One of my favorite lunch spots in the whole county is Vitolli's Pizzeria and Italian Eatery, tucked away in a small shopping center off of Highway 59 in Robertsdale.

Vitolli's offers huge slices of pizza with lots of topping choices, manicotti, spaghetti and more Italian staples. And the prices are incredibly affordable, especially if you order the daily $7.50 lunch special, which includes a generous portion of the featured menu item along with breadsticks, a drink and tax. My favorite is Tuesday — two giant slices of pizza with whatever toppings you'd like, even the gourmet ones!

My friend and coworker Ray Dougherty, Gulf Coast Newspapers' digital media director, loves Vitolli's more than anyone I know. A couple of coworkers and I met him there for lunch the other day, and we got there first and ordered him a tea. When he arrived, our waitress said, “Oh, I didn't know it was you they were waiting on — I'll fix your drink how you like it (in a paper cup with lid so he can take a free refill to go).”

I can't sum up Vitolli's any better than Ray — “It's just consistently good food,” he said. “Their marinara sauce is homemade and the real deal, and their pizza is as good as I’ve found in this part of the world. So with that super lunch special, I’d eat there even if they didn’t have my iced tea and menu at my seat before I can even get in the door.”

Restaurant review

NAME: Vitolli's Pizzeria and Italian Eatery

LOCATION: 21862 Highway 59 (the shopping center behind McDonald's), Robertsdale

SPECIALTY: Casual Italian, pizza, delicious house-made salad dressing

CONTACT: 251-947-9999

HOURS: Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; closed Sunday