By Rhonda Campbell
National pizza shop chains have stores located throughout Birmingham, Alabama. However, residents also frequent and enjoy dining at local specialty stores. Local shops offer savory, handmade pizza and homemade side dishes. The best pizza restaurants in the city are talked about by visitors who live in and around the state.
Betolla
Music, red umbrella covered tables and hot wood fire, dome shaped ovens fill the atmosphere that is open and inviting upon entrance to the restaurant. Betolla is one of the few pizza shops that hand makes its pizza in authentic Italian style, making it a top favorite for local and out-of-town visiting diners. Margherita with fresh basil, mozzarella and San Marzano tomato sauce is a pizza favorite. Rucola, Maialona, Bianca, Tonno and Filetto with fresh cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil and sea salt are other favorite pizzas at Betolla's. Anti-pasta dishes like calamari, soup and bruschetta are menu mainstays. Italian flatbread and salads are available as well. While you enjoy the freshly made pizza or the crispy hand made flatbread sandwiches and classic Italian pasta dishes, you can order and sip on Italian wine by the glass.
Betolla Pizza
2901 Second Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205) 731-6497
urbanspoon.com
Jim Davenport's Pizza Palace
For 40 years Jim Davenport's Pizza Palace has been hand making its own tomato sauce and pizza dough from scratch. The restaurant caters to the entire family and offers enjoyable entertainment while you dine. There is an assortment of video games that you can play while you wait for your hand made pizza to be prepared. Pizza toppings include green peppers, pineapple, Roma tomatoes, mushrooms, bacon bits, jalapenos, black olives and sausage. Hand made meat lover and veggie special pizzas are available. You can also dine on a salad of black olives, pepperoncini peppers, bacon bits and croutons. Jim Davenport's Pizza Palace is located near major visitor attractions like the Birmingham Zoo and Botanical Gardens. If you want to enjoy a homemade pizza at home, you can also call in and order take out or delivery.
Jim Davenport's Pizza Palace
2837 Cahaba Road
Mountain Brook Village, Alabama 35223
(205) 879-8603
davenportspizza.com
Mellow Mushroom
The walls of Mellow Mushroom are decorated with paintings of mushrooms and cartoon characters, making the shop a favorite of children and adults. You can sit at one of the small square dining tables and sip on a cold glass of draft or house beer while you watch the cooks prepare your meal. The Bogart pale ale beer is made from scratch at the restaurant. Pizza favorites include the Hawaiian pizza that is topped with ham and pineapple, the House Special that is topped with pepperoni, sausage, onions, ground beef, mushrooms, black olives, tomatoes, ham, bacon and extra cheese. Non-pizza menu mainstays include tomato bisque and tortilla soup, garlic bread, Bruschetta, Hummas, hand twisted soft pretzels and stuffed Portobello. The pizza shop also offers hoagies, calzones and salads. The pizza shop caters and offers regular contests that customers can enter to win a free pizza or discount purchase deals.
Mellow Mushroom
1200 20th Street South, Suite 100
Birmingham, Alabama 35205
(205) 212-9420
mellowmushroom.com
About the Author:
Rhonda Campbell is an entrepreneur, radio host and author. She has more than 17 years of business, human resources and project management experience and decades of book, newspaper, magazine, radio and business writing experience. Her works have appeared in leading periodicals like "Madame Noire," "Halogen TV," "The Network Journal," "Essence," "Your Church Magazine," "The Trenton Times," "Pittsburgh Quarterly" and "New Citizens Press."
