You don’t always have to go with the fried fish or the shrimp basket on a visit to the Forgotten Coast: There are other culinary offerings mixing up the scene, and Joe Mama’s Wood Fired Pizza in Port St. Joe is a case in point.
This family-owned and operated business—the roots of which go back to 1980 as Nunneley’s Roadhouse in Michigan—bakes its pizza pies in a pretty darn authentic vessel: an 800-degree wood-fired pizza oven direct from Tuscany.
There’s a big emphasis here on fresh: The bread for Joe Mama’s sandwiches and rolls is baked each morning, the tomato sauce is made in-house from organic Bianco Dinapoli tomatoes, and the pastrami is smoked in-house on a weekly basis.
The pizzas are naturally the headliner attraction. You can choose from such established pies as the Due (studded with sweet Italian fennel sausage, roasted red peppers, and caramelized onions), the Quattro (topped with prosciutto along with fresh basil and fresh mozzarella), and the La Roma (a decked-out pizza with Nueske’s bacon, two fresh eggs, pecan pesto provolone, sliced tomatoes, and more). Or you can opt to cobble together your own pizza (or enhance one of the specialty ones), choosing from a wealth of toppings: everything from capers and Calabrese peppers (with a nice kick) to arugula and anchovies.
Joe Mama’s Wood Fired Pizza also serves several sandwiches (including a mean Smoked Pastrami Muffaletta for lunch) and creatively designed salads with plenty of muscle, plus such highly munch-able starters as Grana Padano Parmesan crostini, smoked La Quercia prosciutto with marinated roasted peppers, and the unique Wood Oven Roasted Wings.
You can pair the delicious desserts (see our menu highlights) with espresso or perhaps a glass of port. Speaking of adult beverages, you’ll also find craft beer on tap here, a good wine list, and a number of cocktails, more than a few of which feature fresh-squeezed fruit juices for that signature Florida kick.
Here are some highlights off the Joe Mama’s Wood Fired Pizza menu:
Calabrese Pizza
Calabrese salami and Calabrese hot peppers form a tag-team duo on this favorite, which also comes dressed with caramelized onions, scallions, and smoked mozzarella.
La Foresta Pizza
Another popular product out of the Joe Mama’s Tuscan oven, the La Foresta features a mushroom trio as well as Nueske’s bacon and shaved Grana Padanno Parmesan, plus truffle oil.
Clam Chowder
The creamy clam chowder served at Joe Mama’s Wood Fired Pizza has been a staple of the family restaurant since the Michigan days, and it’s not hard to see (that is, taste) why.
Crab Caesar Salad
This salad is no mere side: Its combo of locally sourced jumbo lump blue crab, Nueske’s bacon, house-made Parmesan crisps, and romaine lettuce makes it the equal of any of the pizzas here.
Pot of Chocolate
This exceptional dessert doesn’t mess around: Belgian chocolate custard topped with whipped cream and then some chocolate shavings just for good measure. A sweet tooth’s delight, we’d say…
Pizza to pot of chocolate, there’s a lot to like about the Joe Mama’s Wood Fired Pizza dining experience. The family story and the emphasis on local ingredients and house-made preparations set this place apart!
Insider Tips:
– Joe Mama’s Wood Fired Pizza also happens to be one of Port St. Joe’s better dog-friendly eating establishments: There’s a bar patio open to pooches (and serving as front-row seats to some nice Forgotten Coast sunsets).