HOURS
Mondays: Closed
Tues-Sunday: Lunch 11:00-3:00 Dinner 5:00-8:00
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PROFILE
Your Local Hometown Pizza Shop
By Julie Matthews
When Matthew Broughton took over ownership of Cosmo’s Pizza 20 years ago, one of his main goals was to bring back the concept of dine-in pizza shops, which were so popular in past decades it seemed like there was one on almost every corner. Located in a bright red building in Corolla is the perfect neighborhood pizza shop where you are invited to pull up a seat, meet new “old” friends and enjoy tasty food and drinks.
For several decades, Broughton has been feeding locals and visitors on the Outer Banks. He began his culinary career working at Corolla-based Nicoletta’s Italian Café and then was schooled in traditional Italian cooking methods from an old world Italian “grandma” followed by a period of pizza making in his early twenties, eventually purchasing Cosmo’s Pizza from “Cosmo,” a New Yorker who owned the restaurant during its first decade. Since he has been owner, Broughton has tweaked Cosmo’s recipes and put his own touch on the restaurant’s menu and the way it does business.
At Cosmo’s Pizza you will discover an airy and casual family-friendly restaurant with a mixture of tables and booths. “It’s an easy place to hang out,” says Broughton, who describes the décor as “eclectic” and having an “active wall space” due to the interesting collection of local signage throughout the restaurant, which also has large mounted TVs for watching games and other entertainment. “We invite you to come in and we want you to feel like you know everybody,” says Broughton.
Diners can count on Cosmo’s Pizza making everything in-house, from their own sauce and cheese blend to their hand tossed pizza dough. Meals are full of fresh ingredients—which come from a farmers market in Raleigh, North Carolina—including a variety of salads, pizzas, sandwiches and much more. Save room for dessert as they have a huge dessert list including delicious locally made ice cream sandwiches. Along with high-quality food, the affordable prices are also a major perk.
Cosmo’s Pizza, serving up fresh tasty food while encouraging community connection. “At the end of the day, we are here to make sure people eat well and enjoy their vacation.”
Similarly, the focus on local flavors is evident at its impressive full-service bar. With approximately 25 bar stools plus standing room, the bar serves approximately 40 different types of beer, craft and domestic, in cans as well as drafts. Like with the food menu, Broughton aims to keep things “ultra local,” carrying beverages crafted locally in the northern shores when possible and then widening out to the Outer Banks region and then within the state of North Carolina. The outdoor back bar, unofficially referred to as the “Fat Matt’s Shack” until a permanent name is established, is a lively, pet-friendly space with approximately 100-foot long deck running along the side of the building.
If you’re looking to have Cosmo’s Pizza delivered (anywhere in the Outer Banks), then you’re in for an incredible treat as Broughton is also the owner of a catering company called A Moveable Feast, offering a variety of menus including wood-fired pizzas created on-site in a mobile pizza oven trailer. This is a unique catering option for all types of events including weddings.
A father of two boys, Broughton has enjoyed watching families grow up through the years and has created a place “where I’d like to go,” he admits. It’s important to him and his staff that their guests feel welcomed and not rushed. As he jokes, the general manager at Cosmo’s Pizza has a special knack for remembering everybody he meets. Interestingly, many of their employees were initially vacationers that turned locals.
Broughton has lived on the Outer Banks since the mid ‘80s, and he and his wife met here approximately 17 years ago. Today they are “raising a ‘locals’ family,” as he puts it. He appreciates Corolla’s close knit community, which he notes has expanded as a result of the pandemic bringing an influx of “locals.” In addition to the businesses he runs, Broughton is a middle school lacrosse coach and his family’s love of sports and community is apparent with all of the support his businesses provide. From providing free pizza to the local charter school across the street to participating in local golf tournaments and helping out the junior lifeguards, Broughton really tries to give back to the community.
No matter if you’re looking for a quick bite or want to hang for a while, Cosmo’s Pizza is a hometown pizza shop serving up fresh tasty food and encouraging community connection. “At the end of the day, we are here to make sure people eat well and enjoy their vacation.”
