Specializing in the New York-style, thin-crust pizza, Papa Al 's Pizza, Pasta, and Subs draws in travelers, business people, and families that appreciate friendly prices, friendly service, and plenty of menu options. Located in the Hawleyville Plaza, the 30-seat eatery turns out dozens of gourmet, classic, and white pizzas, along with subs, specialty sandwiches, pasta, and entrees from the open kitchen dominated by a large brick oven.A Sampling From the MenuSoup: Pasta Fagioli is a hearty vegetable soup chock full of white beans and pasta. A soup of the day is always featured, as well.Appetizers: Regulars crave the garlic knots, knobs of freshly baked bread drenched in garlic and olive oil. Fried calamari gorgonzola, with hot cherry peppers in housemade Marinara sauce, is a favorite to start a meal.Salad: Eight salads are on the regular menu, including the popular Buffalo chicken salad of mixed greens topped with spicy, homemade Buffalo sauce chicken tenders and bleu cheese dressing.Sandwiches: Subs, burgers, wraps, foccacia, and panini sandwiches fill a page of the menu. The Philly steak sub, with thinly sliced rib-eye steak, grilled mushrooms and onions, mozzarella, and mayo on a 12-inch roll delights the hungriest diner.Pizza: Papa Al 's features 16 gourmet pizzas, and seven white pizzas on the menu. Penne pasta, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese, and a pink vodka sauce top the Pink Panther pizza, while the Bianca pizza is topped with ricotta, Romano, and fresh mozzarella cheeses, olive oil, and garlic. Special pizzas, such as the Sicilian deep-dish "Grandma's Pizza" (fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, fresh garlic, and Marinara sauce), are featured regularly. Gluten-free pizza is available upon request.Main Course: Pastas, baked dishes, and chicken entrees are offered in numerous variations. Fresh grilled salmon is served with vegetables and mashed potatoes, with a choice of lobster sauce or Cajun sauce.Desserts: Most desserts at Papa Al 's are made on premises. Creamy rice pudding, and traditional tiramisu or coconut tiramisu are top sellers. Ice cream from Ferris Acres Creamery is available.Price Range: Pizzas, from under $10 for a regular small pizza to $21.95 for a large specialty pizza; sandwiches, $6.50 to $8.45; entrees, $10.95 to $16.50.Papa Al's Pizza, Pasta, and Subs, 23 Barnabas Road, just off of Exit 9 of I-84 and Route 25, is open Monday through Thursday, 11 am to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 9:30 pm; Sunday, noon to 9 pm; extended hours in warmer months. The full menu is available at all times. For takeout or catering information, call 203-426-2323. Menus and delivery service information can be viewed at papaalsnew-town.com. Ample parking is available adjacent to the restaurant.

Walls rag-painted a bright squash color above a cherry wood wainscoting framing three sides of the room create the feel of a trattoria, and an inviting atmosphere. In the evening, simple pendant lighting in the windows casts a pleasant glow. Customers find seating at any of ten wooden tables in comfort-able, leathercushioned chairs, all offering a view onto the outside patio, where warmer weather allows seating for another 25 patrons, beneath umbrella-topped tables. A scenic mural by Waterbury artist Annette Dostaler graces the wall above the pickup window.

In a two-door cooler, customers find a large selection of cold drinks, while a single-door cooler houses a variety of Italian, domestic, and craft beers. Wines primarily from Italy and California are available by the glass or by the bottle.

Papa Al's is "not just another pizzeria," said owner Fiat Islami. Care is taken that every order, whether for dining in or taking out, is prepared just right. The staff strives for high quality and interesting options to create choices that work for all of the customers. Portions are generous, so smaller lunchtime portions are available for $3 less than dinner menu prices, between 11 am and 3 pm.

For any party or event, Papa Al's is able to help with trays of prepared pastas, salads, and main courses. Pizzas and sub sandwiches for large groups are also available. Catering menus can be tailored to meet the individual's needs, with convenient pickup times.

The family friendly, casual atmosphere is as ideal for a quick on-the-road meal as it is for a quiet dinner. "People can come in, sit down, and have a nice meal," Mr Islami said, "in comfortable surround-ngs."