Restaurant review: Pizza with Midwest style and taste at Pusateri's

March 22, 2006

Pusateri's came to Stuart to make a case for authentic Chicago pizza and decided to do so by setting up shop directly across from the courthouse. This tiny gem has all the evidence necessary to win. From the moment you walk in, the Chicago friendliness is evident and Pam and the crew will treat you as if they have known you all your life.

Like the local pizzeria of ages ago where tables are limited and the delicious aromas come wafting from the kitchen, you know you are in for a treat.

The front of the menu tells the story of the Pusateri family and their migration to Chicago just before 1900 as well as the philosophy of the family business. The star witness on the menu is sausage and if you don't try something with sausage in or on it you are missing the point.

We began with Italian Antipasto Salad ($5.75) to whet our appetites. Dressing is served on the side in small containers and can be a bit messy, but the salad was fresh and crunchy. There are several pizza choices ranging from individual, sauceless, meat lover and vegetarian versions but we really wanted to taste as many things as possible. We ordered a large (read enormous) pizza and chose one half with sausage, tomato slices, and black olives and the other with pepperoni, onion, mushroom (fresh sliced) and extra cheese.

What arrived was bubbling hot, bursting with ingredients all the way to the edges and cut into manageable squares. The pizza has THIN crust (yippee!), a sauce found usually in Chicago only (slightly sweet) and sausage you won't find anywhere locally (they fly in many of their ingredients on a weekly basis including the sausage from a Chicago butcher). This was positively the most delicious pizza I have eaten in Florida and as good as the best in the windy city!

Pam makes homemade brownies every morning (no nuts) and we ordered one to satisfy our sweet tooth. Beer is available and wine is served in 8 ounce Italian style rustic tumblers and reasonable at $4.50 a glass. Two of us got through less than half of our pizza.

Dinner for two came to $48 (small claims for incredible value and quality). As we exited and saw the courthouse across the street, we left absolutely convinced that Pusateri's really is the best pizza in town. Case closed.

Patricia Smith dines unannounced at the expense of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers.

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About Patricia Smith Patricia Smith dines anonymously at the expense of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers.