Great Pizza... in Plano, Texas?

I am a Brooklyn, New Yorker, born and raised and I know a good slice of pizza when I eat it, see it or smell it.  Half of my blood derives itself from Italian ancestry in Calabria and Sicily; my mother, aunts and Nonno (grandfather) know how to cook.  Thus, I have been fortunate enough to consume some of the finest spaghetti and meatballs known to man.  I studied abroad in Firenze, Italia for two months during the summer between my junior and senior year in college and savored some of the best cuisine the culture had to offer.

When I went to Plano, Texas (a small suburb just outside of Dallas), I was expecting to eat well.  Granted it wouldn’t be the splendid Italian food I was accustomed to, but it would be good.  I would have tons of delicious and hearty barbecue and other southern treats like fried green beans, Beaumont bugs (battered and deep-fried crawfish tails), and of course a plethora of Tex-Mex options.  And I certainly did at a popular southern chain called Love & War in Texas. 

But I was surprised that my favorite meal in Plano (a unexpectedly great town for a foodie) would be at a new pizza joint that recently opened on the main strip in the old, historic downtown section of town.  Urban Crust, a brick oven pizza eatery, offered a small group of travel writers and me a pleasant surprise: a delicious Italian meal… in Texas!

The appetizers came to the table first and we dined on Caprese Salad with imported and fresh buffalo mozzarella served with tomatoes, basil in extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  A favorite I could not get enough of (Literally, I asked for seconds!) was the Wood Fired Bocconcini, a dish of melted mozzarella with roasted garlic baby Portobello mushrooms, perfect to scoop up with some crunchy bread.  There were mussels on the table and a full platter of antipasto with Italian cold cuts, marinated vegetables and cheeses.  It took all the self-control I had to stop eating and wait for the pizza.

And oh goodness, the pizza!  Crafted with the freshest ingredients, each pie we sampled was unique and innovative but not too much, as the restaurant suggested adding no more than three toppings to each pizza so it retained a crisp and authentic Italian taste.  The simplest pie was the Urban Classic with tomato sauce and handcrafted mozzarella.  For a taste of Texas, we had the Genova with tomato sauce, grilled eggplant, Texas goat cheese, basil pesto and arugula.  Personally, I enjoyed Shea’s Eastside with fire-roasted chicken, smoked mozzarella, caramelized onions and sun-dried tomatoes.  I didn’t dare try the Urban Amore because of the figs and prosciutto, but everyone else at the table raved over the unique-tasting pizza.

Somehow, with barely any room left in my stomach and my pants teetering on the edge of bursting open, I managed to consume dessert - and I am glad I did.  There was crème brulèe and rich chocolate cake.  The staple dessert were the Urban Chips, sweet potato chips served with a delectable crème anglaise sauce for dipping; a perfect salty and sweet combination.

Owned by Bonnie and Nathan Shea, the restaurant was based on a simple concept: great Italian cuisine in Plano.  To bring this idea to fruition, the couple sought out the Italian-born World Master Chef Salvatore Gisellu.  Bringing his favorite family recipes from his homeland and mixing in years of professional training, Gisellu’s creations are truly mouthwatering and unique to Plano.

The restaurant is housed in the historic W.R. George building, a former harness and saddle manufacturer and store.  And although the space has been converted, the décor certainly reflects the former business that dwelled in its walls with a hip and trendy equestrian-warehouse style.  And the coolest part for the older crowd is the rooftop 30- foot frozen ice bar, 32°.  Named for the constant freezing temperature, the bar prepares daily signature “Fruitinis” with local fruits.  The house special that we sampled before our meal: Urban Crush, a chilled, unique cocktail with Bacardi dragonfly rum, crushed strawberries, basil and club soda.

In addition to this great lunch, I enjoyed a ton of other fantastic meals while in Plano.  Check out the Plano Convention & Visitor’s Bureau’s website to learn about other great places to eat in the area.