700 Historical 441 Highway

Suite A

Cornelia, GA 30351 

As I was driving through a familiar area of the east Georgia mountains, I found myself remembering a tasty little pizza place which I visited a few years ago one cold night.  Memories of good pizza, sports on the t.v., a friendly bartender and your local, everyday customers that were “lets hang out” kind of guys went through my mind.  I remembered that there were pictures of all the local high school football, softball, baseball and any other sport you can name were hanging on the wall.

These memories drove me once again to Johnny’s New York Style Pizza in Cornelia, Georgia. It is a little place with indoor seating for the non-smokers and outdoor seating for those who want to light up. It seems there is full service in and out. It was almost 1 pm when I pulled in amongst the local patrons. Judging by the full parking lot, I may have a wait. Upon walking inside…I realized I didn’t. There is a couple at the bar, a few local business people having a power lunch and a family of a grandmother, a blonde kid and a one legged woman. (I’m not trying to be funny, just stating the facts). Just for the idea of the place, and to people watch, I grab a table near the back of the room. (Always sit near the rear exit in Italian restaurants according to movies) 

Candice or Charlotte, or someone with a name that begins with a C, greets me with a smile and a menu. She offers me a beer, which is one of the draft specials, but since I don’t like beer too much, I got a Diet Coke.  The Diet Coke just so happens to be included with the lunch special! Lunch specials at Johnny’s start at $4.99. My choice was $5.99 for a 2 topping calzone with a drink. Man, remembering the pizza I had last time made me excited to try the calzone.  C said the calzone was made with both mozzarella AND ricotta. The other options I was considering for the lunch special were pizza: 2 slices and a drink for $4.99 or the spaghetti that the one legged woman was eating…it looked good. I decided that I was really craving the calzone and stuck with that. 

About 5 minutes passed and out came my wonderful looking food. I was sad to see that it was a little bit smaller than other calzones I’ve enjoyed elsewhere, but hey, it was on special.  It was heavily, and I mean HEAVILY dusted with grated parmesan cheese. My fillings, which they called toppings, were fresh mushrooms and ham. Both of the toppings/fillings were hard to find due to the overabundance of dough. And I do mean a lot and lot of dough. I know Italians from New York and they would have taken great offense to this excuse for a calzone. It tasted o.k. but certainly did little justice to Italian food and calzone lovers. 

When my waitress C, who was very kind and sweet, came back to ask how things were, I nodded and just let her think the food was good.  I did not respond either way. But I did ask a few questions about the place.  Come to find out, they have been there for a few years. They apparently are part of a small chain that is in the Southeast, this is the only location that I was aware of. Also the owner and inventor of Johnny’s New York Style Pizza is from Georgia. I guess the word ’style’ makes up for it not being authentic Italian. Now, like I said…in the past I ate pizza here that was good, and I plan to go back for the pizza…but definitely not for the calzone. 

To find Johnny’s New York Style Pizza in Cornelia, Georgia, you need to know that it is on US 441 Business. When you are in Cornelia heading north towards Demorest (Piedmont College). Johnny’s is on the right before you get to the US 441 bypass.  If you do go, I hope you have the same experience I did on my first visit where I had the pizza, not this one where I had the calzone.

Review by Pie, email:  pie@piesplate.com