I Broke My Big Tampa Pizza Rule and Instantly Regretted It
Pizza is on everyone’s mind lately because Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports was recently in Tampa trying different pizza places. Among the ones he tried was my favorite spot for the best pizza in Florida: Cristino’s Coal Oven Pizza in Clearwater. I don’t know what score Portnoy gave Cristino’s, but it got me in the mood for a Margarita with extra sauce because I hadn’t dropped by in a while.
When I pulled in, there were dozens waiting for a table. That’s always a good sign. I posted the photo on my Instagram and Facebook of everyone waiting in the parking lot and mentioned that these people don’t need Dave Portnoy’s endorsement. They know Cristino’s Pizza is worth the wait. In the comments, most listeners backed me up – but a few instead suggested other pizzas. And that’s where I made my crucial mistake.
There’s nothing worse than getting your hopes up about trying a new pizza someone is raving about… and the pizza is just underwhelming. I made the big mistake I don’t often make yesterday. In those comments, a listener suggested a popular pizza spot in Largo that I had never tried. I’d heard of it and initially I thought I’d even tried it. But when I looked them up online, I realized I had not been there… and since I was in the area yesterday, I dropped by. After 4 or 5 bites, I got angry with myself. I broke my rule. I forgot to ask the guy who recommended this place 2 important questions before I took his suggestion seriously.
What are those 2 questions? Take a listen to the latest episode of my Geno Ate Tampa podcast above.
If you’ve never been to Cristino’s, you’ll find them at 1101 South Ft Harrison Avenue in Clearwater. Visit after a day at Clearwater Beach or before a concert at The Sound at Coachman Park. If there’s a wait, don’t be surprised. During peak dining hours, you’ll probably have to sit outside for a while. But there’s a reason you see people waiting like in the photo below. The pizza is worth the wait.