Big pie dreams

As Bruce Springsteen sings: “From small things, mama, big things one day come.” A big-time hit in its humble downtown Sandpoint location across from the park, BABS’ PIZZERIA had barely taken over the former Ice House Pizza place in 2007 when they realized the space was just too small. Across town on Highway 2, the new Mountain West facility was being built, housing several other restaurants including Dish and a new Subway.

“This fills a need on this side of town,” says Babs Tietjens, who runs the pizzeria with her mother BJ.

The signature offering is New York-style, thin-crust pizza. Besides your basic cheese ($2.75/slice; $10-$16/pie), there are specialties like the Village (pesto, mozzarella, sundried tomatoes, artichokes, crumbled feta), the Little Italy (marinara, mozzarella, sweet sausage, green peppers, red onions) and the Hells Kitchen (marinara, mozzarella, spinach, roasted red peppers, mushrooms and chicken). Not sure if it’s indecisiveness or the need to have it all that inspires the Yuppie — half “meat lovers” and half “veggie lovers” — pizzas ($16/$25), but it’s funny either way.

Most pies are $14 for 12-inch and $20 for 18-inch, and all are available for dine-in or takeout.
Besides pizza, there are sandwiches like the meatball parmesan or Italian sausage and pepper ($8), stromboli ($7-$12) and its cousin, the calzone, with a choice of four toppings ($8).
Although they don’t make their own pasta, they do make the sauce. Besides the standby of spaghetti with or without meatballs or sausage ($8-$10), they have a daily special.

Babs makes the puff pastry-filled artispins — artichokes and spinach — and spanokopita with spinach and feta, as well as the raspberry-chipotle wings ($7-$12).

They also serve salads, a few soups, some desserts and both wine and beer, all parts of the menu they hope to continue to expand. Both mother and daughter are still dreaming big. — CARRIE SCOZZARO

Babs’ Pizzeria, 1319 Hwy 2, Suite C, Sandpoint, Idaho, is open Mon-Thu 11 am–8 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am-9 pm. Call (208) 265-7992.