Slab Town Gets Pizza

Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: 2016/06 - June | Photograph By: Marjorie Christiansen Photography

So there I was with a coterie of friends looking for a night on the town. It was the luck of the draw that I’d been assigned to review Slabtown Pizza in Cashiers.

Slabtown Pizza is made for fun gatherings of buddies. There’s not an ounce of pretension in the place and it boasts an enclosed porch that allows lively conversations to flourish. It was perfect for us, especially since several of us chose to indulge in the carefully constructed beer list. We weren’t rowdy, but at times we were borderline raucous.   

But all of the good chatter and all of the good beer will not conceal a shaky menu, and I refused to be lulled by the good times all around me. Call it the professionalism I bring to my job, or my absolute devotion to you, my reader. Call it my desire not to screw up the choicest job that’s ever fallen into my lap. 

Fortunately for me, my table and ultimately you, Slabtown delivers the pizza. And the calzones. And everything else on the menu. 

Their pizza dough is made fresh daily and hand-tossed when you order. These are guys who are serious about their craft. They don’t make your choices easy, either – choose Sunday Gravy, Red, White, Pesto, Vodka, or Olive Oil as your base sauce. Then choose from the standard pizzeria toppings and more exotic offerings like primo Castelvetrano Olives, or Pepperoncini, or Applewood Smoked Bacon or the Caramelized Onions – how have I missed caramelized onions on pizza? Why didn’t somebody tell me?

Trust me, Slabtown gets pizza.

But the beauty of traveling in a pack means that the entire menu can be explored, assuming everyone is willing to share.

I’m going to turn this review over to a pair of women in our party who opted for something besides pizza. Their words are from the heart and from the palate and unfiltered by me or anyone at Laurel. I’m going to skip a few pages ahead to Donna’s Rant and let Emily and Jessica tell you about their meals. 

Ladies – “The Mozzarella Sticks were awesome and the sauce that went with them was probably the best mozzarella dipping sauce I’ve ever had – pleasantly spiced, but not spicy like hot, spicy like flavorful,” says Emily. “The buffalo chicken calzone was really good – I liked the bread of the calzone and the filling-to-bread ratio was perfect.”  

“What I was impressed by most at STP – the Bread! They do bread right!,” says Jessica. “The Best Cheese Sticks I’ve ever eaten. Why? No grease, the breading is crunchy & paired with a great marinara sauce. A plus – no gagging from mozzarella being too hot
and stringy.

“Pesto Calzone was plump with ricotta, mozzarella, artichoke, cherry tomato and basil pesto. Working to the center from the corner, each bite had more flavor and more to offer! The bread was soft and fluffy and the leftovers kept fresh without getting soggy.

“And the grand finale of tiramisu – you cannot resist if someone in your party orders one! The spongy light bread was nice and airy and the flavor of coffee was subtle – just right!

“Staff was oozing smiles and happy to help – for me this is key to feeling comfortable at a restaurant.” 

Thanks, Ladies! So there you have it, Slabtown Pizza is a wonderful place to meet with friends, backed by a lovingly crafted menu and a relentlessly cheerful staff. We had a marvelous visit and I’m confident you will, too.

Slabtown Pizza is located at 45 Slabtown Road. You can reach them at (828) 743-0020.