Dining a la Carteret

 Pizza Inn

by Sherley Buckland

For over 30 years, Max Milner has owned and operated Pizza Inn Restaurants in Eastern North Carolina .  The philosophy behind his success is simple: “Buy the best quality products on the market and provide the freshest pizzas, stromboli and salads in a clean restaurant, served by a friendly and attentive staff.” 

Cleanliness, freshness and customer service make Pizza Inn of Morehead City one of the most popular family dining destinations in Carteret County .

Popular is no understatement.  If you want to know where your friends, neighbors or co-workers are, just stop by. I’m certain you will find them enjoying an endless buffet with a tall glass of sweet tea that is better than my own. 

Being a creature of habit, I always start with the salad bar.  My salad at Pizza Inn usually consists of lettuce, potato salad, cheese, cucumber, tomato, bacon bits, hot peppers, croutons, raisins, Catalina dressing and two packages of club crackers.  With freshness and consistency guaranteed, I know exactly what to expect and I am never disappointed.  Other salad bar items available include pickles, carrots, three bean salad, salsa, radishes, baby corn, broccoli, celery, onion and seven assorted dressings.

Next, of course, is the pizza.  The dough is made twice daily and there are three types to choose from: original crispy thin, Italian hand tossed and New York pan.  All pizzas are made to order, and requests are honored for the buffet.  The basic one-topping pizzas, such as cheese, pepperoni, and sausage, are the most popular with the children.

My first trip to the buffet for pizza usually includes one slice of cheese pizza and one slice of pepperoni pizza, thin crust.  Not only do I prefer thin crust, it also allows you to get a true taste of the fresh sauce and pizza toppings.  My second trip to the buffet is always for my long time favorite, taco pizza.  Thin crust topped with a meaty taco sauce and cheese, then after baking it is topped with fresh lettuce, tomato and shredded cheddar cheese.  Served with salsa, it is absolutely wonderful. 

If taco pizza doesn’t sound like your favorite, I’m certain you could find a treasure in one of the many specialty pizzas available at Pizza Inn.  Bacon lovers might enjoy the bacon, cheddar and ham pizza.  Crispy bacon, smoked ham, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses top a hearty tomato sauce and fresh crust. 

Cheeseburger fanatics will find the cheeseburger pizza to be an interesting variation on a backyard classic.  Mustard tops a New York-style crust, then ground beef, bacon, onions and cheese finish a pizza that tastes better than the “bun version.”  Pickles are available upon request.

My Mom’s favorite is the BLT pizza.  Bacon and mozzarella cheese are topped with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise all on a New York pan crust. 

Regular diners are familiar with the monthly features.  Each month a new pizza is featured.  These pizzas are not usually regular menu items.  The featured pizza for September will be the spinach alfredo pizza: spinach, alfredo sauce, tomato and onion on your choice of crust.  I’m certain if we ask nicely, they might even throw some chicken breast on that pizza.  Now that will be good!

If pizza is not what you’re interested in, don’t worry; spaghetti, stromboli, cheese sticks and bread sticks are available on the buffet, as well.  The regular menu with hot wings, sandwiches, lasagna and manicotti can complete your dining selections before dessert.

Dessert choices include cinnamon stromboli and Pizzerts.  The cinnamon stromboli is a blend of chopped pecans, cinnamon and brown sugar layered in a flaky crust then topped with a cinnamon and sugar streusel glaze.  They cut the cinnamon stromboli into small squares for “portion control,” however, I can assure you that many small squares fit on one large round plate. 

There are several dessert pizza options to choose from: chocolate chip cookie, vanilla pudding with chocolate chips, cherry, apple and peach.  My children prefer the vanilla pudding with chocolate chips.

Speaking of children, Pizza Inn of Morehead City has to be one of, if not the most, family- friendly restaurants around. 

Mr. Milner and his staff are committed to their customers and the community he truly loves, so much that he commissioned Linda Lilly and Marta Griggs to paint a mural of the Morehead City waterfront on the interior of the dining room.  Pizza Inn welcomes school field trips, athletic team events and birthday parties for all ages.  Special menu pricing is always available for schools, and great fundraising opportunities are available through Pizza Inn.

Something new Mr. Milner is experimenting with at Pizza Inn of Morehead City is free wireless Internet access.  This is provided simply as a service for his customers. Mr. Milner hopes to have this available in all his stores if it is successful here.

Stop by for fast, fresh, friendly service; Max and his staff are looking forward to dining with you, and you’re certain to see someone you know.

 


Quick Bites

PIZZA INN

Location: 4121 Arendell St. , Morehead City

Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Price Range : Buffet is $5.79 weekdays, $6.29 on weekends; children’s buffet is $2.99. Regular menu pricing starts at $3.55.

Payment Options: Cash, local check, MasterCard, Visa.

Reservations: Recommended for large parties or special events. Call (252) 726-0101 to make reservations.

 

8/25/06



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