This Funky Pizza Restaurant in Texas Spins Up Outrageous Summer Bites

“Folks, this’ll be hot,” murmurs your server, as a round tray, steaming, slides onto the rack in front of you. Pizza …

If you accidentally muttered ‘pizza’ out loud and your kids heard you — now cheering wildly — there’s no going back. Pizza is very much part of this summer. Pool days, beach trips, sunscreen-dotted noses, ice cream impossibly stacked atop cones.

Pizza’s just part of that equation, isn’t it? Summer’s full of activities, camps, vacations, and easy meals for hungry travelers, pool warriors, and sandcastle builders.

Wishing for a little creativity, though? A twist on tried-and-true pizzas? Check out Old School Pizza Tavern in Arlington, Texas.

Your New Hangout Spot

Old School Pizza Tavern is a pizza restaurant that’ll cost you around $10-20.

It’s known for creative pies.

They have indoor and outdoor seating, a life-saver on a good-weather day or night during a Texas summer.

It’s a tiny building, so don’t expect ample elbow room. They have a private dining room, if you’d like to host a birthday party or a special anniversary celebration.

If you’re going out with coworkers, they have happy hour food and cocktails.

Their hours are from 11 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. every day, and happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Hours vary, so check ahead.

Friday and Saturday nights are hopping, and even Thursday night has a sizable crowd.

The parking lot is small, and some of the spaces are in the grass. Go at an off-peak time to secure a parking spot.

The outdoor seating area includes multiple benches, picnic-table style, that are great for kids, families, or groups of friends. They’re under a flat roof that has lantern lights at night.

Cut it, or merge into the previous sentence: “…lantern string lights that cast a soft glow after dark.

The picnic tables outside are all painted in bright, cheerful colors.

Kids will love making a tradition out of snagging a specific table, such as a yellow table or a blue table. If there are open tables, let them pick their favorite color.

Who knows? That table could end up being the table your group or family always goes to for nights out this summer, or every summer in the decade to come.

The floor’s not meant to be pristine outside. It’s for eating as you would on a picnic.

So, don’t worry too much about neatly eating your pizza. Stuff some napkins nearby, and keep an eye on any messy munchers.

The outdoor seating section is right next to the parking lot, so it’s easy access to get to and from your car. At sunset, it’s lovely to watch the light change over the houses in the neighborhood across from the pizza restaurant.

Old School Pizza Tavern has a huge fan they put outside for when the evening or day gets hot. It’ll do at least part of the work of keeping you cool. Be sure you have some water!

They identify as being veteran-owned, and they’re LGBTQ+ friendly.

As for ordering options, you can choose dine-in, curbside pickup, or no-contact delivery. Pick whichever option suits your schedule best.

Your Order’s Up

Get 10% off your order if you place it online. Watch for deals like this one both online and in the store. They’re good about offering discounts for pizza customers.

Cut it and go straight into the menu description.

Build your own pizza, or get a plain cheese pizza, for about $12. It’s a best seller in their online ordering portal.

There’s a myriad of specialty pizza offerings (most are about $13 each). The best sellers online are the Alfredo Chicken Pizza, the Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza, the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, and the Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch Pizza.

The Alfredo Chicken Pizza keeps it classic — just rich alfredo sauce and tender chicken. If you’re feeling brave, try the Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza that has a red sauce mixed with mustard, along with American cheese, bacon, beef, onions, and tomatoes.

With the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, choose either hot or mild buffalo sauce and chicken. Have a drink nearby!

The Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch Pizza is shortened to the CBR Pizza on the menu. It has a ranch dressing base and includes chicken and bacon. If you love to add ranch to almost anything, this one’s for you.

Don’t overlook the Barbecue Chicken Pizza — smoky barbecue sauce over chicken makes for a sweet, satisfying bite.

Where are my pineapple fans at? There’s a Hawaiian Pizza, with red sauce, bacon, and pineapple.

One fun option is the Maverick Supreme Pizza. This one has red sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage, and bacon. Or if you love meatballs, there’s a Meatball Pizza (beef meatballs).

I love that they have a Taco Pizza. Tacos should be pizzas, too, right?

If this one’s calling your name, answer. It’s got red sauce mixed with taco sauce, beef, onions, jalapenos, taco spices, lettuce, and tomatoes.

I’ll admit that’s a lot to put on a pizza, but it’s worth a shot.

Another specialty pizza is the Pesto Chicken Pizza. If you’re a fan of pesto sauce, you’ll enjoy this mix of pesto sauce, chicken, spinach, diced tomatoes, and of course, garlic.

If you have a nut allergy, don’t get the Pesto Chicken. The pesto sauce contains pine nuts, so be careful. Ask about cross-contamination if your allergy (or that of someone in your party) is severe.

I also look for a Mediterranean Pizza. This one comes with garlic butter (yum!), an olive oil base, spinach, artichokes, and onions.

Any kids who are carnivores? They’ll likely partake with you in this feast: the Carnivore Pizza.

It’s a little more expensive, at almost $20. But it’s packed with pepperoni, bacon, Italian sausage, and beef, with a red sauce.

If you or someone in your group is vegetarian, there’s a Vegetarian Pizza. This one comes with a red sauce, black olives, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and red and green bell peppers.

If all of these pizzas are making you hungry, the tavern offers a few appetizers to tide you over. These are their Bone-In Wings ($13), served with a side of ranch or blue cheese, or cheese bread ($8) or a basket of chips ($2).

I’m partial to cheese bread, but wings are a favorite for sharing at your table.

Need something lighter? Balance out the pizza with one of their salads.

Salads range from $6-10 at Old School Pizza Tavern. Add chicken to any of their salad choices, if you’d like to bump up your protein for the day.

You’ve got your classic Caesar Salad, with romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan cheese, black pepper, croutons, and a Caesar dressing. 

There’s also a Garden Salad, with romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, red onions, and mixed cheese. Or try something new with their Harvest Salad. This one involves spinach, apples, cranberries, pecans, and cheese crumbles.

Note that the ingredients of the Harvest Salad are seasonal, so ask what they’ve got that day.

All subs come with Lays potato chips (the best kind!).

There aren’t a lot of options for subs (all $11), but if you know what you want, it’s a quick choice.

The tavern has a Meatball Sub, with meatballs, provolone cheese, and marinara sauce. They also have a Chicken Bacon Ranch Sub that’s full of diced chicken, bacon, provolone cheese, ranch dressing, lettuce, and tomatoes.

The third sub option is an Italian Sub. You can order this one hot or cold. It comes with salami, ham, pepperoni, and provolone cheese.

The kids menu is limited, but it covers the essentials. Kids can get either a cheese or pepperoni pizza. They’re both $6.

Drinks are $3, which isn’t cheap but a must-have as you eat your meal. They offer sodas and sweet and unsweet tea.

If you’re worried about your budget for this summer, let’s take a load off your mind.

There’s a daily lunch special that can save you a few dollars!

It’s only available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. Set your alarm to hit this time window! The special is for a two-topping personal pizza with a soda or tea. At just $12, it’s one of the better deals in Arlington.

If you’re looking for a hangout spot this summer, Old School Pizza Tavern has a full bar and craft beers.

They’re constantly experimenting with new combinations, so the menu is always worth a second look.

For example, they recently had a Cajun Bayou Pizza. It was inspired by Mardi Gras with Cajun sausage, shrimp, crawfish, and a spicy cream sauce.

They like to center these seasonal pizzas around holidays, such as St. Patrick’s Day or Mardi Gras.

Ordering takeout is a little tricky if it’s during a busy period. Even if you have a time that it’s supposed to be ready, give the workers some grace as you wait for your food order.

Where’s this pizza place located? Type Old School Pizza Tavern Arlington into your Maps app.

Where: Old School Pizza Tavern, 603 West Abram Street, Arlington, Texas 76010

The vibe is laid-back. It’s more like a community backyard barbecue, with picnic tables, laughter, and string lights.

Some people describe Old School Pizza Tavern as the “little secret pizza spot.”

Let it be yours, too.

Find them online at oldschoolpizzataverntx.com and pull up directions on Google Maps before you head out — because the little secret pizza spot deserves a spot on your summer list.