Papa’s Pizza has been answering to the appetites of visitors to the Pensacola Beach boardwalk since 1947—a pretty impressive track record. The appeal is a tried-and-true one: a no-frills focus on New York- and Sicilian-style pizza as well as other popular Italian food.
Papa’s Pizza offers both indoor and outdoor dining with the entertaining backdrop of the Portofino Boardwalk. It feels rather like a New York pizzeria transplanted to the balmy seaside of Pensacola Beach—a great place to hit up when all that boardwalk sightseeing and shopping inspires a heavy-duty appetite.
The pizzeria makes its doughs and sauces fresh each and every day. You’ve got a wealth of options for build-your-own pizzas of either that thin-crust New York standard or the heavier Sicilian preparation. There’s the expected galaxy’s worth of toppings, from pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms to artichoke hearts, anchovies, broccoli, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Along with customizable New York and Sicilian pies, Papa’s Pizza offers an assortment of “celebrity pizzas,” most of them named for prominent Italian-Americans. They include the Frank Sinatra, the Rocky Marciano, the Al Pacino, the Sophia Loren, and the Joe Peschi, plus special Peppino Schano and White Veggie pizzas. You can also opt for a beefed-up Stuffed Pizza with pepperoni, ground beef, sausage, and mozzarella.
Beyond the pizza realm, Papa’s also whips up calzones and strombolis, and serves a few straight-and-narrow pasta choices: Spaghetti With Meatballs, Spaghetti With Marinara Sauce, and Spinach Lasagna.
You can accompany your meal with a Greek or Anti-Pasta Salad, and whet your appetite with a clutch of breadsticks served alongside the house marinara. Beverages include soda and lemonade as well as beer.
Hungry yet? Here are some specific highlights off the Papa’s Pizza menu you might want to consider:
The Al Pacino Pizza
If you’re a genuine carnivore, the Al Pacino is the pizza for you: a meat-lover’s dream topped with sausage, pepperoni, ham, beef, andbacon.
The Joe Pesci Pizza
This Papa’s “celebrity pizza,” named for another absolutely iconic American actor, occupies an opposite, lighter corner of the spectrum from the Al Pacino: The Joe Pesci comes sunnily outfitted with feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts.
Stromboli
Papa’s Pizza’s standard version of the stuffed-to-the-gills Italian turnover packs sausage, pepperoni, and ground beef together with black olives, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. But you can also unleash your creativity with the create-your-own-stromboli option, which puts any and all of the Papa’s Pizza toppings at your disposal.
Greek Salad
The pizzeria’s very own homemade dressing distinguishes its Greek Salad, a refreshing side to pair with pizza, pasta, or stuffed delight.
Whether you’re swinging by solo for a solitary slice or bringing the whole gang to share a large pizza or two, Papa’s Pizza is a centrally located Pensacola Beach boardwalk landmark well worth trying out.
Insider Tip:
Parking can range from the challenging to the nightmarish along the Pensacola Beach boardwalk, so allot some extra time or, if possible, head for the pizzeria on foot.