The Great NoCo Pizza Challenge: Cork vs. Nick & Elena’s

Twenty four pizzas down, 18 more to go! It’s Round 13 in the Great NoCo Pizza Challenge and this is another exciting week! I’m wondering if you’re feeling the same way I am…

As each round goes by and I taste more and more delicious local pizza, I can’t help but feel so proud of North County! Even I had no idea there were this many independent, old school, truly wonderful pizza joints in our community, and now I want everyone in St. Louis to know about it!

Like a spread-out, suburban version of The Hill, we literally have a small network of Italian-American families, many of whom are related, forming a vibrant local food culture here. I would even venture to say that North County’s classic Italian restaurants are the unsung heroes in the history of St. Louis-style pizza, and they deserve far more acclaim than they get.

Angelo’s. Ponticello’s. Erio’s. Faraci. Roberto’s. Saullo’s. Pirrone’s….. If that’s not the making of an incredible local pizza scene, I don’t know what is. And many people say this week’s first contender should also be on that list…

Open since 1985, Nick & Elena’s is a homey little restaurant in Breckenridge Hills, at the southern edge of NoCo on the border of Overland. Owner Elena Serra is a Sicilian native who prepares many of her family recipes for the menu. Her husband, Nick, is brother to the founder of Serra’s Pizzeria, another fabulous old-timey pizza place that’s just beyond the NOCO coverage area in Maryland Heights, open since 1970.

Personally, I’ve never had Nick & Elena’s pizza but I have heard many raves about it. My brother-in-law Kim is a longtime UPS driver, and he will go out of his way just to eat at Nick & Elena’s. He has been a regular customer for many years, and he’s adamant that they should win the Pizza Challenge. I guess we’ll see…

Nick & Elena’s specializes in classic St. Louis-style with provel, though mozzarella cheese and New York-style crust are also available. You can choose from a standard selection of toppings or opt for one of three specialty pizzas: the Veggie, the Pizza Supreme or Francesca’s Favorite, with sausage, pepperoni, bacon and Canadian bacon. I’ve also heard that Nick & Elena’s has a unique, cheesy sauce, and their prices are very reasonable. A large-single topping pizza starts at $12.50.

Plus, you just have to love the “warning” on their menu: “There are real Italians working in this kitchen. At any time, you may observe yelling, kicking, screaming, biting, and various other normal activities associated with Italian cooking.” HA!

Nick & Elena’s – 3007 Woodson Road, 63114, (314) 427-6566. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-10:30pm, Friday 11am-12:30am, Saturday 4pm-12:30am, Sunday 4pm-10:30pm

Our second restaurant, Cork Wine Bar in Ferguson, is technically a repeat contender in the Pizza Challenge, having faced Meglio’s back in Round Five. But that was the week of a big snow storm, and I didn’t get to complete my head-to-head taste-off in time, so this will actually be my first official review of Cork’s pizza.

Of course, as I mentioned previously, I’m a huge fan of Cork’s seasonal menu and tapas-style dishes, and owner Mike Lonero is a friend of mine and a NOCO advertiser. So I know Cork makes a good pie, even though it’s not a traditional pizza restaurant and the topping selection is limited.

There are currently just two pizzas to choose from on the Winter menu – Veggie & BBQ Chicken – but the Spring menu kicks in on April 4 with three new choices – Spicy Sausage, Asparagus and Grilled Chicken. All of Cork’s pizzas measure about 12 inches and cost $10, perfect for one or two people. And if you stop by on a Friday or Saturday night, you can enjoy the wine bar’s ever-changing lineup of live music. It’s a perfect complement to the ever-changing lineup of specialty drinks and local art…

Cork Wine Bar – 423 S. Florissant, 63135, (314) 521-WINE. Kitchen hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 4-10pm, Friday & Saturday, 4-11pm, Sunday 4-9pm

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Cast your vote! Round 13 voting ends Wednesday, March 30, at 11am…

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If you need a bracket, you’ll find a freshly updated one right here.

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