Whenever it’s Longhorn game day in Austin, Texas, my husband and I have a tradition. Pick up some Craig O’s, turn on the TV, eat, watch, and relax. I’ve been hooked on their pizza for a few years now, and I’ve recently discovered the rest of their menu is just as tasty.
East Coast-Style Thin-Crust Pizza
The thin-crust pizza at Craig O’s is the best East Coast-style pizza in Austin. It’s delicious kept simple as a cheese pizza ($9.99 for a large), or play around with the numerous traditional and gourmet toppings Craig O’s offers.
Crowd-Pleasing Appetizers
If you’re feeding more than a few people, consider loading up on some Craig O’s appetizers. The garlic bread ($2.99) will transport you to New York City, and the buffalo wings ($8.99) are a true upstate NY delight. Pepperoni rolls ($6.49) are another great choice to nosh on during the game.
Hearty Pasta Dishes
While pizza and buffalo wings are expected football takeout fare, you can surprise your guests by serving a couple pasta dishes from Craig O’s family-style. The baked spinach ziti ($10.49) is packed with vegetarian goodness but hearty enough to satisfy meat eaters. The meat or veggie lasagna are perfect for colder game nights (both at $10.49 each), and everyone will want a bite of the eggplant parmesan ($11.99).
Healthy Salads
Unlike most pizza and pasta places, Craig O’s has some fantastic lighter options. Order up a couple salads to round out your meal. Antipasto is an unexpected treat for game day, and it’s both healthy and filling. Craig O’s offers four varieties — chicken, turkey, Italian, and vegetarian — each for $8.99. The house salad goes above and beyond typical pizza joint house salads with fresh greens. Try a large for $7.49 (big enough to serve family-style) with homemade Italian dressing.
New York Subs
Craig O’s rounds out its East Coast-inspired menu with old-school subs. The meatball sub and Italian sausage are ideal for a brisk game day. The Sicilian chicken is perfectly spiced with melted mozzarella. Craig O’s even has a couple options for vegetarians, serving an eggplant parmesan sub that’s to die for and their famous veggie sub, packed with fresh vegetables. All subs are $6.99, and I recommend getting a few to cut up and share.
Decadent Desserts
After eating all that great grub, dessert may seem like overkill. I promise that it’s not, especially once the fourth-quarter munchies roll around. Craig O’s stays close to its East Coast roots in its dessert menu, and one bite will make you think you’re in Little Italy. The cheesecake ($4.99) is creamy, authentic, and delicious. The tiramisu ($4.99) is spot on and will make your football gathering very memorable. Cannoli ($3.99) is an East Coast must, and Craig O’s doesn’t let you down with this Italian dessert,either.
Five Austin Locations
Craig O’s is Austin-based and has five locations throughout the area for convenient takeout. Craig O’s is typically open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, so there’s plenty of time to order before, during, and after the game. They even offer delivery to a lot of the Austin area. Check the Craig O’s website to find the location and hours closest to you.