By Patrick Greenwell
Spinelli’s Pizzeria is, quite simply, everything you thought was cool when you were 12. Shockingly, those things are just as cool now as they were then, only more accessible. Moreover, Spinelli’s serves some of the best pizza in Louisville, in portions that could feed a family of four for a week at ridiculously low prices.
The first thing anyone going to Spinelli’s will notice is the restaurant’s atmosphere. Immediately upon walking through the door, patrons are met with a full-sized convertible car that has been made into a front room dining table. In the main dining room, the walls are plastered with comic books instead of wallpaper. Paintings by local artists hang above the tables. On the back wall is a mural of a nude Burt Reynolds, which, depending on your tastes, is either transcendent comedy genius or an appetite killer. The dining room also contains a working Zoltan fortuneteller machine and an arcade cabinet, which appears to be rotated periodically, though it currently runs “X-Men vs. Street Fighter.” Spinelli’s is the kind of restaurant a kid would design. It is eclectic and, perhaps more importantly, it is fun.
Fun really is the key here. Every trip to Spinelli’s is entertaining and turns into a story to tell later. A few months ago, my waiter spent well over an hour running through his stand-up comedy routine for me, concluding with a full-blown freestyle rap. During my most recent meal, I spent at least half an hour playing “X-Men vs. Street Fighter” with a 10-year-old kid I’d never met before.
But great atmosphere does little for a restaurant if the food is bad. Fortunately, the pizza is excellent too. Spinelli’s specializes in thin crust pizza. What separates this pizza from the rest is its size. A single slice of Spinelli’s pizza is larger than the average human head. It is a truly awe-inspiring sight. Even more incredible is that a single slice costs only $3, with extra toppings at 50 cents each. Pizza options are varied, ranging from simple cheese to meatlovers and veggie. Spinelli’s also serves an excellent white pizza, replacing tomato sauce with mozzarella and ricotta cheese accompanied by garlic. Full 18-inch pizzas start at $15 for cheese. Additional toppings are $2 each. If pizza is not what you’re looking for, Spinelli’s also serves a variety of hot sandwiches for about $7.50 and strombolis for about $9 each.
Spinelli’s Pizzeria is a great restaurant choice for anyone looking for a fun night out or interested in one of the best deals in the city. Those who cannot dine in can order delivery until 4:30 a.m., making it an excellent choice for curing late night hunger pains. Service can be somewhat slow at times, but the food is well worth the wait. Everyone should make a point to dine in at least once. If nothing else, your inner child will thank you.
