Day Trips

575º Pizzeria in Amarillo is an enigma wrapped in a riddle in a land of steak houses. Why shouldn't the good folks on the High Plains have gourmet pizza? But who knew they could do it so well?

We were on a two-week gastronomical tour of the West when we stopped in Amarillo for our last night on the road.

My wife and I found the most highly recommended pizzeria in the city hidden in a nondescript shopping mall only a couple of blocks off I-40. The clues to its location were a small sign and the large number of cars in the parking lot. We arrived just before sunset, after the supper rush. Still, the place was packed.

From the diversity of the menu, I knew we had found a gem. I had a small pizza with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, and goat cheese. I could have added chicken or had the pie without tomato sauce. The gluten-free crust of my wife's pizza actually tasted like a pizza crust. Add to the great food a well-thought-out selection of brews and wine.

My only complaint was that the Eighties music was way too loud – a criticism I had forgotten the next day when I finished the pie for lunch.

575º Pizzeria is at 2803 Civic Circle, off of South Georgia Street. To place a carry-out order, call 806/331-3627. Sorry, no delivery.

1,106th in a series. Collect them all. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips," is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.