Best Pizza


Important: This article was last updated on September 21, 2005. Please call ahead to confirm hours, prices, dates and other information.

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Readers' picks

Best Breakfast
 The Original Pancake House, various locations

Best Cheap Eats
 Taco Bell, various locations

Best Chain Restaurant (Tie)
 The Cheesecake Factory and Olive Garden, various locations

Best Barbecue
 Tom Jenkins B-B-Q, Fort Lauderdale

Best Mexican
 La Bamba, various locations

Best Chinese
 Toa Toa, Sunrise

Best Thai
 Siam House, Fort Lauderdale

Best Mall Food Court
 Aventura Mall

Best Pizza
 Downtown Pizza, Fort Lauderdale

Best Hamburger
 Cheeburger Cheeburger, various locations

Best Diner
 Lester's Diner, Fort Lauderdale

Best Romantic Restaurant
 The Melting Pot, various locations

Best Italian
 Il Mulino, Fort Lauderdale
 
Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza
2203 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, 954/462-5555; and 4527 Weston Road, Weston, 954/358-2625

 Coal-fired pizza ovens were first used in the United States in the early 1900s in New York City, but are rare now, forgotten in lieu of brick ovens that fire on gas or wood. Fortunately, the old-world art of cooking with coal is preserved at Anthony's, where the 800-degree ovens produce the crown jewel of South Florida pizzas. The blast of heat cooks the pies in about three minutes, charring the thin crust and infusing a smoky aroma into the ingredients. Anthony's jacks up the taste sensation by ladling its flavorful tomato sauce on top of the mozzarella and covering it with such ingredients as Italian sausage, prosciutto, pepperoni and sweet peppers. On weekends, the wait is usually a long one, so visit Anthony's at lunch if you don't want to torture your hungry self by watching other people eat these fragrant, delicious pies.