Ben Southern is a firm believer that every childhood experience is incomplete without regular trips to the local pizza parlor.

Growing up in coastal California, he fondly recalls going to Me N' Ed's after every big game. Now as co-owner of Southern's Pizza & Sports Pub, he and his wife, Abby, strive to provide that same family friendly experience.

The Leander business, which celebrated its four-year anniversary in April, garners many regular customers.

"We had a good customer base to start off, and they kept coming back," Ben said.

The Southerns said they know most customers by name, just one way they ensure a comfortable, home-like atmosphere at the restaurant and sports bar on US 183.

"A lot of customers are now our friends," Abby said. "It's not like work—well, maybe on Fridays it is."

The business concept stems from Ben's original venture in Fresno, Calif., where he bought out Compass Pizza. He initially maintained the restaurant's same menu, eventually adding improved ingredients and better sauces, he said.

That is also when he began collecting some of the sports memorabilia now on the walls at Southern's. Many of Southern's regulars have since brought in their own collectibles, Abby said, particularly University of Texas gear. The collection helps keep the establishment casual, she said.

"With us being owners, we want this place to not be as rigid as a chain [restaurant]," Abby said.

The other key, Ben said, is Southern's consistency. Customers know what to expect each visit, he said, whether it be the homemade flaky pizza crust, which takes two days to prepare, or the custom-made pizza sauce, which has a combination of 10 herbs and spices. There are also specialty sauces and pizzas that are very popular, Ben said.

The happy hour, which runs weekdays from 3–7 p.m., has also proven popular, Abby said, especially for larger groups. She credits the "very generous" glasses of wine and the extremely cold beer mugs.

But Ben said he knows the real reason why customers keep coming back.

"They come for the pizza, but they just like to be here," he said. "It's fun to watch."

Specialty pizzas

The pizzas crafted by Ben Southern have become the most popular menu items, he said. But no matter the toppings, he said the flaky, crunchy crust is what makes every pizza better. ($14.99 medium, $17.99 large, $20.99 family)

Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza—Combines homemade garlic white sauce, fresh mushrooms, artichoke hearts, red onions, roasted garlic, tomatoes and roasted garlic chicken

All Meat Pizza—Topped with pepperoni, bacon, Canadian bacon, sausage and hamburger meat

Green Chili Chicken—Uses homemade green chile jalapeo white sauce, chicken, bacon, green chiles and red onions

Other menu items

Garlic cheese bread—Ranges from small to family size ($4.49 small, $7.99 medium, $9.99 large, $11.99 family size)

Oven-baked hot wings—Come in hot, honey BBQ and Italian breaded flavors ($3.99 order of five, $7.49 order of 10, $13.99 order of 20)

Toasted subs—Options range from ham, turkey or pepperoni sandwiches to pizza, chicken bacon ranch, meatball and Philly cheese steak subs ($5.99–$6.99)

Salads—Chicken salad, garden salad and side salads available ($3.49–$5.99)

Happy hour

Domestic draft beer—Bud Light, Miller Lite and ZiegenBock ($1.75)

Premium draft beer—Widmer Brothers, Dos Equis and Fireman's No. 4 ($2.50)

Southern's Pizza & Sports Pub, 1805 US 183, Leander, 512-259-2699, Hours: Mon–Thu. 3–9:30 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sat. noon–9:30 p.m., Sun. noon–8 p.m., www.southernspizzaandsportspub.com