When I was standing in the 1851 dining hall and saw the name of FSU’s new restaurant, I did a double take and then laughed to myself. Truly, is it someone named Joe’s mother’s pizza, or is it a fantastically humorous way to professionally sneak in a “your mama” joke into a business name? Whether it’s the former or the latter, one thing is for certain: Joe Mama’s Pizza Kitchen is finally open for business in Florida State University’s iconic 1851 dining location.
At the beginning of the fall semester, Joe Mama’s began with a soft launch which originally was supposed to feature half the menu. However, the staff team quickly opened the full menu to the student body and had their grand opening celebration on Sept. 10, 2023. The restaurant itself is simply gorgeous. I didn’t feel like I was in the basement of Azalea Hall, but rather a small restaurant in a downtown area. Walking in, I was amazed that there was a real woodfired oven. I mean, I have only seen those at really fancy kitchens. I had no idea that I had access to such luxuries through my Dining Dollars.
When I went to order, I was impressed: the menu was incredible. It contained classics like a cheese pizza and an ooey gooey calzone, but also some more upscale and unique pizzas that feature truffle oil, prosciutto, and lemon-dressed arugula. I ordered the “Due,” which Joe Mama’s describes as pie with crushed tomato sauce, sweet Italian fennel sausage, roasted peppers, and caramelized onions… yum. Like seriously, that sounds upscale. Take that, Suwannee Room.
The pizza came out piping hot, and I did burn my mouth. You’re probably thinking yeah Maggie… the whole premise is fresh woodfired pizza. Hey, lesson learned! Next time, I know to let it cool for a solid ten minutes. But hear me out: the moment I opened the pizza box, the look of that oven-fresh pizza captivated me. I was in awe. The slightly charred crust and the smell of aromatic peppers were irresistible. You would take a bite immediately too.
I devoured the slices I could and still had leftovers. To have leftovers of such a high-quality meal for $10 is a bargain if I’ve ever heard one. My friends who accompanied me enjoyed their Roast Porchetta Au Jus sandwich and Uno pizza, which is a classic cheese pie. They said their food was good, and I would have to agree with them. The location is convenient, the food is freshly prepared, and it’s tasty — what more can I ask for?
Despite the immaculate food, I have to say the hospitality of the staff truly made my night. The team of four was so kind to me and had a sensational sense of humor. One of the workers is even a current student at FSU and commented that he is successful at balancing his schoolwork and work life. That goes to show you can master your studies and make that dough (literally).
The original Joe Mama’s Pizza Kitchen is in Port Saint Joe, Florida. One of its previous employees is now the manager at the FSU location, and he is currently working with the team to build cooperative skills to make the prep kitchen run smoothly. The employees recommend the Due pizza, which just so happens to be the pizza I had (I have good taste), and the Smoked Pastrami sandwich. Happy eating!
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