Pitt-Penn State. Pitt-West Virginia. Pittsburgh-Philadelphia.These are just a few of the rivalries that get many Pitt students worked up and bent out of shape. However, the rivalry that might lead to more arguments on the streets of Oakland on any given day (particularly weekends after say 11 pm) is Sorrento’s-Antoon’s. Every Pitt student knows that Penn State and West Virginia are inferior to our incredible institution of higher learning (do they have Cathy? I think not). The Pittsburgh-Philadelphia thing is put on the back burner as students from across the state put aside their differences and come together on the sketchy streets of South O singing Sweet Caroline at the top of their lungs. Sorrento’s-Antoon’s, though, is where true conflicts emerge.
I have an important confession to make. I have not had Antoon’s for a very long time. This post is not intended to contribute to the feud that defines late night pizza on Atwood Street. My only goal is to talk about how I feel about Sorrento’s because anything else would be disingenuous.
Sorrento’s Pizza Roma is one of the Oakland landmarks that generations of Pitt students have made pilgrimages to, searching for greasy pizza to cure the headaches that come with long weekend nights of studying or in need of a cheap bite to eat. Located near the corner of Sennott and Atwood Streets, Sorrento’s has been serving up pizzas, calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers and more for over forty years.
Until my girlfriend and I started dating I was a very rare customer (though frequently had the pizza at various events). That quickly changed, with Sorrento’s now being our number one destination for pizza in Oakland. The $6.50 large plain pizza late night special, served after 7 pm, is one of the best deals around (I know Antoon’s has a $6 large, but see my confession above).
Sorrento’s pizza is, like any relatively cheap college pizza, by no means gourmet. However,it genuinely tastes good. The crust has a slightly sweet flavor that balances the tangy sauce and melty cheese nicely. Orders are always filled quickly. And most importantly, did I mention that it is $6.50 for a large?
The wood paneled interior of the shop gives Sorrento’s a run down 1970’s vibe that fits its reputation as a late-night college student mecca where half the customers probably do not know what day it is. The chalkboard menu in front of the kitchen fits perfectly with the overall ambiance. There is no glamour, but there is affordable good pizza. This is the most important thing any student should be looking for.Getting pizza at Sorrento’s Pizza Roma is a tradition that is part of the Pitt experience. Hopefully the student body can move past the Sorrento’s-Antoon’s rivalry and appreciate what both represent: greasy cheap pizza available long into the Oakland night.
