Garlick Joes • Cedar Park

Garlick Joes • Cedar Park

By Candace Birkelbach Friday, 20 March 2009

From the red-and-white checkered curtains to the black table tops just begging for customers’ sketchings with the chalk provided, Garlick Joes harvests simplicity with a bit of flair. And although his name is not Joe, owner Scotty Stroup adds a bit of character all his own to the pizza, sub and pasta shop. Stroup, who owns several other restaurants in the area, said he wanted to do things a little bit different at Garlick Joes, combining Texas tradition with the feeling of being in a New York pizza shop.

“We wanted to make it a pizza parlor not like a chain,” Stroup said. “Our quality is above everything else. If you want quality, well, that’s all we do.”

Patrons can dine in the relaxed atmosphere inside the Commons at Buttercup Creek for a leisurely lunch break or quick weeknight dinner. The veggie lasagna ($6.95) alongside a glass of one of the varieties of wine ($3.89) make for a classy meal without a pretentious price tag. The lasagna is swimming in marinara sauce and bursting with fresh basil, spinach, ricotta cheese and mushrooms. The portion size makes a hearty meal for vegetarians or meat-lovers.

The most distinctive dish Garlick Joes offers, the Texas Cheesesteak ($6.89 small; $8.99 large), is a bit sloppy, but worth the mess. A soft hoagie roll is piled with beef, chicken or shrimp then drenched in three different cheeses — Swiss, Monterrey jack and creamy queso. The sandwich is also loaded with grilled mushrooms, red and green peppers, and onions. Queso sets this dish apart from traditional cheesesteaks, and fresh vegetables add a flavorful crunch.

Bits of fresh garlic are loaded onto the 12-inch white pizza ($12) along with olive oil and a thick layer of mozzarella cheese. The fresh garlic gives a pungent flavor, so keep a breath mint on hand for afterward.

Salads and appetizers are also available. The Italian chef salad — fresh greens, Roma tomatoes, mushrooms, black olives, mozzarella cheese, green and red peppers, red onion, ham, pepperoni, salami and Italian sausage ($7.89) — combines conventional yet tangy Italian ingredients and could serve as a meal on its own.

Stroup’s experience in the restaurant business and knowledge of what Texans crave make this pizza joint an easy choice for traditional flavors with a bit of a twist.

Garlick Joes specialty pizzas

• Philly Cheesesteak — Beef rib eye, red and green peppers, onion, mushrooms, provolone and Joes special cheese
• Chicken Margherita — Mozzarella, tomato, garlic, basil, chicken
• Bacon Cheeseburger — Bacon, hamburger, cheddar cheese, red onion, tomato
• Mamma Mia — Pepperoni, meatball, red onion, tomato, garlic
• The Big Easy — Alfredo sauce, green and red peppers, red onion, Italian sausage, chicken

Garlick Joes, 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd., 258-1222, www.garlickjoes.com