manna, beer the benignly bitter nectar from the breast of the Food Goddess. Logically, the finest pizza parlors must have ample and quality beers along with their pies. In the pantheon of San Antonio pizzerias, the pizza and beer gods smile on only one for its combination of top-notch pizza and first-class brew: Pizza Italia. Although the number of fine San Antonio pizzerias doesn't rival the likes of New York or Philadelphia, one in particular holds its own with the East Coast competition. Pizza Italia's fare reminds me of the pies of my Philly youth: large, round, hand-tossed, filling, and tasty. While not a showy pie, nor the kind of specialty pie you try as a diversion, Italia's traditional pizza is like a friend you want to regularly invite for dinner.;- Steve Woolbert