In South Florida, “classic Italian food and pizza” usually means dishes that stick to traditional Italian or Italian-American roots, often with a local twist (fresh seafood, tropical ingredients, or wood-fired methods). Here’s what you’d typically find:
Classic Italian Food
Pasta Dishes
- Spaghetti alla Carbonara – egg, pancetta, pecorino, black pepper.
- Fettuccine Alfredo – rich cream and parmesan (more Italian-American).
- Lasagna al Forno – layered with ricotta, mozzarella, ground meat, and tomato sauce.
- Penne alla Vodka – creamy tomato-vodka sauce, popular in Italian-American restaurants.
- Seafood Pasta – linguine with clams (alle vongole), or shrimp/scallops with light olive oil sauce (popular in coastal Florida).
Meat & Fish
- Chicken/Veal Parmigiana – breaded cutlet topped with marinara and mozzarella.
- Osso Buco – braised veal shank, usually with risotto.
- Eggplant Parmigiana – vegetarian classic.
- Branzino al Forno – oven-roasted Mediterranean sea bass.
Starters
- Caprese Salad – tomato, mozzarella, basil, olive oil.
- Antipasto Platter – cured meats, cheeses, olives, roasted peppers.
- Arancini – fried rice balls stuffed with cheese/meat.
Desserts
- Tiramisu – coffee-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream.
- Cannoli – ricotta-filled pastry.
- Gelato – Italian-style ice cream.
Classic Pizza Styles Thick and Thin
South Florida has a mix of Neapolitan, New York, and Sicilian traditions, depending on the pizzeria:
Neapolitan Pizza (wood-fired)
Thin, soft crust with charred edges (cornicione), fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, basil, and olive oil.
- Margherita – the original classic.
- Marinara – tomato, garlic, oregano, no cheese.
New York–Style Pizza
Thin, foldable slices with a crisp bottom. Popular in South Florida because of New York transplants.
Sicilian Pizza
Thick, square, airy crust, crunchy on the outside, soft inside. Often topped with mozzarella and tomato sauce.
Specialty Pizzas in Florida
- White Pizza (Pizza Bianca) – ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, no red sauce.
- Seafood Pizza – sometimes topped with shrimp, clams, or calamari (a Florida twist).
- Prosciutto & Arugula Pizza – more authentic Italian.
In South Florida (Deerfield Beach and west Boca Raton Florida ), many restaurants mix authentic Italian trattoria-style menus with Italian-American red-sauce classics and artisan pizzerias using wood-fired ovens.
Would you like me to make you a list of the most popular classic Italian restaurants and pizzerias in South Florida, so you can actually visit them?
Serving Boca Raton since 1985
At Thick & Thin we offer you scrumptious food, refreshing drinks, and fast and friendly service. Our combination of Italian food and pizza has made us renowned by residents and visitors as an outstanding restaurant since 1979! With this website, you can browse our menu, view our current specials, and even order online. We thank you for visiting our website, and we hope to see you soon!