MOORESVILLE NC: Friday was cold and rainy when I dashed into Aliño’s Pizzeria to order a pizza to take to a friend’s house for lunch. I was literally in and out of there in 5 minutes. If you haven’t been to Aliño’s in Mooresville’s renovated textile mill next to The Barcelona and Main St. Antiques, you are missing something special.
Aliño’s makes authentic Neapolitan pizza in wood-fired ovens that were custom-made in Naples, Italy. My favorite pizza is the Leonardo. Sausage, sweet red peppers, and caramelized onions top a thin pizza covered in San Marzano tomato sauce and fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese. It has a chewy, bread-like crust. Absolutely delicious.
In a hurry? Aliño’s makes your pizza in under 5 minutes.
The ovens are kept above 800 degrees to cook a pizza in about 90 seconds. A pie is typically made with fresh ingredients in less than 2 minutes. It may take you longer to decide what you’re going to order than it will for it to be made. I’ve been to Aliño’s many times and even on their busiest nights, it’s always amazing at how fast the pie arrives at your table.
Why rush? Sit down and stay awhile.
Aliño’s has big, family-friendly tables both inside and outside (for when the weather is nicer than it’s been around here lately). There are large television screens typically playing soccer games and other sports.
Start your meal
With the salad of the day, which is big enough to share. Or the Caprése which is a beautiful plate of fresh tomatoes, slices of buffalo mozzarella, and fresh basil drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.
There are eight specialty pizzas in the traditional Napolitano style to choose from: the Bellucci, the Sorrento, the Toscana, the Diavola, the Leonardo, the Capri, the Pomodoro, and the Bianca. You can also personalize the Margherita, a San Marzano tomato sauce and fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese pie made with fresh basil and garlic, by adding any of the following toppings: artichokes, shitake mushrooms, sweet peppers, spicy peppers, caramelized onions, cherry tomatoes, spicy salami, pepperoni, ham, or sausage.
You must save room for dessert
The desserts at Aliño’s are made fresh daily. They have gelato (Italian ice cream). It is creamier than American ice cream and comes in many flavors which vary from day to day. I love the chocolate, and also the lemon, and also the chocolate chip—you get the idea. They have cannoli and other assorted pastries, all too scrumptious to pass by.
Aliño Pizzeria is located at 500 South Main Street in Mooresville, NC. They are open seven days a week from 11 am “until we run out of fresh dough” or 9 pm.
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