Not only does Terra & Acqua offer authentic Italian cuisine, Anastasia Island’s hidden gem offers some of the finest pizza this side of the Mississippi.
Owned and operated by Simone Parisi, the menu touts a potpourri of handmade classic Italian lunch and dinner foods that include homemade pasta, locally sourced seafood and meats, plus wood-fired oven pizzas made the old-fashioned Italian way.
In an earlier interview with the St. Augustine Record, Parisi said that to cook the fresh coastal fare of his Tuscan homeland with the guests and tourists of America’s oldest city was a dream come true. Nothing on the menu — including the pizza — resembles the American concept of Italian, heavy dishes “loaded with sauces and toppings.”
Parisi believes in food that is light and flavorful.
“We cook fresh seafood with light sauces made with pure, pressed olive oil and our pizzas are made with a fresh tomato base and fresh seasonal vegetables,” he said. “Our secret for good food – even the classics – is all about elevating simple ingredients.”
Known around town for his pizza, menu options include a Margherita made with tomato, basil and mozzarella so fresh that it melts in your mouth. Parisi’s 4 Formaggi is just that, four cheeses (Fontino, Ricotta, Mozzarella and Parmigiano) delicately cooked with a perfectly baked crust. The Pepperoni needs no explanation, the Prosciutto Rucola is a classic mix of Italian flavors, and the Pizza Salad is void of cheese. The Maialona balances the menu options with meats (prosciutto pepperoni, sausage and sopprassata), and the Vegetarian is piled with perfectly cooked asparagus, zucchini, artichokes and peppers.
Terra & Acqua also offers a gluten free crust and menu options to make your own.
The pizzas make wonderful single or family meals as well as a shared side dish served as an appetizer or with meals.
Parisi said that what began as time spent in the kitchen with grandma and grandpa in his native city of Florence, Italy, has now become his lifelong career. Having never been attended culinary school, “I researched, practiced and surrounded myself with cooks better than myself.” The pompiere — an Italian fireman — cooked while the other firemen “worked on the engines” between fires. And yes, pizza was a favorite.
Parisi moved to America and opened his first restaurant in Denver before landing in Northeast Florida.
Terra & Acqua’s full bar offers handcrafted and classic cocktails, along with a rotating selection of seasonal draft beers. Customers can also bring their own wine for a corkage fee.
Open space seating includes multiple rooms, a private dining area accommodating 40 guests, bar seating and an outdoor, dog-friendly patio.
Terra & Acqua is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9:30 p.m. To inquire about hosting a private event, call 904-429-9647.
For more information, go to https://terraacquarestaurant.com.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Augustine’s best pizza? Here’s why this hidden gem stands out
Reporting by Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record / St. Augustine Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record | USA TODAY Network
