EATS // RESTAURANT REVIEW Tasty insights and observations
PREMIUM
PIZZA
PIZZAMORÉ Pizza places can be a dime a dozen, but in Mount Dora, one local pizzeria has succeeded in setting itself apart from the rest. With a classic menu offering a variety of fresh dishes and pizza pies, PizzAmoré has been delivering big flavors for the past five years. STORY: SHEMIR WILES PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ
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eigh Love and Jesse Thomas coown this quaint downtown eatery, and both are no strangers to the Mount Dora culinary scene. Love previously owned and operated 5th Avenue Café, an upscale restaurant that featured organic and clean cuisine. Later, Thomas joined 5th Avenue as executive chef. The inspiration for PizzAmoré began with Thomas, who would make personal pizzas for the staff every time he baked bread at 5th Avenue. “It was nothing serious,” he says. “A lot of my early jobs were in pizzerias, and I always liked the work environment.”
With the discovery of Thomas’ pizzamaking skills paired with the employees’ consistent glowing reviews, both Thomas and Love hatched a plan to create a new endeavor that would be a place where people could enjoy a relaxing, familyfriendly environment and good food at reasonable prices. Thus, 5th Avenue was shuttered and PizzAmoré was born. I was excited to see how PizzAmoré stacked up against other pizzerias I have visited over the years. I began with their popular Greek salad. Made with garden-fresh romaine lettuce topped with tomatoes, feta cheese, red onions, cucum-
