Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza & Wings — Restaurant in Tampa

Pay attention to the Coal Fired part of the name. It's what makes this food so good! But be forewarned. Almost all dishes are baked and roasted in the oven leaving a black char on the food. It adds an abundance of flavor but may not be to some peoples liking. I start with the Caprese salad ($5.49 for small) which consists of two thick slices of tomato, a thick slice of Grande mozzarella, and a generous portion of Basil, along with a stack of fresh roasted red and green peppers, Don't forget to add the olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the perfect bite. The tomato is fresh and perfectly ripened, the cheese is firm and creamy, and the shredded basil adds the right amount of herb to cap it all off. Next it's the very large Original Coal Oven Roasted Chicken Wings ($6.49 for 5 wings). They are served stacked high and covered with caramelized onions and two crisp wedges of Focaccia Bread with rosemary seasoning. The wings are browned and crunchy on the outside with a little bit of char and moist and tender inside. Mixed with the onions and pepperd it's brilliant. This ain't no Buffalo wing! If you're looking for a pizza and like garlic, you must try the Roasted Cauliflower Pizza- roasted cauliflower with olive oil & garlic, Romano & Mozzarella cheese, topped off with Bread Crumbs. The crust is crispy and slightly charred, the roasted cauliflower is firm and moist and the whole pie is a whirlwind of flavors and textures and absolutely delicious. Sitting outside on cooler days is nice if you can tolerate the noise of the South Dale Mabry traffic whizzing by. Inside ambient music is a mix of disco, 70s rock, and Beatles. The lunchtime crowd was small and I was seated quickly. The service there after was decent if not a little slow. My server brought extra napkins and a drink refill after I had finished my meal. They offer a separate lunch menu but dinner items are still available. The bar is lined with flat screen TVs for watching sports and you can view inside or out. If you're looking for take out, Anthony's might be your place. They have a special door and parking spaces...

Having been to this chain in other cities we decided to try it as we like the atmosphere and pizza. Started off great with Monica the bartender. Then went down hill. Ordered a 16", pepperoni, mushrooms and half sausage. Was explained it's cooked to be thin and crispy, well done. The manager Hunter brought the pizza out and asked if it looked ok and wanted to make sure it was done enough. I thought that was odd since that's how we were told it should be. It was all but cooked enough. The under carriage showed crispy, but inside was doughy and under cooked. After a few bites we sent it back and discussed exactly what was wrong. We inquired about a complimentary glass of wine for the inconvenience, to which the manager Hunter said he could not. He would like to but cant. Not long after the replacement pizza came out and it was explained to us that they use "room temperature" dough and for some reason the first pizza was chilled dough. This one is now worse then the first. Now showing this to the manager, it seems he is at a loss for words other to offer to make a third and or other food. We declined at which time he asked if we wanted the pizza boxed and take home! Why would I take food home that I wouldn't eat at the restaurant? I think it would be good customer service to comp the drinks or at least a discount however nothing was offered other than removing the pizza. Yes, why would I pay for food that's not cooked correctly. To top off the night and this is what everyone needs to watch out for. The "suggested" tip amounts are based off the original dollar amount and not the actual charge. In small print it does say tip is based on original price. To me that's a loop hole and the system should not base suggested tip off the original price. It's mis-leading. I'm sure ALOT of people don't notice. It also brings the question, what else in the "system" is like that? Customer beware! We won't be back to...

This was my first visit to any Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza locations, which is odd, being as I consider myself a bit of a pizza connoisseur. My initial impression of the restaurant was great. Clean, neat, well-staffed and inviting. Permeating with the scent of pizza; I couldn't wait to eat.

Service was prompt and very courteous. They have a bar with outdoor seating, which was tempting, but I chose to be seated at a table today. I ordered a cheese pizza, in an attempt to sample the unblemished goods in their most natural state.

My order came out quickly and correctly. The pizza is thin-crusted with ample cheese and a fresh splattering on tomato across the top - a nice touch, both to the eye and the palate. It was 'love at first bite'. Perfectly cooked, you get the coal-fired crunch to start. The sauce was completely on point! Fresh cheese and fresh ingredients gave it the sensational one-two punch that you've come not to expect from a lot of other pizza places these days. No shortcuts here. It was absolutely extraordinary and I (embarrassingly) found myself devouring the entire pie in less that 10 minutes! 😳

While stuffing my face, I was greeted by the manager, Jessica, who couldn't have been more welcoming and friendly. We got to talking a bit and it only took me a few moments to recognize that this is a person who truly loves what she does and takes great pride in her store. There's a lot to be said for that and it's much of what drove this review.

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza earned themselves a loyal customer today, based on my overall experience. I will DEFINITELY be back again and again, and I can't wait to share my recommendation with others....