Cheap thoughts: Sometimes, it pays to look in the window. Anthony's Pizzeria at Colonial and Mills does most of its business by delivery. Customers call, but rarely see the place. The lowdown is that Anthony's has some cheap lunch deals that aren't on the hand-out menu, but are on a big sign hanging near the door.
Anthony's will deliver if your order is over 10 bucks. Here at the Cheap Eats complex, the rule is never spend more than five, so we'll be driving over to the delivery joint ourselves.
Cheap seats: This isn't the chi-chi Thornton Park Anthony's with the veranda and the veal picatta. Both are run by the same family, but different parts of the tree. This Anthony's is inside an old Steak-Out and speedy delivery is the concern, not style. The one outdoor table has a lovely view of the parked crew cars. Inside, décor is just the soda cooler and a big map. It smells like a good pizzeria though, so order something to eat and grab a seat.
Cheap Treats: You can get the "big sign" lunch deals Monday through Friday until 4 p.m. Two slices of cheese pizza and a can of soda will run you $4.50. These are big NYC slices, my friend. They're hand-thrown, thin and crispy without being a cracker, and chewier as you reach the crust. Some pizza palaces drown crust in too much sauce and the cheese slides off. Anthony's gets the right sauce/cheese ratio and there's nice pops of garlic and basil.
The 10-inch meatball or sausage parmigiana sub (I had the meatball) goes for $4.90. Wrapped in foil and baked, it was still steaming after the drive home. Again, this is a lot of food. The bread looks like the good crusty French stuff you find at Vietnamese restaurants in the neighborhood. The meatballs themselves are moist and rich, but could maybe use a few more herbs.
The baked ziti ($4.95) is like SpaghettiOs for grown-ups or actually, SpaghettiOs bastardize good Italian food for kids with undeveloped tongues. Sweet red sauce and ricotta are baked with smooth pasta tubes and topped with mozzarella. Again, I like a little more spice, but pepper flakes are on the table, and all is right again with the world. By the way, this special is on the main menu. A larger order of ziti is $8.95 and comes with garlic bread.
Cheap Gas: You go to a restaurant when you don't want to cook. You get food delivered when you don't want to leave. You go get delivery food when you want it cheap. Anthony's isn't a feast for the eyes, but you don't actually eat with them anyway, do you?
Anthony's Pizza
By John Graham
Orlando CityBeatOctober 10, 2006
The 10-inch meatball sub will still be steaming after the drive home
(Credit: MikeAnthony Moffa)
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