Dining Out Gulf Coast: Joe Mama's Wood Fire Pizza, Port St. Joe, FL

Y'all know when you're at the beach, pizza joints are a dime a dozen. Joe Mama's Wood Fire Pizza is NOT your typical beachside pizza joint. In fact, it was chosen as one of America's 100 can't miss Pizzarias. The hardwood fire oven was made in the hills of Tuscany.  The dough is made fresh daily and goes through a 48-hour fermentation process.  The tomatoes in the sauce? Imported Italian San Marzano tomatoes.  

We arrived around 6:30 and had a wait for a table of about 15 minutes. We used that time to attempt to choose which pizza we were in the mood for that night.

The menu includes salads, grilled artichokes, speck and roasted peppers. There's also a full bar. I celebrated the night of excellent pizza by ordering an individual bottle of Prosecco.

Our server suggested we order the wood fire oven baked chicken wings. Yes, please! Here's the menu description: Wings with garlic, parmesan, scallions and caramelized onions with blue cheese dressing. $10.00

A slight smoky flavor permeated these tender and juicy wings. All the other ingredients were the proverbial icing on the cake so to speak.  Make sure you get an order of these when you go.  Notice I said "when you go," not "if you go."  Okay, duly noted.

We also ordered a pan of freshly baked bread HOT from the oven. I could have stopped right there. I should have stopped right there.  Thankfully, my tummy overrode my brain so I could enjoy one of the best pizzas of my life.

The wood fire oven reaches a temperature of 800 degrees F. and can bake a pizza in minutes. Look at these pictures with the pizzas baking in that superheat.

Now on to the main event:  PIZZA! The pizzas are 12 inches and feed 1- 2 people. They are topped with crushed organic tomatoes and mozzarella/pecorino romano cheeses.

The menu lists a number of specialty pizzas or you can build your own which is what we did.

Crushed tomatoes, mozzarella/pecorino romano cheeses, Italian sausage, bell peppers, and LOTS of fresh basil.  It was as delicious as it was beautiful.

We shared a dessert: Pot of Chocolate which consisted of chilled Belgian chocolate custard with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. This was the perfect ending to this delightful meal.

Service was prompt and helpful. The decor was upscale but comfortable. You are at the beach after all.  The food was served quickly and very hot! I'd give Joe Mama's 5 forks with no hesitation!