I had an itch for pizza. I ended up getting it scratched tonight and then some. I was going to be good and go home to cook dinner. In fact, it was going to be breakfast for dinner night. French toast with my homemade bread was what I had planned on all day. That was until I remembered it was Monday.
Monday in our house means pizza. Monday means cheap and good pizza. I am going to introduce you to a local Northern Kentucky local gem. Newport Pizza. We have been having their pizzas for 11 years, since we crossed the river to live in the area. Not once have we had a bad pizza or meal at the establishment.
Newport Pizza sits on the corner of Monmouth St and 6th St. in Newport, Kentucky, opening its doors in 2009. They specialize in a New York-style pizza. While I have never had that style of pizza in New York for a real comparison, I can say Newport Pizza is worth a trip to checkout. It has a thin, crispy crust with some chew, the dough tastes fresh, and a light layer of sauce with a perfect amount of cheeses and meats.
Here is the best part. On Mondays, they have a special, $11 for any large specialty pizza. $11!!! Normal price starting at $17.95. Trust me…this is not your chain pizza for about the same price with one or two toppings. They have pizzas that are different from the norm such as their Cincinnatus pizza. If you are from Cincinnati and like Cincinnati-style chili, you may enjoy this. From their website, “Cream cheese, Cincinnati chili, and sharp cheddar top this twist on a Cincinnati favorite.” They do have a veggie pizza for those that like that. Our favorite is called the Flying Pig. “Pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, and bacon, with pizza sauce, provolone, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses. You’ll run a marathon for this one!”
We like to mix it up a bit, tonight we got The Wiseguy. I imagine the name is a nod to Newport’s history of Little Las Vegas. “For the gangster in all of us. Salami, capicola and pepperoni, feta cheese with fresh basil, three cheese blend, and pizza sauce.”
One item we had not tried till tonight was an appetizer called the Antipasta Basket. Their menu description, “A sampling of salami, pepperoni, and capicola ham with asiago, and fresh mozzarella. Manzanilla olives, banana peppers, Roma tomato, fresh basil, and roasted garlic. Served with toasted Italian bread and roasted veggies.” I can not believe we missed this item all these years.
It is well worth the price at $7.95. It was a meal on to itself. We used it with the crust part of the pizza at the ends for a delightful addition. It hit spots I didn’t realize I had been craving. The savory, fresh veggies such as mushrooms, artichokes, onion, a roasted head of garlic with the salty banana peppers, olives, meats, and cheese just speak to my soul. Add in a bit of fresh bread lapping up the olive oil and balsamic…perfection.
The pizza, as always, was superb. It is 16″ in size. We took half of it home and some of the Antipasta Basket.
Let it rest for a minute, it is always fresh out of the oven. Then dive straight in. The pizza isn’t sitting around at this place under some heat lamp. I love cheese and this pizza has the perfect amount. As a lover of cheese, I always thought the more cheese, the better. I have come to realize the error of my ways. It can have too much cheese to the point you can’t even chew anymore. Cow bubble gum is what I call it when there is too much cheese. Not so with Newport Pizza. Perfect amount of ingredients for the perfect flavor. Many sauces at other places can be too sweet or too full of spices, they let the tomato flavor shine through.
We have found the service for the most part over the years good as well. Usually, if the service seems lacking it is because they are swamped with customers and running their butts off. Many of the staff have been there for years and you become part of the community they have created.
If you ever find yourself on this side of the river in Newport, KY go check them out. I think you will find it worth it. Remember…Monday Night! $11! They also run specials on Wednesday nights, along with monthly specialty pizzas that always have a bit of twist if you like something different.
Cheap Cincinnati 
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