Pizza Specials and Special Requests – Il Georgione Pizzeria Gets It Just Right
October 15, 2018
A review by Tammy Davis
“Just Tell Us What You Like”
The Kevin. It’s not on the menu, but it should be. At Il Georgione Pizzeria and Wine Bar on Devine St., the pizza specials are named after the staff.
Kevin, I love you!!! I love your crumbled sausage. I love your thin, flaky crust. But most of all I love your sage – not that “shake a jar of dried herbs” kind of sage. I love your chunks of chopped fresh sage. It adds an amazing flavor to what I think is the best pizza in Columbia.
The Kevin is one of my favorite pizzas, and Il Giorgione Pizzeria is one of my favorite spots – kind of a hidden gem. It’s beside what used to be Diane’s and then Tallulah’s. It’s easy to miss if you’re not careful. I like to drive around back to avoid the Devine St. parallel parking. Just turn on to Meadow St. from Devine St., and you’ll see the lot.
Il Georgione Pizzeria is run by Monica and George Kessler. Monica is the face of the restaurant. She usually acts as hostess and can make a mean martini when needed.
Hubby is happy in the kitchen making authentic Italian dishes and home-made sorbet every day. Let me say that again – home-made sorbet every day.
Il Georgione is small enough to accommodate each customer’s taste. I’m not a fan of any of the salads on their menu so they create one for me. It is so simple, but so delicious. It comes with a lemon wrapped in cheese cloth. Little touches like these set Il Georgione Pizzeria apart. Fresh is the only word that comes to mind when I enjoy my salad created just for me. Il Georgione Pizzeria has that “just tell me what you like” kind of feel. I normally try to avoid the calories and carbs that come with bread, but this bread that comes with the salad is worth every minute of cardio that I have to do to burn it off.
Their inside seating area is limited and really nothing special, but their courtyard is magical. Tiny tables and one large table for big groups sit on an old brick patio surrounded by a pretty brick fence. Since it faces Devine St., you get neighborhood joggers and bikers and folks walking their dogs. The traffic noise can be a bit distracting but it’s not loud enough to be a problem.
The patio is pet-friendly which is an added bonus. On my last visit, they brought my dog a bowl of water which is pretty standard for pet-friendly restaurants, but they added ice for my pup because it was a hot SC day. Again, tiny details that make a big impact.
Reservations are recommended because this little place fills up quickly on the weekends.
You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but don’t hesitate to just tell them what you like. This is the kind of place that wants to make you happy.
Kevin, I’ve never met you, but I have a little crush on you. At least on the pizza that bears your name.
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