Italo’s

Closed??? No!
I never even got to review you…
I’m the opposite of Mickey A., I first went on opening day. I had to wait a LONG time for my pizza — they got more business than expected and were frantically making the crust. I didn’t mind, but the owner insisted they give me and my manfriend free drinks. The bartender and owner were incredibly friendly. The crowd had died out by the time we got there, so they just hung out and talked with us. We found out the owner got all his recipes from authentic sources — mom and grandma!
The pizza — my god it was worth the wait! The crust was perfect (I have never had such a good crust), the sauce incredible, and the toppings generous. I’ve spent a good deal of time in Italy — this was giving those Italians a run for their money!
Ben, keep us up to date on where you next open up shop — I will follow!

Some friends and I met here yesterday specifically because we found out that they have Orange Whips. It’s basically a frozen screwdriver (vodka and orange juice), but you can also get it

Whip or W-​Hip? Either way, get one. Whether it’s the original frozen OJ kind with a swirl on top because the freeze is just that good and thick or the alla italia kind where tuaca and cream form a dreamsicle like beverage that goes down WAY too easy.
Pair it with a slice of pizza for $ 3 that’s rich with sauce and toppings and you have a meal that hearkens back to the pizza and slurpies day… but with an adult twist. Grab a bench on their cute patio, a piece of pie and enjoy the spring day.

Blink and you might miss Italo’s, a cute little. what used to be house on E. 6^th. I came here for Ashley S.‘s ROTDC and we had a full group. First our tables outside looked like a clover (I don’t care what you say David) and at the end we had an island of tables, all we needed was a Unilocal flag to claim Italo’s as our own.
So we learned upon entry that due to the SXSW craziness they had a limited menu pizza by the slice only. I was slightly bummed by this because I heard about the pepperoni rolls and their deliciousness. I forgot all about that when I smelled the pizza, and there was my piece… a slice of pepperoni, oooey and gooey and my name on it. It was pretty good, not super thin (New York) but not super thick (Chicago) either. Add to that a bottle of Stella for $ 3 and I was set. This is like sidewalk pizza it drips on you and makes you use both hands, napkins people, napkins.
I have one thing I want to mention, upon entering the bathroom i noticed that in the women’s restroom there are not doorknobs on the stall doors so you can see people in the stall. Yikes! Whud up with that Italo’s? Get some door knobs!
Door knobs aside I really liked this place, I will be coming back for those pizza rolls!

I’m not a real big pizza fan, since I’m one of those «Why-​bother-​eating-​carbs-​just-​paste-​them-​directly-​on-​my-​ass» kinds of people. But for the pleasure of seeing Ashley’s delightful smile, at her first ROTDC for Italo’s, I’m quite happy to temporarily forgo the delicate symmetry that defines my buttocks. These are the things we do for others.
I still can’t believe I missed the memo that requires every old house on the East side of 6^th St. to be some kind of bar or restaurant now, and I’ve spent more time in this area in the last three months than I have in the last thirty years. Italo’s deserves a star just for having its own parking lot, which really is a blessing around here. They also have a large and accommodating patio area, which also appeared to be dog-​friendly.
Unfortunately, Italo’s was only offering pizza by the slice during this SXSW time period, and while I understand how it simplifies things, it does limit your choices. At $ 3 a pop, I’m certainly not complaining about my mushroom slice or my pepper with onion one, but I would rather have had a freshly-​baked Margherita to split with someone. Next time for sure.
Okay, Unilocaler roll call: Ashley-​Tara-​David-​Darla-​Adam-​Michael-​Staci-​Daniel-​Krist-​Jack. There were also a half-​dozen friends/​spouses/​relatives, and I always wonder what they think when we break out in Unilocal patois — «So did you FUC him or not?» It has to seem slightly odd to the uninitiated. We also finished-​off all the available Stella Artois, because we do have a reputation to uphold. At one point Ben, the one-​man Italo show, came out to say hi and thank us, and we just appropriately redirected him to thank Ashley, and the power of Unilocal

To be fair… this is SXSW week and I went here with a group, expecting to order off the menu, only to find they were only serving by the slice… sigh.
They boast a full bar, but could only dig out a bottle of sweet wine (sad face double sigh). Hint to the management — please get a basic wine selection — even if it is the single serving bottles and Sofia in a Can.
The $ 3 slice of sausage peperoni pizza I had was good. It just was not that badass pizza I was expecting.
Highlight of the evening, the company of some fabulous Unilocalers that kept me engaged in fun conversation and laughing most of the evening.
I will need to try them after SXSW… for now, they get 3 stars in my book.

Hidden on the up and coming eastside of 6^th and Comal stands a badass pizza joint. It just to happens to be across the street from one of my favorite breakfast spots in Austin too, Cisco’s. And how Italo’s managed to get such a big parking lot is beyond me! That is something I always complain about and sometimes what keeps me from coming back to a place. Well, believe me when I say I will be coming back for more than just the ample parking this place has to offer.
Showed up at dinner time with some other Unilocalers to try this place for the first time. The inside was larger than I thought it would be with a good amount of booths and a touch screen jukebox! The bar was cute and they had excellent happy hour prices. I suggested we sit outside on their huge patio because it was such great weather. AND because I knew our group of 5 was going to be a bit loud, and I was verrrry right. We took full advantage of the happy hour, and I bought my first Stella and loved it. $ 2 Lonestars and $ 3 for a Stella is a damn good price!
Split a meaty 8″ pizza ($ 8-​$ 10) even though I kept saying I wasn’t hungry because I wasn’t since I already snacked a bunch before coming. But as soon as that first bite hit my mouth I couldn’t stop eating even though I claimed I would only eat one piece =) I was amazed how big our pizza was! I thought for sure it would be like tiny personal sized pizza only meant for 1. Wrong! Needless to say, our pizza was demolished in record timing. Forget the manners, we or should I say DAVID was eating and talking it up with his mouth full… you so classy!
The owner Ben is really cool and came out and talked to us for awhile about the place, his inspiration for the way the pizza is made and his previews business ventures. He actually makes the pizza too! Can’t wait to check out his other bar, the 04 bar on South Congress.
Fun times with cheap drinks, cheap DELICIOUS pizza, and fun, hilarious company to top it off. Gotta love the eastside, full of cool up and coming spots! I will be back soon!!!
My favorite quote of the night is from David: «Different is just another word for ugly.» I don’t even know what brought that up haha.