Bob Pest

Tommy’s Famous . . . a pizzeria has been a fixture in the Ozark Gateway region for nearly two decades.  The family-run establishment, just off the courthouse square in Mountain View, has earned national acclaim for its distinctive pizzas, christened as “fabulous” by Southern Living magazine.  But pizza is only part of the story; both National Geographic Traveler and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel heaped high praise on the ribs and Hickory Smoked Pit Barbecue. Closer to home, Tommy’s has been a regular on the Arkansas Times Readers Choice Awards list since 1996—for both pizza and barbecue.

The accolades are the well-deserved result of a commitment to freshness, quality ingredients, and consistency.  Tommy’s uses local produce when available, including incomparable Stone County shiitake mushrooms.  Pizza dough, both regular and whole wheat, is made fresh daily.  Likewise with the ribs and the barbecue.  The take-out menu even warns that the barbecue is cooked “to sell out every day. When it’s gone . . . it’s gone.” Ordering ribs in advance is also recommended for the same reason.

Tommy’s pizzas and calzones dwarf the chain pizza offerings.  Featured pizzas include the House Special (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers), the Veggie (zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, red onion, and green olives), the Fatboy (pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, and green and black olives), and the Tommy Q (barbecue).  But the huge variety of gourmet toppings invites the hungry visitor to engage in a little creativity, choosing from a list that includes anchovies, pineapple, pesto, Canadian Bacon, jalapeno peppers, and roasted garlic.  The pesto is especially delicious and can be enjoyed as the base or as a topping. My own favorite creation is spinach, walnuts, and shiitake mushrooms on a wheat crust, but a pesto base, wheat crust with shiitakes and Canadian Bacon is a close second.

Family patriarch and raconteur Tommy Miller pays tribute to his South Memphis roots with his Memphis Style Barbecue, served with the slaw on top of the meat. Sandwiches and ribs are accompanied by Hickory Smoked beans and corn muffins. The beans are loaded with onion, green pepper, and sizable chunks of pork.  The slaw is finely chopped and perfectly seasoned, just tart enough to balance the succulent pulled pork. The signature Tommy Q pizza caters to the adventurous, the really hungry, and the folks who just can’t decide between barbecue and pizza.

Dessert might seem like overkill after working your way through a Fat Boy or a slab of ribs.  But Tommy’s hard to resist offerings include Chocolate Mousse Cake, New York Style Cheesecake, Caramel Cheesecake, and an incomparable Tiramisu. And if your eyes are bigger than your stomach, there’s always the “take home” box.

Although Mountain View is “dry,” Tommy’s manages to achieve the warm, friendly, slightly wacky atmosphere of a neighborhood tavern, complete with its own cast of eccentric regulars and an impressive selection of non-alcoholic brews.  Locals welcome visitors from “off,” as they say in Mountain View, and are always eager to share the local lore.  Conversations range from sports and music to politics and religion. Tommy never met a stranger and is usually engaged in several conversations at once as he orchestrates the flow of people, food, and fun.  In fact, noted travel writer Thomas Swick aptly referred to him as the “Ozark Mountain Maestro.”  Tommy’s wife Terri, son Sean, and daughter Tamara are equally congenial and generous of spirit.  The family’s grace and enthusiasm must also be contagious, as the rest of the staff share their “whistle while you work” approach.

Family owned and operated establishments like Tommy’s are the glue that holds small rural communities together.  It’s hard to imagine Tommy’s anyplace but Mountain View and it’s even harder to imagine Mountain View without Tommy’s. Just ask anyone who’s been there.

Tommy’s opens seven days a week at 3:00 p.m.  All menu items are available for carry-out. Surprisingly, carry-out orders are slightly less expensive than eat-in.  A complete menu and information about occasional special events, lodging, and area attractions are available at www.tommysfamous.com.  For more information and phone orders call 870-269-3278.