I was a little suspicious upon catching my first glimpse of the spaghetti pie at Tad’s Pizzeria, which despite the menu’s description — a pizza topped with spaghetti, meatballs and Parmesan cheese — didn’t exactly look like how I’d pictured it.

Luckily, general manager Kristin Meixner (who created the spaghetti pie) set me straight. Those flat, brown discs covering the noodle-y surface of the pizza are, in fact, meatballs. She explained how Tad’s makes the all-beef meatballs in house and then slices them extra thin, alleviating any concerns that I’d ordered something that looked a lot like a regular ‘ol pepperoni pizza from afar.

There’s nothing regular about the spaghetti pie, which — with its layers of crispy crust, marinara sauce, spaghetti, cheese and meat — boasts an interesting texture with every bite. It’s a tasty, if carb-heavy, treat.

Where to get it:Tad’s Pizzeria, 1410 Kasold Drive

What you’ll pay: $17 for a 12-inch pizza

Try it with: Perhaps a salad (for repentance)

Also on the menu: Plenty of funky pizza creations, from the similar Lasagna Pie (it keeps the Parmesan and meatballs, adds onions and extra sauce, but leaves off noodles) to the Hangover Pizza (a breakfast-y mix of ham, bacon, green bell peppers, onions and eggs) to the more sophisticated White Fresca, which is topped with spinach, ricotta and tomatoes. You’ll also find lots of appetizers (mozzarella sticks, chicken wings and the like) plus calzones, salads, breakfast burritos, hot dogs, desserts and eight (!!!) different kinds of french fries.

— Off The Beaten Plate highlights some of the more exotic, oddly named or inventively concocted dishes from local menus. Know of an offbeat item we should check out? Email reporter Joanna Hlavacek at jhlavacek@ljworld.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/hlavacekjoanna.