#1 restaurant in Springfield?
August 18, 2009
Gabatoni’s | Sausage, green pepper, onion pizza; cheesy garlic bread
Springfield, IL
Here it is…my first post. And there was much rejoicing.
If you’ve managed to find our modest attempt at a food blog, chances are you are a frequent customer of other such blogs found amongst the various interconnected tubes that comprise the internet. Me too. So, when I was looking for a delightful place in nearby Springfield, IL to meet some family, I naturally turned to the fabulous web of world wide-iness as my guide.
Of the 225 restaurants rated my site of choice, #1 was a local pizza place, Gabatoni’s. Seriously…pizza? That’s all you can give me, Springfield? Turns out, this place has been around for about 50 years and is still doing great business. All of the staff we encountered were kind and courteous. And don’t be fooled by the modest, slightly run-down appearance of the building; there is some serious food in this place. The menu offerings include much more than the thin crust pies for which Gabatoni’s is known…sandwiches, salads, even fish and some alternate dinner options make an appearance. Looking around, though, it’s hard (if not impossible) to locate a diner who isn’t sitting in front of a pizza.
So, the food: great. I like pizza, and this was some great thin crust pizza, but I’m not sure it’s the best I’ve ever had. We ordered sausage, onion and green pepper. The crust was well cooked, crispy and deep brown around the edges, and the sausage was certainly the star, with a flavorful kick that was noticable but not overpowering. Frankly, the sauce almost seemed an afterthought. Don’t get me wrong, though…it was more than edible. Best Pizza in Central Illinois would seem to fit for my purposes. A little joint on the square in Carlinville, IL, probably beats this one out for thin crust, and really I’m more of a deep dish person, myself (Gino’s East is the best I’ve encountered so far).
Now, if you’re looking for the world’s best cheesy garlic bread, Gabatoni’s is a likely contender. The combination of large french loaf, slathered with garlic butter and topped with a white cheese blend is delightful. A side of their amazingly rich marinara to dip it in, and you could make this a complete meal. Highly recommended.
Gabatoni’s takes reservations (recommended), but we walked in on a Sunday evening during the dinner rush and were seated in about 15 minutes. If you’re ever in SPI, check out Gabatoni’s for a good meal. #1 in Springfield? We’ll get back to you on that.
DFS
