Can Gerry’s Ristorante Save the Middle Class?

We all love our Cape Charles eateries, but if you are on a middle class income, trying to feed a family of four or more can be an expensive proposition. The biggest complaint for many families is the lack of affordable options. Gerry’s Ristorante on Route 13 just outside of town may be just the answer many of us have been looking for. For kids who grew up outside New Haven, Gerry’s comes very close to our beloved ‘Apizza’(pronounced ‘ah-beetz’).

The simple truth is that pizza in its most primal form—cheese, tomato, crust—is perfect food. It’s good for vegetarians, even though it contains no vegetables. It’s good for meat eaters, mainly because they don’t really like vegetables but also because pizza is one of the few foods where the absence of meat isn’t missed (Although, most tell me that a little sausage never hurts).

The fundamentals are what we love about Gerry’s—finally, we can get a traditional pie here on the Shore. A traditional pizza, sometimes called plain, is crust, oregano or basil, and tomato sauce with grated cheese sprinkled on.

My pick from Gerry’s is still the Marghertia, which is a plain pie with basil and fresh “mootz” (mozzarella). The crust stands firm. The mozzarella melts exquisitely. The sauce is subtle and delicious and the basil is perfectly fresh.

But don’t stop there, Gerry’s offers something for everyone’s taste.

The Gerry’s Special, a delicious combination of sausage, roni, bacon, peppers, mushrooms and onions is a customer favorite, and the Veggie, a traditional and gorgeously assembled pizza with spinach, olives, onion, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli and tomatoes is a taste delight.

If you are a fan of white pizza, Gerry’s offers a tour de force white, The Ashley prepared with evoo, spinach, caramelized onions, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese and ricotta, all perfectly complemented by Gerry’s crust.

Gerry’s also offers Old Forge Style, which is a square pizza, with a little bit thinner crust. I tried the “The Old Forge”, the plain style with red sauce and mootz—it was brilliant, and enticed me to very much over indulge.

If you have a hankering for stromboli or a calzone, Gerry’s has you covered. I tried the Veggie stromboili with spinach, olives, mushrooms, peppers, broccoli and tomatoes. It’s easy to make a mess out of a stromboli, but Gerry nails it. The dough was crisp on the outside, slightly doughy on the inside, all of the flavors nicely in balance.

If you are in the mood for a sandwich, Gerry has a fine variety of subs and wraps, both hot and cold. I tried the eggplant parm, which was messy but delicious, but other customers have responded with positive reviews for the meatball and cheesesteak– my son loves the traditional “Philly” with steak, onions, and cheese “whiz”.

Located at 22115 Lankford Highway just south of the Hardee’s (Ms. Farlow’s old place), Gerry’s Ristorante is a delightful and affordable alternative to the trendy, touristy fare found in Cape Charles, and for many folks, you can now get a great lunch or dinner for the family and not have to break the bank or drive into town.

Gerry’s Ristorante
22115 Lankford Highway
757-331-1140

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Wayne Creed

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