One of the most notable restaurant trends in the East Valley this year has been a boom in high-quality, non-chain pizza places that are both inexpensive and comfortable.
From Scottsdale (Humble Pie) to Tempe (La Bocca) to Gilbert (Liberty Market) to Queen Creek (The Deli), pizza fans are feasting on house-made doughs, fresh mozzarella and straight-from-the-farm toppings.
The latest to toss its hat — or, in this case, pies — into the ring is Old World Pizza Kitchen in Gilbert.
Even though it’s on Gilbert Road just south of Elliot Road, it’s not an easy place to find. Look for the country-ish JD’s Homestead center on the east side of the road, where it took over the former Jamaican Ice space.
“Everything here is in a Fry’s plaza or Bashas’ plaza,” says Gina Donnelly, a Realtor who opened OWPK with her husband, Jim, a retired Brooklyn firefighter. “We just wanted to be a more comfortable kind of place.”
And comfortably rustic it is. The oven, sheltered by a large copper hood, is built into a stone back wall. The side walls are painted a weathered gold above natural wood wainscotting. The floor is intricately patterned stonework.
“We wanted atmosphere that seemed higher-end, but where people didn’t have to pay high-end prices,” Gina says.
Jim — who painted an eye-catching series of framed firefighter portraits that hang on the walls — is the one who’s always loved to make pizzas, so much so he even built a wood-burning pizza oven in the couple’s backyard.
His philosophy? Use only the freshest ingredients, including not preparing those ingredients — slicing the tomatoes, grilling the sausage, etc. — until a pizza is ordered.
“You’re gonna love this pizza,” he confidently promises newcomers. “I’m not just saying that. You’re really gonna fall in love with it.”
The thin-crust pizzas come in 12- and 16-inch sizes, starting at $11 and $14, respectively. House specialties include a pizza alla vodka with proscuitto, peas and tomato vodka sauce ($13 or $16) and a veal marsala pizza ($18 or $22).
The menu also includes a half-dozen appetizers — such as calamari ($8) or brushcetta ($6) — and four salads. Lemon cake ($6) and ricottaa cheesecake ($6) are among the desserts.
Six wines are offered by the glass ($5.50 to $8) and 12 by the bottle, none more than $38. Bottled beers, after-dinner cordials and coffees also are available.
Old World Pizza Kitchen, 323 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Info: (480) 633-6975 or oldworldpizzakitchen.com.
More photos of Old World Pizza Kitchen (click each to enlarge):
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I never thought of pizza’s looking that perfect i the ‘old world’ style..’old world’ prices though!!
Looks like a great place, but me and my friends will refuse to visit until they remove veal from the menu. Veal is a by-product of the dairy industry and those animals are treated as such, by-products. I refuse to visit any business that supports this cruel industry. http://www.hsus.org/farm/camp/totc/
Do we really need another Pizza Kitchen in Gilbert? Have you seen the spread on some of these Gilbert residents ?
“Compassionate” Consumer
Keep your “Distaste” for veal to other forms of protest. This family is paying taxes and adding revenue to the economy.
I will be visting this restaurant with my family.
I have been here it is fantastic!! The appetizers are great as well as the pizza! Try the seafood pizza it’s to die for! Warm and friendly atmosphere, good prices. It will defiantly be a place I go again and again. People have to try this place!
My Husband and I had a wonderful meal there, the food was fabulous! We have recomended the restaurant to anyone looking for a warm and friendly place to eat. As for “Compassionate” Consumer, tell us were you work so that we can avoid your business and spread negative comments. Maybe you should Think twice before you attack someone. Rememer the Golden Rule; “Do other’s as you’d have them do to you”
We have been here on more than one occasion since its opening making sure we have tried everything on the menu. Absoutely outstanding food, enviornment and atmosphere. The gourmet pizzas are nothing like you have ever had in phoenix before and the owners are very friendly, taking the extra time to make sure that everyone is happy and satisfied with their meal. Good food and prices that are reasonable even if you are on a tough budget. We are happy to have this place with in walking distance to our home!!!
The Veal Marsala Pizza was amazing those compassionate veal people have no idea what they are missing out on. You should just go for lunch and try something else. Dont you wear leather shoes?
Yo Compassionate Consumer..maybe you should stop eating all together. Veal is delicious and should be eaten. This place looks great and I cant wait to visit it and eat some veal..and pizza…
Compassionate Consumer,
I too will eat here specifically because of your comments. This isn’t the venue for such silly remarks by such simple or maybe complex? people. It looks like a great place and I will try it out. I will not have the veal, but I will give them my $.
mmm veal.. veal pizza,, veal strips veal cutlets dam i love veal moooooooooooo.. I will be visiting with 10-15 of my friends and we will phone ahead… what a great fantastic cheerful place…
I agree with pizza lover ate there tonight and the seafood pie was fantastic. I wll have to try the veal next time. I never had veal but now I am dying to try it. Welcome to Gilbert.
For those that are opened minded and not of the granola eating-nut crunching-plain yogurt swilling-tree hugging-Kool-Aid drinking sect, who love pizza this is the greatest place in Gilbert to enjoy an outstanding pizza. The pizza is as good as you will find anywhere in the greater Gilbert metropolitan area and the appetizers and desserts are every bit as good as the pizza’s. Don’t let a small group of narrow-minded people keep you from enjoying a truly great pizza served in a unique atmosphere…beat a trail to the Old World Pizza Kitchen. You won’t be sorry you did!
This is an amazing family and an amazing restaurant. We wish you lots of success and can’t wait to come back for more!
I love the food and the place! Wonderful service and I felt like was eating my mom’s own home made pizza, love it.
This is truly one of the good pizza places around metro phoenix
This month I will be having an Italian family visiting us from Italy and we will definitely take them to Old World Pizza Kitchen
P.S. for those who dislike veal, maybe you should stay away from Italian food and stick with carrots and lettuce.
I can’t believe that I never got to eat there !!! :’(