Tony and Ann's

          Tony and Ann's is a bit of a local legend. The original pizza shop was a tiny stand in North Chelmsford that opened in 1953, and it was even featured on the Simpsons. My Dad grew up with it, and when we were kids he would often drive down from NH to pick it up for dinner on Saturday nights. It's a very unique pizza, and I've heard people say you either love it or hate it. The sauce is sweet, the blend of cheese is unique, and the crust is on the thin side but soft. This was my family's favorite pizza place for years, and for a long time I didn't even like other pizza. They used to close in the winter, and each year just before before closing we'd stock up on frozen pizzas to hold us over until spring.

          In 2002 the original Tony and Ann's closed; it was a few years after Tony passed away and Ann was just getting too old to run it on her own. It was a sad day when I found out, I think I might have cried. Then in 2010 Tony and Ann's grandchildren reopened in Dracut, MA. There were lines out the door for a long time after they did, and my dad was definitely one of them! Since 2010 we've celebrated just about every occasion with tony and Ann's, and my dad gives me frozen pizzas every year for Christmas and my birthday. My favorite is the bacon pizza, which is a perfect contrast to the sweet sauce.

          Tony and Ann's is currently closed for the season but reopens 1/9/14! You should definitely check them out!

Nebo

          I used to work next door to the former Nebo, and it was a regular spot for pizza and wine. I recently went in to check out the new location with some friends, and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the menu had expanded in addition to the space.

          We started with the arancini stuffed with mozzarella and porcini mushrooms. I always love arancini and the contrast of the crisp coating coupled with the warm gooey risotto inside. The addition of honey drizzled on the outside made them even better.

          Since I'd tried many of the pizzas at the old location, I decided to do something different and went with one of the pasta dishes (Spaghettini alle vongole) as my main course. Both the clams and pasta were extremely fresh, and the dish was surprisingly light.

          My friends also enjoyed their entrees the Branzino (whole grilled sea bass) and zucchini lasagna. 

          We all enjoyed our meal, and I thought both the space and menu were nicely upgraded from the old location. It's definitely worth checking out!