Ozella's Takes Close Second in Pizza Quest

Once again, I begin this week's Culinary Challenge by saying thank you to readers who send me out into O’Fallon with some sort of direction. With your recommendation, this week I ended up at . With origins begining in North County from the late '50s, I ended up at their new location in O'Fallon  at 468 Highway P.

I headed out to Ozella’s for a later dinner this week, and have to admit that that is about the farthest down Highway M I have ever traveled, but after a quick turn onto Highway P,  you’re right there. I arrived around 6 p.m. and there was plenty of seating available. My dinner guest and I brought the total customers in the restaurant up to eight. 

The menu had your standard appetizers, including toasted raviolis, cannelloni bites, garlic bread, pasta dishes, sandwiches, soups and salads.  There are two sizes of pizza to choose from, 12 inches or 14. My dinner partner and I opted for a 14 inch Ozella’s Supreme with  pepperoni, sausage, bacon, mushroom and onion. Of course, I added my standard order of toasted raviolis and a Dr. Pepper (can you say rut?). Any suggestions for other appetizers this week?

Our toasted raviolis arrived and I have to admit, I have always said my grandmother’s spaghetti sauce as the best I have ever had, but this was a very close second! I wish I would have stopped by this place on my spaghetti quest, but I needed to at least make a note to you all that the meat sauce at Ozella’s is phenomenal. Our pizza came out shortly thereafter, and we dug in.

The pizza was covered with fresh toppings, all tied together with provel cheese on top of a crisp thin crust. Again, with a pizza packed with this much meat, cheese and sauce, you fill up quickly, so I had to call it quits after four pieces, which was fine by me, because I got to take the rest home. Overall the pizza was good, but didn't stand out to me. I would compare it to Imo’s, except not as greasy. 

Looking forward in our pizza quest, the number one ranking has not yet been overturned.   still leads the way as number one contender for best pizza in O'Fallon, but Ozella’s is a close second place. That leaves and fighting down at the bottom. So what do you think? Do you agree? Should I have tried something different? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. Until then, I’ll be working on finishing off my Ozella’s Supreme in the next day or so.