Pizza Wars 2013 Part II: Pieous, the Cave, Winflo and More

It says a lot about the Austin pizza scene that our long running Pizza Wars series now requires two complete installments instead of the few paragraphs that we needed way back when. And that’s good for pizza lovers.

Let’s start with some of the newer pizza joints that have come on line. Surprisingly, the Dripping Springs area has two of the better ones. Pieous on Highway 290, is the culmination of a lifelong dream of husband and wife Josh and Paige Kaner. Pieous attempts to adhere to many of the AVN standards, and the sourdough yeast starter the couple brought to Austin is the building block of their terrific crust. The Bacon Bleu and the Margherita are two of my favorites. And I can’t help but mention the amazing Pastrami sandwiches (get the moist). This place has got Top 5 written all over it.

Also in downtown (I love that) Dripping Springs is a new spot called The Cave. This is East coast style pie with very solid and tasty pizzas. I adore the Sausage, Mushroom and Onion and the Pepperoni. The pizzas make this place. I’m not as excited about their pastas et al. But well worth a visit and praise God, they deliver to my neighborhood in BFE.

Another newbie is Winflo on West 6th. This opened in January and has the magic word, PARKING. It also has nicely prepared pies, and the menu is more reflective of an Osteria one might find in Italy. I like the Prosciutto and the highly original Carbonara (pancetta, parmesano reggiano, EVOO, cracked pepper, and a farm fresh egg).

And the Pizza Bistro with locations on Lake Austin Blvd. and Burnet Rd. is less than a year old and is operated by a former partner, Kress Childs, in Mangia Pizza. I have tried the appropriately named Butcher Shop (lots of meats) which is actually very tasty and the wildly eclectic Carnitas where Tex-Mex meats Italian pizza. Didn’t think I would like but it sneaks up on you. Worth a try if you’re ambitious.

Another newer spot is Pinthouse Pizzeria on Burnet which is a spot where artisan brews and pizzas happily coexist. The Cannonball, a meat extravaganza, is a very decent pie. The Hill Country, a crafty concoction with sausage, cheese, bacon, spinach and mushrooms is equally tasty. And you can choose a tasty IPA to go with your pizza choice. Pinthouse is nine months old and rounding into form.

And the newest of the new, the just opened Umami Mia Pizzeria at the former site of Romeos is a collaboration between Adam Weisberg (Zen and The Lucky Robot) and Rick Engle (Austin Java). Haven’t tried it yet but a huge plus is the presence of veteran chef George Thomas in thew kitchen.

And although not technically new, Cajun Pizza on McNeill was recently discovered by yours truly. On McNeill, owner Keith Dartez offers up pies adorned with shrimp and crawfish and perhaps a dab of spicy pepper. This place is certainly unique and highly entertaining as well. Check it out.

The final categories are pizzas at Italian restaurants where it is not the main focus and of course, a look at pizza in the burbs!

Start with Vespaio Enoteca on South Congress. They make a wonderful Calabrese Sausage pie among others. Chef and proprietor Alan Lazarus continues to knock my socks off. And the other Italian dishes have maintained their quality over the years. Sagra, which recently moved to East 11th from San Antonio, makes pies commonly found at the sagre (food festivals across Italy). And their Aglia y Salccia is another classic that we first tried several years ago and to which we are fundamentally addicted.

Trento is a lovely Italian restaurant on 360 across from Davenport that has excellent pizza. Chefs Andreas Exharos and Alex Kahn get pizza, particularly the Speck Ham Pie. The crust is superb and the flavors authentic.

And Cipollina on West Lynn continues to meet the high standards for pizza set at their opening. I particularly enjoy what they do with the creative use of goat cheeses. This little fast casual spot with a bistro flair has been a long-time family favorite.

To the north, the family-owned Reale’s at Research and Anderson Mill is a wonderful, traditional little joint. They’ve had a loyal following for years and the Baked Zitti, The Pepperoni Pie, and the scrumptious Cannolis are parts of the reason.

And at the Domain’s iPic, dining in the semi-darkness has been elevated to new levels by chef Casey. He makes a flatbread sausage and mushroom pie that’s easy to eat in a darkened theater and very tasty as well. Get the Caesar Salad to go with it. You’ll love what they’ve done with this.

The burbs, from Georgetown to San Antonio also offer some tasty teats. Brooklyn Pies at La Frontera Mall in Round Rock has enormous slices of Pepperoni and Sausage that rival Roppolo’s in size and taste. Gino’s in RR also offers some tasty pies in addition to their other offerings. And Promise Pizza in Round Rock were one of the first to jump onto the gluten-free trend several years ago.

And don’t forget the Spinach Sophia at Rudino’s on East Whitehouse in Cedar Park.

Moving south to Buda, in the spot where Paul Pederson’s Little Bistro used to be, is Nonna Gina’s a locally-owned favorite. I like The Siciliana Pizza is a serious contender.

And a joint is San Antonio, hardly a food mecca, is packing them in. It’s the five-year old Dough, and it’s gained a national reputation in a relatively short time. Their pies are original and incredibly tasty. Love The Puttanesca which features Kalamata olives, garlic (of course), red pepper flakes, anchovies and other goodies. Be prepared for a long wait if you make the Trek down to SA.

So there you have it pizza fans. Another Pizza Wars goes into the books. As always, feel free to email us with comments or questions at info@diningoutwithrobbalon.com.