New Albanian Pizzeria (Sportstime Pizza & Rich O's Public House)

I find it ironic that they used to call themselves "SportsTime" Pizza when until relatively recently they didn't even have a real T.V. And now that they do have T.V's, they went and changed their name to the New Albanian Pizzeria, go figure? Just to be clear as mud, they also share a kitchen with Rich'O's Public House, which is just a non-smoking version with the same food & beer..... Now don't be turned off because they aren't that good at names, because the pizza & beer selection is outstanding!!
Since our first review was the New Albanian on Bank St. downtown New Albany, we felt it was only fitting to review the "home base". Located just off Grantline Rd. (3312 Plaza Drive New Albany In). This place is arguably one of the best pizza joint in Kentuckiana. If you haven't been there and you live within a hundred miles, it is worth the trip! It's a classic dive, that is a home grown bare basic pub. Friendly service is the norm and you will begin to feel comfortable as soon as you walk in the door.
I can't even tell you how many different beers they have on tap. And the bottled beer selection is categorized by country, just to give you an idea of your options. As for the food, I would suggest starting with the pretzels & beer cheese... Yum! You can order pub sandwiches or several different styles of pizza, whatever your liking, but I would suggest starting with the hand-tossed pepperoni pie... Being from New England (Massachusetts) the thin crust, cheesy pizza reminds me of home.
So, If your looking for a place to go... Throw on your casual duds, head over to the New Albanian Pizzeria and enjoy! You won't regret it.

New Albanian (Bank St. New Albany IN)

Well what can I say? I've heard so much about the opening of the New Albanian as part of the revitalization of down town New Albany. My wife & I had been talking about going for months and finally got the chance to go. To start off, parking wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, especially for a "downtown" restaurant. The building itself looked like a renovated garage, complete with garage bay doors that are still operational. The decor was fun & casual! Once inside, I was shocked by how small the seating area was. If your looking for a quiet dark corner and an intimate dining experience, this is not your scene. It did have a sense of community though, and if your OK with casual interactions with strangers you will fit in just fine.
We began with a couple beers and an appetizer. The beer is all microbrew so don't look for a bud light. Plenty of variety if you enjoy beer, and there were some good wine options as well. We got the chorizo & cheddar fritters. Not bad, but alittle light on the chorizo and cheddar? The base was potato and that was the main flavor. The dipping sauce was light on flavor as well. The menu was small with about 5 or 6 meal choices and a couple of specials. However, I thought it was interesting and inventive.
I ended up with the angus burger & pomme frites. Not at all impressed with the burger as it was over cooked and to salty. My wife got the pork tacos. She loved them and honesty I wish I got them too! The flavor was complex and fresh I would definitely recommend them if available.
Overall, it was a pleasant atmosphere, good selection of beers. The food is a toss up. Mine not so good, but the pork tacos saved the day. We will try it again so stay tuned if your skeptical. If you decide to go, let us know what you thought!