Pizza Express

The 280 corridor’s newest pizza and pasta restaurant looks like it may be a national chain moving into a booming area. However, looks can be deceiving.

Pizza Express is the brainchild of 280 residents, Wes and Betsy Emmons, a  husband and wife team. Wes has a background in politics as well as pizza. “Working your way up in the business of politics, you basically work for peanuts,” Wes said. “I worked for a few of the major chains during that time to pay the bills. I was a manager and learned the ins and outs of opening restaurants.”

Betsy, is also a part time professor at Samford in Communication Arts. Her passion for helping others is apparent in the way she treats her customers. On a recent visit, she waited on us even though it was a seat yourself type of restaurant. She also seemed to be multi-tasking and doing about five other jobs at the same time. Such are the duties of opening a new restaurant in a mom and pop arrangement.

Wes said  he has been baking pizzas in a brick oven at home for years. He has been perfecting his recipes, tweaking them to get them just right for his new enterprise. He invested in a special oven at the restaurant that allows him to get the crust just right, light and crisp.

Wes pointed out that they hand toss their dough and make it fresh in the store every day.

Pizza Express’ New York Style pizzas fall in three different categories. They have the classic pizzas which include such standards as  double pepperoni, double cheese. The modern classics include the barbecue chicken pizza and the  Hawaiian. We chose the Hawaiian on a recent visit. The ham and cool pineapple combination was just perfect on a scorching summer day.     The gourmet pizzas include selections such as an arugula pizza and a white margherita. All of the pizzas are made with Wes’s tried and tested recipes.

Of course they also offer a “build your own” selection with a diverse array of toppings to choose from. This will insure that the customers can always find their favorite option.

Pizza Express offers several appetizers. They include bruschetta, fried mushrooms, and wings among others.

There are five pasta selections available in either a half or a full order. These include Lasagna and Fettuccine Alfredo.

There are several salad offerings which can be served as a meal or as a side. Pizza Express has a kid’s menu with small portions and prices for the little ones. For the adults they also serve wine by the glass and beer.

Pizza Express delivers to Inverness, Greystone, Highland Lakes, some Hwy. 119 & Valleydale areas, and west points of Chelsea. Of course they also take pick up orders.

Pizza Express is open every day for lunch and dinner service.  Their hours are:  M-Th 11-10 p.m., Fri & Sat 11-11 p.m., Sun 12-8 p.m.

Pizza Express is in the Arbor Place Shopping Center in the Greystone/Highland Lakes area on Highway 280. They  are near Hanna’s Garden Shop and across the street from Lee Branch Shopping Center.