Tobys Original Little Italy Pizza — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

I LOVE pizza, and coming from Polk county where the go-to is Palace Pizza downtown, I've heard good things about this place so here are my thoughts based on my order: One slice Pep/Sausage, one Little Italy Special, knots, and drink.

The Good.

Price is great. Flavor is pretty darn good. Service is quick and nice. They DO NOT skimp on toppings, ESPECIALLY Cheese! Y'all...the cheese pull here is real, they get big points for that. The sausage did outweigh the pepperoni, but the speciality had heaps of toppings and the balance was mostly good. They also have a self-serve fountain and bottle service, so that's good.

The Bad.

Ok, here's where I will draw the ire of locals probably, but the crust is too thin to support the toppings and fell apart instantly. You will need utensils unless you can eat one whole slice instantly without stopping for a drink. Dough is good, crust is crispy, and while it wasn't greasy at all, the shear amount of stuff just weighs it down.

As for toppings on the special I was disappointed that the onions are raw and the mushrooms canned. A little longer in the oven or different prep would help. I liked the special overall, but I think for an advertised Italian family owned pizzeria, mushrooms they could do mushrooms right and not glop soggy canned ones on cold. The cheese made up for this though. Seriously, they do you so right on cheesiness.

The knots were pre-baked I believe, so when they are baked again to order, they shrink as the remaining water is pulled out, leaving dryer and crunchy knots. They do douse then in garlic and seasoning, so flavor is good, but that's only so-so.

The Ugly.

Can't complain much about this place, and I would go again if in the area, but be prepared for some weird decor, especially in the back where they really aimed for a more touristy approach to the Italian theme. There's a lot going on, but it is fun and easy to relax and enjoy the food.

I do recommend giving it a shot, and the crowd in there...

🍕 "A Quick Slice at Toby's Original Little Italy Pizza" 🇮🇹

Ciao, fellow pizza aficionados! Let me dish out the tale of my latest escapade at Toby's, a little slice of Italian-American joy in St. Petersburg.

On a quest for the perfect slice, I ventured into Toby's digital realm and ordered a classic – pepperoni and sausage. With a few clicks, my order was set, faster than you can say "Mamma Mia!"

Entering Toby's felt like stepping into an Italian street festival. The aroma of simmering tomato sauce and melting cheese greeted me, setting the stage for what I hoped would be a pizza masterpiece.

The service? Fantastico! Quick and friendly, with smiles as warm as a Sicilian summer. They handed me my pizza with the efficiency of a Vespa zipping through Rome's narrow alleys.

But ah, the pizza! While the flavors danced the tarantella on my tongue, the temperature was more Amalfi Coast breeze than Mount Etna eruption. Good, but not the piping hot slice of my dreams.

Yet, there's more to Toby's than just pizza. My eyes wandered over the menu, a treasure trove of Italian-American delights. Other dishes beckoned, promising more adventures in this quaint culinary corner of Little Italy.

So, will I return to Toby's? Certamente! There's a second act in this pizza saga waiting to unfold. I'll be back for another slice of the action, and who knows what other Italian wonders I'll uncover.

Toby's, you've caught my eye and my appetite. Until next time, keep those ovens hot and the pizzas...

This was our first time here as we come to Florida regularly particularly Clearwater to visit family. Upon walking in the door I almost walked out because there was a lot of people waiting but as I sat here after ordering and realizing it moved extremely fast I was happy I didn't walk out. Grab you a seat first get somebody to sit there then get in line trust me it moves fast and they're calling numbers constantly you may not get all your food at the same time typically you will get your garlic knots first and if you order a salad it will be right behind that with the pizza maybe 15 minutes or so. Everybody worked well together it seemed like a nice place and the food was yummy. The antipasto salad was delicious as well. One thing that does irritate me about all places that advertise as New York style is that your pizza is nothing like New York and will never be because you don't have the right water for your dough. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way but if you ever have been to Manhattan you can hold a slice of pie that is significantly larger than these slices and it will stay firm from start to finish and not fold over at the crust. I tried that on this already knowing it wasn't going to do anything and it immediately folded the entire Pizza to where I was holding. That's really my only kickback other than having serious indigestion in the middle of the night afterwards that keep me up for many hours. Should have took me some Tums but don't let that deter you because the...