Oh, DiCarlo's, dear friend, we meet again.

I've been to each DiCarlo's location in West Virginia - whether they are independent, franchised or family-run. This Weirton one slipped through the cracks because it is called "Mario DiCarlo's."

Mario DiCarlo's Pizza serves delicious, top-quality pizza to the Weirton, WV area. As a family-owned and -operated restaurant established by Mario DiCarlo in 1952, we strive to give you a pizza experience you will never forget.

Located on Three Springs Drive, Mario DiCarlo's tends to operate in the same fashion as the other DiCarlo's locations: minimal options, straightforward prices. Their menu consists of white pizza, drinks, and toppings that you can put on your square pizza. And, you can easily find out how much each slice costs based on how many toppings you want right on the chart to the right of the menu. They do seem to sell fresh bread, though, which is new.

So, I ordered just two pieces, and a few minutes later, I approached the counter, handed over my $2 and received my folded-over box rubberbanded with edible gold inside.

And if you're not familiar with my other DiCarlo's posts, let me bring you up to speed. DiCarlo's is an old-school pizza joint found up and down the Ohio Valley. I looked forward to the once a month or every other month when we had the money to splurge on this treat growing up. The surly, business-forward attitude is comforting to me - pizza is serious business, y'all.

Mario DiCarlo's fits the bill. The pizza has some minute differences from some of the other locations that maybe only a DiCarlo's connoisseur (ahem, me) would notice. It's a nice crisp crust that requires a bite with a slightly tangy sweet sauce that is baked hot ... and then fresh, thin shreds of mozzarella-provolone are placed atop so that it delicately melts overtop. Overall, it is a very solid square of pizza - one of the best in the city, easily.



I think the sauce is a little more mild, and the cheese is a bit more stringy than the other locations. But, just as good? Absolutely. This pizza is the stuff that dreams - my dreams - are made of, and I put it up against any other kind of pizza. Unless, of course, it's the Wellsburg DiCarlo's.

Grade: A