by Charlotte Mielziner

Created on: February 21, 2009   Last Updated: August 06, 2009

In the heart of Illinois, Springfield has no shortage of classic Italian pizzerias. Chicago may have more fame for their thin crust pizzas with aromatic sauce, but don't underestimate the capital city. The always good Imo's, Bellacino's, Godfather's and Pizza Hut are well represented. But, here are those Springfield neighborhood jewels where the pizza is great and everybody knows your name.

Pizzas began as long ago as when people first started mixed flour with water and baked it under the stones of the fire to use more as a plate. Pizza comes from the Italian word pizzicare, meaning to pluck or pinch, which officially makes it fingerfood. As great dishes evolve over centuries, they adapt to regional tastes and ingredients. From anchovy to zucchinni and thin crust to deep dish, pizza styles abound the world over. Come to think of it, there's really no bad pizza, bad boyfriends, maybe, but no bad pizza.

A truly good pizzeria doesn't just bake cardboard crusts with exactly 4 ounces of bland tomato sauce, 18 slices of unremarkable, equally spaced pepperoni and rubbery cheese that sits like a brick in your stomach, it's an American tradition. Great pizza is gustatorial performance art; an experience never to be quite the same again. The crust is flavorful with the toppings in a lavish freeform .

ANTONIO'S

Antonio's Pizza, located at 217 North Grand Avenue West is perhaps the ideal place to go when you are really famished. No scant toppings here. Their Belly Buster is not for the faint of heart. It comes in medium, large and extra large crust generously lathered with nine toppings and may burst the buttons on your pants. Dainty eaters may need a fork. Antonio's truly understands pizza doesn't call for the whisper of garlic, but the scream. Take that, Chicago.

GABATONI'S

Gabatoni's is arguably the grand master of traditional pizzerias in Springfield. Situated at 300 East Laurel, you can smell the roasted garlic and baking mozzarella a block away. They are famous for their cracker thin crust, with cornmeal and pepper toasted on the bottom, a perfect vehicle to convey homemade sausage and toppings to your mouth. Try the SMOP, sausage, mushroom, onion and pepper pizza or a half and half to satisfy your cravings. Gabby's may be more of a social occasion than a meal. Your chair may have duct tape on the vinyl, but there's laughter in the main dining room as families with elbows on checkered table cloths throw back the pizza, pasta and beef poor boys.

JOE'S ITALIAN

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