It seems a bit unfair to go to a restaurant on day two and try to summarize the experience so early in its process, but it’s hard to wait when one of your favorite cuisines is getting a new player in town. Pigzza, brought to us by Thomas Ward, the man behind Pig Floyd’s, has brought a new concept to Orlando, this time it’s Italian(ish).

Adding to the already bursting food scene that Mills 50 offers us, we can now grab pizzas, parms, and pasta in a beautiful space from the vision of Studio Piacere.

THE VIBE

A bar sits in the middle of the space as a focal point, and the primary hues of greens, salmon (that’s at least what I’m calling it), and neutrals make it very pleasing to the eye. While you get pops of terrazzo on the tables, the space hasn’t too many overly trendy elements. It just feels comfortable and attractive without being pretentious. The patio is completely covered and will be my ideal dining spot when I go.  

A great mix of music plays in the background, both new and old, but it never competes over you being able to speak with your tablemates. For neighborhood locals, you can easily order and head to the walk-up window to grab the pizza to-go.

DRINKS

I started my meal with the Lavender Haze cocktail ($13) wodka vodka, carpano dry vermouth cocchi rosa, lemon juice, and lavender. Not overly sweet for me; it's well-balanced, so you don't get an overwhelming taste of lavender over everything else.

What I ordered

Meat me at Floyd’s ($22) Braised brisket, grape jelly BBQ, smoked mozz + cheddar cheese, pickled onions + herbs

I was a little skeptical about this pie based on the description of “grape jelly BBQ,” but I asked our server to explain what that meant and learned it was a reduction sauce, so I knew to prepare for a bit of sweetness but nothing over the top. It had a nice balance of tang from the generous smattering of pickled red onions, sweetness, and salt. For me, it hit a variety of flavors to work well together. I would absolutely order again. 

Cacio e Pepe Fries ($10) Shoestring fries tossed in butter, pecorino romano, and black pepper.

I ordered these fries on a whim, and while the fries themselves were good, they lacked the actual Cacio e Pepe flavor. I didn’t detect much of a kick at all I was waiting for from the pepper. So I wouldn’t order again in this particular ideation as a personal preference of wanting more flavor.

WHAT MY Friend Ordered

Eggplant Parm ($15) served with spaghetti + marinara sauce

I grew up hating eggplant due to its slimy texture, but later in life, I came to appreciate it. While this wasn’t my dish, I did get to try some and found it to be a pleasant texture, a hearty portion buried underneath the glistening mound of cheese. I would love to try the Chicken Parm on my next visit.

Gifted item

Happy as a Clam pie ($22) Clams, EEOV, garlic, white wine, pecorino, fresh oregano, parsley & Calabrian chili. 

Thomas was kind enough to offer us an additional pie to try, and as two girls from Connecticut, one who had never had a clam pizza in her life because she doesn’t love seafood (me) and one who had an intimate knowledge of them (my friend), we were intrigued.

The pie is a showstopper when it hits the table with the clams on top of the pizza waiting for you to use your tiny fork for fishing them out and place them strategically on your slice for the perfect bite. It packed a powerful punch of salt, garlic, and heat but in a good way. I don’t know if I could handle eating an entire pie on my own, but I truly enjoyed the flavors.

Should you go?

I say yes! I purposefully went before the peak dinner rush at 4 pm, and we were at one of maybe three other tables. As we left around 5:45 pm, the restaurant was filling up quickly. When a restaurant is brand new, I always try to go on an off time to ensure I’m going before any kitchen-in-the-weeds scenarios happen. I look forward to going again when it’s a bit busier and seeing how the consistency holds up.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Parking was not an issue, but again as we left, the parking lot was full, and people were doing street parking on walking, so keep that in mind.

• There is a kid's menu and high chairs, so this spot is kid-friendly.

• Right now, there are a few vegetarian and vegan options on the menu, hopefully with more to come.

• I did not notice mocktails on the drink menu, but I’m confident the bartender could create something.

All food was paid for personally unless otherwise noted.