Capone's Chicago Style Pizza - Boone, North Carolina

Introduced to Boone, North Carolina in late 2005, Capone's Pizza has quickly become a favorite among college students and the local populace alike. Serving Chicago-style pizza at a reasonable price, Capone's offers a good balance between tasty food and great prices, though not every aspect of the experience is equal.

Quality and Variety Throughout

As their name suggests, Capone's first and foremost specializes in the pizzas they offer. A glance at their menu betrays a wide range of specialty pizzas to decide upon; Tandoori, Cajun, Hawaiian and Pesto are just a few of the more eclectic options available, though Capone's also offers the more traditional pizzas ("Meat Supreme") as well. With each of these pizzas comes the choice of a red, white or pesto base; if you are up for trying something new, the pesto and white bases will put a great new spin on whichever pie you choose. Fresh, hot and incomparably tasty, these pizzas will run you anywhere from $13.99 to $18.99 and are most certainly worth the cost.

In addition to the specialty selection, the restaurant also offers pizza by the slice until 4:00 p.m. daily, perfect if you're looking for a few good slices of affordable pizza always made to order. Lunch specials and personal pan pizzas are also available, although the quality of the individual slices is highly recommended over these less distinct alternatives. While these alternatives are hardly disappointing, there is something lost in the translation between the Chicago-style slices and those of the personal variety; the crisp crust and unique flavors are dulled noticeably.

Also on the menu are typical "Italian" offerings, including stromboli, manicotti, ravioli and calzone. While interesting, these offerings are nowhere near as exemplary as the pizza choices available, although they do offer a fine alternative for those wishing to try something new. Capone's also offers a variety of subs to choose from, although these are similarly inferior to Capone's specialty pizza. While I would easily put these "side items" up against any reasonable competition, the pizza is truly what makes Capone's great.

To top it off, Capone's offers a large range of beverages to please just about every taste. Running the gamut from soft drinks to lemonade and sweet tea, on to a varied selection of imported and domestic beers, Capone's serves up a choice of refreshments likely to satisfy all who come. Of special note is the beer available on draft, a unique and affordable selection of beers that often draws raves on its own.

A Small, Laid Back Environment

Capone's is built into an outlet-style interior, which often translates into a lack of space during peak hours. The restaurant is composed entirely of booths that hug the exterior and interior walls of the parlor, but its limited size means that you will sometimes have to wait to be seated. Although this process does not typically require much time, it is still an unfortunate annoyance in what is an otherwise great environment.

Posters of Chicago mobsters and popular mob movies line the walls, lending a nice character without ever being too over the top or distasteful. High definition televisions often play live performances of bands from the sixties and on (Led Zeppelin seems to be a particular favorite). The booths provided are comfortable and spacious, though if you have a party of six or more you may be out of luck; there are no tables available for larger groups. Food is served on standard off-white plates and the pizza is brought out on the pans they were cooked on, allowing you to serve yourself. As of 2006, Capone's is a smoke-free restaurant until 9 p.m. nightly.

Though impressions have been good, not all is well inside this haven for pizza junkies. In addition to issues with seating space, the service tends to be a bit inconsistent; some nights you may be tended to immediately while other nights you may feel as if you've been lost in the crowd. Also, while the music always caters to a range of tastes, there have been instances when the volume has been set a bit too high, naturally leading to muted conversation and a more hectic atmosphere, although issues with the music level have not been a common occurrence. Also worth noting is the fact that some of the larger pizzas tend to take up a substantial portion of the table, which may be an inconvenience if you are attending with a larger-sized group.

Capone's Deserves Your Attention

Small complaints aside, Capone's Pizza is a fantastic choice for a few friends or the whole family to enjoy. While the full menu may not live up to the exemplary pizza found within, the pies alone are more than enough to impress those who try. Capone's has built a reputation for quality pizza and a quality experience that it truly deserves. The next time you're looking for a relaxing place to eat out, you can't go wrong heading to Capone's.

Restaurant Ratings
(Scale of 1 - 5; 1 being the worst possible rating, 5 being the best):
Food: 4
Ambiance: 4
Service: 3
Cost: 3
Overall: 4