Pizzas shine at family-owned 1803 restaurant in Orlando
1803 Pizza/Kitchen is the quintessential neighborhood pizzeria: a cozy, simple, family-owned eatery that shines when it comes to the pizza pies. The eatery in Orlando’s Audubon Park has Italian fare in its past as the former location of O’Stromboli.
What I would try a second time
1803 nails the pizza crust. The crunchy outer shell breaks open into a pillowy, sweet-and-salty inside.
Hummus on pizza crust piqued my curiosity, so we ordered the Mediterranean flatbread ($10). Diced cucumbers, peppers, red onion and tomatoes shared space with crumbled feta, slices of avocado and halved olives. It felt like a healthier alternative to the cheesy, saucy options on 1803’s menu — but it wasn’t devoid of the slightly pungent, fresh flavors I associate with the cuisine.
It is a pizzeria though, so we did indulge in one of the cheesy, saucy options. The garlic and basil-filled sauce on the classic pepperoni ($9) made the pie.
What I didn’t like
Spooning into my lovely looking creme brulee ($4.50) revealed a watery, goopy custard and not-quite hardened caramelized sugar top.
What I would put on Instagram
My heaping pile of beef Bolognese linguini ($11.50) will grace my Instagram account. The belly-filling combination of tangy, meaty sauce and al-dente pasta was even better the next day.
Other eats
A cup of butternut velvety roasted squash soup soda, water,
Casual Happy hour, brunch, takeout, kid’s menu, delivery, specials
■ Noise level: Low
■ Wheelchair access: Good
■ Credit: Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Discover
■ Call: 407-647-3872
■ Online: Facebook.com or 1803pizzakitchen.com
($3.25) was a delicious way to start my meal — although it proved to be a bit of a filling beginning.
1803’s Italian sandwich was the rich, tart handheld you would expect with layers of capicola, provolone, pepperoni, ham and tomato splashed with a vinaigrette dressing and pepperoncini aioli on top. The roll was spongy and thick, but I found myself wishing it had been toasted.