By Ricky Liberali, Examiner.com
Having been raised on real “New York Pizza,” I’ve been in search of the “perfect slice” ever since I moved to Grand County, Colorado.
Luckily, everything changed after trying a slice at De Antonio’s Pizza & Pasta in Winter Park. Finally, my search is over; somebody has gotten it right!
Family owned and operated by Frank, Carol and their four children, Frank, Jr., Nicole, Angela and Brittany, De Antonio’s bills itself as “New York Pizza With Altitude.”
Frank fell in love with Winter Park and the Fraser Valley after coming out to visit a friend to play golf. Looking to move away from the big Long Island sprawl and move to “small town America,” he went back east and soon was “westward ho,” moving his family in 2000.
The “first” De Antonio’s Pizza and Pasta was a small restaurant in Fraser.
Ten years later, when a larger restaurant space opened-up in Winter Park, Frank, Carol and the kids moved to their current location in the Park Place Center, 78737 US Highway 40.
To say that Frank’s pizzas are great just doesn’t do them justice! It would take a lifetime to sample every possible variation. And at this full-menu Italian restaurant, pizza is just the tip of the iceberg!
But speaking of pizza, hungry guests can either select from De Antonio’s “specialty” pies, or simply build and create their own.
“Specialty” pizzas include:
• Cheese (both Neapolitan and Sicilian style);
• Chicken Marsala;
• Spinach & Ricotta;
• Broccoli White;
• Pesto;
• White;
• Supreme;
• “Stuffed” Meat Lovers; and
• “Stuffed” Veggie Lovers.
If Frank’s “specialties” don’t fit the bill, he’s got a broad selection of both regular and premium ingredients diners can chose from to “create their own!”
The “regular” list includes: sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, ham, anchovies, extra cheese, green pepper, onion, mushrooms, black olives, jalapeno, broccoli and spinach.
The “premium” ingredients include: tomato, chicken, feta, eggplant, artichoke, pepperoncini and shrimp.
Do the math: with all these possible ingredients, the different combinations are limitless.
Luckily, life in this Italian restaurant is more than pizza alone!
Diners in search of other excellent fare can chose from a broad menu which includes appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, calzones, dinners and desserts – all certain to please.
De Antonio’s signature selections, which all come with homemade garlic knots and a choice of soup or salad include:
• Lasagna;
• Baked Ziti;
• Chicken Scampi;
• Linguine With Clam Sauce (red or white);
• Chicken Parmigianino & Pasta;
• Ravioli;
• Fettuccine Alfredo;
• Shrimp Scampi;
• Pasta Primavera;
• Veal Parmigianino & Pasta;
• Eggplant Parmigianino & Pasta; and
• Spaghetti, Penne, Ziti or Linguine & Tomato Sauce.
To accompany their delicious food is an equally broad selection of things to drink.
Soft drinks includes the full line of Coca Cola products, coffee, tea and more.
For the beer drinkers, there are plenty of domestics, along with a wide selection of imports and micos.
On the wine-side of the menu, they graciously pour a wide selection of whites and reds which compliment the excellent fare.
For the “bambinos,” De Antonio’s has an extensive kids’ menu that features everything from smaller versions of their dinner entrees to Mac and Cheese and even peanut butter and jelly.
And be sure to save room for dessert! The cheesecake – New York style, naturally – the tiramisu or a sundae all are terrific “endings” to an excellent Italian meal.
De Antonio’s Pizza and Pasta is a whole lot more than merely “New York Style Pizza With An Altitude.” It is a full-menu, good-value Italian restaurant with delicious, generous portions and top-notch service.
They are open daily, seven days a week, at 11 a.m., and are located at 78737 US Highway 40 in Winter Park; their phone number is 970-726-9999.
Come hungry, you’ll be glad you did!