Austin’s Pizza
Various locationsThis scrappy upstart takes aim at the big delivery chains by offering large two-topping pizzas for $9.99. You won’t need to worry about drinks, because for an extra 99 cents, pizzas come with a 2-liter bottle of soda. Better yet, your fourth pizza is free when you buy three.
Conans Pizza
Various locationsTheir deep-dish, whole-wheat crust and chunky sauce offer Austin a taste of Chicago and require the company of a pitcher of Shiner Bock. A meal-sized pan slice, salad, and refillable soft drink costs $4.39 at the central location while the $6 all-you-can-eat dinner buffet gives you all of the pizza, salad, and soda that your appetite can handle.
Cozzoli’s Pizza
2525 W. Anderson, 459-4595 Sunday-Thursday, 11:30am-9:30pm; Friday-Saturday, 11:30am-10pm704 Congress, 480-8440 Sunday-Friday, 10am-8pm; Saturday, 10am-9pm
6001 Airport Monday-Saturday, 11am-9pm; Sunday, 11am-6pm
Cozzoli’s specializes in the East Coast style of soft and gooey thin-crust pizza that tastes best when you’re standing on a street corner. A bubble-crusted, one-topping slice of pepperoni will set you back a few bucks, but that and a small salad make quite a hearty lunch. Cozzoli’s also serves calzones, stromboli, pasta, and sub sandwiches.
Domenick’s Pizzeria
414 E. Sixth, 477-5877 Daily, 6pm-3amAfter the clubs close, follow the trail of cheap white paper plates that litter Sixth Street to Domenick’s for a hearty and rejuvenating slice of pepperoni pizza with several shakes of garlic salt, red pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Domenick’s pizza tastes especially good after walking from a hot, sweaty club into a cold winter night.
DoubleDave’s
Various locationsA longtime destination for college dorm refugees on Sunday night, DoubleDave’s serves up slightly better-than-average pizza and lots of it. However, the real prize-winner at DoubleDave’s is their exquisite Peproni Rolls. Get ’em while they’re hot, and grab a bowl of ranch from the otherwise-unremarkable salad bar for dipping. The buffet is one of the better deals in town, and they have a renowned selection of beers from around the globe.
Gumby’s Pizza
2222 Rio Grande, 444-4862 Sunday-Wednesday, 11am-2am; Thursday-Saturday, 11am-3:30amWhat would college life be without pizza in the wee hours? Stick to the established toppings like pepperoni, onions, and mushrooms, and you’ll do fine. You can probably find a better pizza, but who will bring it to your drunken, sustenance-craving lips until 3:30 in the morning? And you can even order it online!
Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza
2401 Lake Austin Blvd., 478-6600 Sunday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-11pm8012 Mesa, 349-2126 Sunday-Thursday, 11am-9:30pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-10:30pm
3500-B Guadalupe, 302-5200 Sunday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-11pm
Regardless of whether you’re an aficionado of thin or stuffed crust, Mangia has your number. Mangia’s garlic-happy sauce packs a robust punch, and their toppings include several less-than-obvious choices, such as feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. All three locations serve a $6.25 lunch special that includes lasagna or the 6-inch pizza of the day and a small Caesar salad.
Milano’s Pizza
2911 S. First, 440-0866 Sunday-Thursday, 11am-11pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-12midEven though they’ve changed locations, Milano’s is still a South Austin favorite, serving up delicious pizza whole or by the slice, along with pasta, hot subs, and more. Their no-nonsense pies on thin, crispy crust keep converts coming back for more. Delivery is available in a limited area.
Roppolo’s Pizzeria
316 E. Sixth, 476-1490 Daily, 4:30pm-3amRoppolo’s offers a variety of pies with tasty whole-wheat crusts and thick, hearty sauce at their downtown location. Whether you’re a vegetarian or a carnivore, they really know how to pile on the toppings. One slice of sausage and pepperoni is a meal in itself.
This article appears in July 23 • 2004.