In This Issue

Sophie T's - Much More Than a Pizzaria

In their handy mid-island location for ten years, Sophie T’s is a familiar name to anyone who’s ever ordered pizza on Nantucket.  And no wonder -- they consistently serve the island’s best.  Their large pizza is the expected 8-slice 18-inch with generous toppings.  Their traditional crust has just the right amount of  crispness along the edge yet is chewy and pliant enough to fold.  Their flatbread crust is thin without being brittle or cracker-like. And their new gluten-free pizza crust, made with rice flour and a bit crisper than the crust made with flour, is perfect for sensitive stomachs.

And, yes, Dave can toss the pizzas!

Along with very well-done traditional pizzas, they also offer Sophie’s Choices that include their famous Greek Pizza, Five Cheese Pizza that is a tep above the traditional quatro formaggio, a Vegetarian Pizza laden with fresh veggies, and the Class-Ack’d Pizza topped with (what else?) scallops and bacon.  Rob Noll’s homemade red sauce has just the right balance of sweetness and tang with hints of smokiness.

Sophie T’s pizzas are great hot and bubbly, right out of the big ovens, as well as later on, at room temperature as the quickest family member snags that one last slice.

Not only is Sophie T’s a superb pizzeria, it’s also a very good restaurant — one where you can meet friends or take the family, have a great meal (“feast” may be the more appropriate term), and not empty your wallet.  And it’s a happy place.  There’s often a table full of friends (young or mature) around the big table in the far corner enjoying pizzas, subs, salad, and wings.

The ambiance is casual and comfortable.  Tables in the spacious dining room are adorned out with red-checked tablecloths, candles, and fresh flowers.  Photos of local kids’ sports teams (many including Sophie, now in the 6th grade) adorn the walls, punctuated by humorous signs and Red Sox paraphernalia.

Service is friendly and efficient, making this a great place to come for your lunch break, and the kitchen will cater to special needs.  Sophie T’s doesn’t take reservations, but there’s plenty of room and turnover is quick.  Call ahead and there’s no wait.

The restaurant opens every day at 11:30 am and the menu is served continuously, so if you don’t stop for lunch till 3 or so, you can still get a hearty meal and a comfortable place to enjoy it.

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	We adore their Margherita Pizza — it has the perfect proportion of the vibrant of tomato sauce combining deliciously with the basil and rounds of fresh mozzarella.  Also very good is the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, which we like on their flatbread crust.  Topped with good size pieces of chicken, Rob’s special BBQ sauce and a few dashes of hot sauce, this pizza has a kick.  A cold beer from their modest selection is just the ticket with this pie.  In keeping with the buffalo chicken theme, this pizza has blue cheese crumbles as well as mozzarella, but just enough to add some tang without being overpowering.
	Sophie T’s offers a Pasta Special every day at lunchtime.  The special changes daily and comes in huge portions!  We tried a bowl filled with penne pasta and a hearty sauce of marinara, two-bite slices of sweet Italian sausage, peppers, onions, fresh basil, and parmesan cheese.  Buttery and toasty garlic bread is served alongside.  Pair the pasta special with a salad, and all but the heartiest appetites will have some for lunch the next day.
Another terrific lunchtime treat is freshly made Stromboli for just $5.50.  These stuffed-to-bursting pizzas change daily—one of the most popular has been their Bacon-Cheeseburger-Macaroni Stromboli.
	Throughout the day and evening, pizza is also available by the slice—at least four different choices that always include Cheese, Pepperoni, and two others with a variety of toppings from their 30 different.  Choose the slices you want, and they’ll pop them back in the pizza oven til they’re hot and lusciously melty.
	Soups are homemade every day and are delicious and deliciously different (you rarely find clam chowder here).  Kale (a New England classic) is very popular, as are Split Pea with ham, Italian Wedding Soup, Pork with White Beans, and Chili.  We tried their Sausage Stew.  The chunky mix of andouille and sweet Italian sausage, black-eyed peas, and potato in a hearty tomato broth was ideal on a cool evening.  The sausage was tender, the potato just right, and the black-eyed peas firm and flavorful—clearly it was freshly made.
	Salads at Sophie T’s are prepared to order and big enough for two.  We can’t offer enough praise for the Caprese Salad.  Nestled into a mix of fresh greens and fresh basil, the thick slices of ripe, red tomato alternated with satiny mozzarella are drizzled with puckery balsamic glaze and homemade pesto.  We can’t wait to have it again, especially when the local tomatoes are in their full glory.
	Greek Salad is another tasty choice.  The mixed greens are tossed with chunks of tomato, slices of kalamata olives, red onion, and a bright balsamic vinaigrette.  Piled on top is crumbled feta cheese.
	Subs are another Sophie T’s specialty.  They hit it out of the ballpark with their Italian Sub, full of the right kind of meats, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, hot peppers, and pickle.  If you’re pining for those burgers from across the pond, a Sophie T’s Cheeseburger Sub is just the ticket.  Laid acrosse a toasted sub roll, the burger is topped with onion, tomato, lettuce, pickle, American cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, and hot peppers.
	The Godfather is the perfect choice if you love both meatball subs and sausage subs.  Both meats are combined in a tasty marinara with melted provolone.
	Lighter yet still hugely satisfying is their Thai Veggie Wrap.  They’ve got to use the large wraps to fold it around the generous filling of romaine, julienne carrot, red onion, crisp cucumber, and juicy tomato in a luscious peanut sauce.  You can order this sandwich vegetarian or add chicken.
	We had reached our limits, but Kelly Noll brought us two of Sophie T’s Pizza desserts: a sweet Turtle Cheesecake with caramel sauce, nuts, and whipped cream . . .
	. . . and a warm and fantastically chocolately Chocolate Decadence, topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.  Somehow, we managed to find the room to finish every bite.

Sophie T’s Pizza

508-325-6265
7 Daves Street in Bayberry Court, Nantucket Commons
Full menu served daily
Mon.-Sat. from 11:30 am; Sun. from noon
restaurant seating and full menu offered for takeout
Large pizza (18”) from $16.75; Slices from $3.75
beer & wine  •  no credit or debit cards
families welcome  •  plenty of parking