Valentino's Special on Large Cheese Pizza: $7

Valentino's Little Italy, 1003 4th St. North, St. Petersburg; 727-895-5610. Special: 18-inch cheese pizza for $7, every Monday and Wednesday nights until 10 p.m.

ST. PETERSBURG - Our family loves pizza, especially the thin-crust, crispy pies.

Here's what we don't like: dishing out $30 and more for a pair of pies for family pizza night.

That's why we're instant fans of Valentino's Little Italy's pizza special on Monday and Wednesday nights, 5-10 p.m.

That's when you can buy an 18-inch cheese pizza for $7, instead of the regular price of $14. Half price is not bad at all. The deal applies to all walk-in traffic at the independently owned pizza restaurant, on 4th Street, in the Old Northeast neighborhood.

Of course, Valentino's likes to upsell the pies, and customers still have to pay the regular price for toppings, which is $2. Even so, your pizza is still deeply discounted.

Monday, we ordered two cheese pizzas with toppings. One was a three-way veggie combo with spinach, mushrooms and onions. The other was a two-way, with meatballs and mushrooms. On a regular night, this would have cost $38 for the two pizzas. Our bill: $25.

We even have leftovers to add to lunch boxes, unless my husband or daughter decide to raid the fridge overnight.

Becauase the deal is walk-in, we called ahead to Valentino's, at 1003 4th St. North. The small dining room was busy with customers who decided to eat their pies there, or order other Italian favorites. We brought our pies home for a casual meal together.

The pizzas were hot out of the oven, oozing with cheese and covered with fresh toppings. There was none of the canned veggies that you commonly encounter from some chains. The crust was not too doughy either, but just right. I was able to slip some veggies into my daughter's diet. (Just what is the opposite of a vegetarian, by the way?)

There are similar pizza deals on special nights going on at several national chains, including Papa John's, and Dominos. They usually require a walk-in order, and do not apply the special to deliveries.

We like the idea of supporting a locally owned, neighborhood business. Plus it's close by, and the pizza hits the spot.