By Jessica Tuggle
jtuggle@hometownnewsol.com
VERO BEACH - One of the newest pizzerias in Vero Beach already has won over the hearts and stomachs of Hometown News readers, and for good reason.
Papa Luchie's Pizzeria is tucked away in the Plantation Plaza on State Road 60, but with the delightful aroma and delicious taste of the pizza carefully created inside, the restaurant will soon be the most talked about eatery in town.
The casual and intimate dining establishment offers a variety of Italian dishes, including spaghetti and chicken parmesan, filling appetizers such as garlic knots and mozzarella sticks, but the most popular dishes are the hot and fresh New York-style pizzas and the eggplant parmesan.
The large pizza pies are the creation of manager Sean Pszczola.
The restaurant takes up much of his time, from rising early to prepare the pizza dough to experimenting to create the most delicious tasting pizza and marinara sauces with high-quality ingredients, but crafting the best-tasting pizza in town is worth every bit of effort, he said.
A cheese pizza offers the best opportunity to savor the flavors and the richness of the pizza ingredients, but any number of the popular ingredients can make a pizza suit the desires of each customer.
The meat lover's pizza could be enough to suit the manliest of taste buds, while a Sicilian pizza might tempt those who like a well-seasoned pie.
But if pizza isn't what a customer craves, the eggplant parmesan just might hit the spot, as it has for many of Papa Luchie's frequent patrons.
The eggplant is tender and dressed with made-from-scratch marinara sauce and complimented with a side of pasta.
The dinner portion is quite large and filling, but if there is any room left, Papa Luchie's salads and garlic knots will likely hit the spot.
The restaurant has been open since June and is owned by William and Arcy Tharp.
"When we say for our slogan, 'try a better pizza,' we aren't just saying that, we actually feel it's a better pizza," Mr. Tharp said.
Papa Luchie's is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Delivery is available with a delivery fee that varies on location.
Papa Luchie's Pizzeria is located at 6690 20th St., Vero Beach in Plantation Plaza. For more information, call (772) 770-6117.