February 9th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
Pizza Den in Brooklyn. Over-the-counter hole-in-the-wall New York slice. Simple mozzarella/tomato slice blew me away with its perfection
Pi in St. Louis for a deeper dish. Again, just the best ingredients. Tomato sauce is like crack, right amount of grease, and cornmeal crust
Favorite Michigan pizza is probably Supino
February 9th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
Pepe’s is excellent
February 9th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
Calabrese pizza which is now in Waterford but used to be located on Telegraph rd in Pontiac. Just about every Sunday night in the winter my dad would pick up a delux pizza from them and to this day it was the best tasting pizza I've ever had.
One funny note. Those Sunday nights were the ONLY time I ever saw my late mother drink a beer. She liked her cocktails just fine (wiskey & water girl) but beer? Only Sunday nights and only with a Calabrese pizza. Good memories!
February 9th, 2022 at 3:48 PM ^
As another guy who grew up in Waterford, I loved Calabrese pizza. That and Sir Pizza (on Walton Blvd) were where pizzas were brought in on a Friday night at my house.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
Sir Pizza - good stuff. Right down the street from me. I am blessed with a number of excellent pizza establishments near me.
Peperoni, mushrooms, and a variety of vegetable toppings (onion, pepper, olives maybe) is my baseline but I will enjoy the slice in front of me.
The only pizza I actually disliked was produced in South Quad.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:39 PM ^
Tower’s Pizza on Fourth and Main Street Downtown Rochester.
The ultimate foldable but crispy slice. Soo much beautiful bubbly grease on top you’d want a spoon. Bib and heavy napkins required.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:00 PM ^
Impressive density of toppings there .....
February 9th, 2022 at 10:20 PM ^
Wait...you grew up in Pontiac / Waterford? I wasn't far from you although I think you got about 5 years on me
February 9th, 2022 at 3:16 PM ^
Some favorites (based on my limited experience):
Pisanello's Pizza in Mt. Pleasant.
La Nova in Buffalo, NY
Red Zeppelin in Baton Rouge. The Al-Freddie Mercury is amazing! Whole roasted garlic, genoa salami, roasted red peppers, and spinach with an alfredo sauce.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:29 PM ^
Mellow Mushroom is our family favorite - all unique pizza topping choices.
I grew up in the Mt. Clemens area and worked at the Buscemis Pizza on 19 mile road. As a high school kid, that (free) pizza was the best!
February 10th, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^
Eaten at RZ a few times enjoyed.Also like Fluer De Lei in BR
February 9th, 2022 at 3:19 PM ^
Best pizza I ever ate ---- Giordano's in Chicago
Best pizza near me in Cincy- Marco's Pizza/LaRosas
February 9th, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
I can totally get on board the Giordano's train.
I have had hit or miss experiences with LaRosas. I have gotten my fair share of use out of their Buddy Card though.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:13 PM ^
No visit to Chicago is complete with a stop at Giordano's...
I still remember fondly the 6 piece Silicilian from Cottage Inn in the 80's as a student in Ann Arbor. $7 coupon with 2 Mountain Dews.....
February 9th, 2022 at 4:56 PM ^
Weird. As a native Chicagoan, I think most folks in/around the city would say, Giordano's is like the Chevy of Chicago pizzas -- your basic, meh, standard, lots-of-locations Chicago pizza.
I think the best Chicago pizza, hands down, is Lou's. The sausage they use is spectacular, and it's just the best all-around sauce etc. I will hear argument for Uno's/Due's (and the Chicago locations, not the generic national chain). Obviously, Gino's is competitive for its classic ambience, although the pizza itself it's the best. I also will put out there, some folks love Carmen's the best b/c of its cheese.
Royal Chessman in Wilmette was spectacular, as was The Spot in Evanston (once served by a waiter who was an NU student, Mike "Greenie" Greenberg)... both IIRC are no more.
February 10th, 2022 at 8:31 AM ^
The lous in Cicero is just friggin fantastic. I’ve ate at several of them including the original and the Cicero location (although kind of a dump) beats them all. Giordanos is great as well and think their cheese is better. I’m only a short drive from Fort Wayne and they opened up a location there. I spoke with the owner at length and the guy really takes pride in his store and makes sure that every last detail of the original goes into his pies. I’ve hit that places 2 out of the last 3 weeks. The wife and I are going to frankenmuth this weekend on our way to boyne and plan on getting Unos at birch run and then follow it up with a large from the trophy room.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
Little Caesars hot and ready because I love how they found a way to get the pizza to absorb the flavor of the cardboard box it is in. Also, the diarrhea feels great on my hemorrhoids.
In all seriousness, I don't get the love of the east coast/New York style pizza. If it was crispy, I think I could give it a go, but its just a big floppy mess. My mother was born and raised in Jersey, just south of NYC, and she would always try to convince my siblings that New York style was the best. I really wish I did like it. Much prefer a Chicago deep dish.
My favorite place of all time was an old beaten down pizza place called Mama Milano's in Milan, Indiana. It had some fantastic pizza. Unfortunately, it is closed on a permanent basis as of three or so years ago. RIP triple pepperoni pizza.
February 9th, 2022 at 5:50 PM ^
Bite your tongue! Don't speak ill of NY pizza like that! If it's done right, it shouldn't be floppy. If it's messy like that, that means it's underdone or the dough is too thin. But, I'm with your mom: NY style is definitely the best (even other places in the northeast: Boston, Phila, Conn., are also pretty similar and pretty good).
I live in the midwest now, in a state that is known for both its breakfast pizza and its taco pizza (a gas station pizza literally with a bag of Doritos dumped on it). There's some halfway decent pizza around here but it's not easy to find. In fact, the best spot is a NY style place that is run by a dude from Brooklyn. I'm very much a snob when it comes to pizza, but I think any one of the places in the town (or surrounding towns) where I grew up would be the best pizza in 5 states out here. I know it's snobby but it's true.
February 10th, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
You prefer Chicago style over New York? Are you an Ohio State fan too?
Chicago deep dish is not pizza. It might be food, and you might like it, but it ain't pizza.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
Yes to Pepe's (New Haven).
I'd add:
Upper Crust (Boston)
Grimaldi's (Brooklyn)
Locally, I think Anthony's deep dish is no joke and Buddy's has held strong with interesting flavor options and solid recipe foundation. Mani Osteria and Bigalora have added legit east coast style options (even if purists might agree that neither are on Pepe's level).
February 9th, 2022 at 5:16 PM ^
Grimaldi's (Brooklyn & Henderson/Las Vegas) - yes, yes.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
Just give me a typical NY slice. From Joe’s to Famous Amadeus.
Also, deep dish pizza sucks. I’m out.
February 9th, 2022 at 8:48 PM ^
I lived in the Chicago area after graduating and hate deep dish. That said, my first date with my wife was at Gino’s East.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
Not my favorite, but just thinking about that time Domino's magically improved by quite a bit after Dave Brandon left.
Come to think of it, the same thing happened with Michigan football after he left. Hmmmm.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
Buying Toys R Us stock rn
February 9th, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
Paesano's in Traverse City is my favorite place to grab a pizza. A combination of really good pizza along with the fact that it is a family tradition.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^
Paesano's does have really good pizza.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:18 PM ^
I've learned much about TC pizza since the pandemic started. I like Paesano's. Other notes:
- I'm a short walk from Dino's. In its weight class (no-frills take-out place) I'd give it good marks.
- Filling Station has a great atmosphere and lots of interesting pizzas.
- Charles & Reid does Detroit-style pizza pretty well.
February 9th, 2022 at 8:29 PM ^
Charles & Reid and Peegeo's (Mike's Sicilian) are best in TC in my opinion, but there are a million options.
Best I've ever had, probably tossup between Lou Malnati's, Pizzapapalis in Greektown, or La Nova in Buffalo.
If you couldn't guess, I definitely prefer deep dish to anything thin crust or NY style.
February 9th, 2022 at 10:14 PM ^
Thanks for the Peegeo's tip. (I saw your other suggestion, too.) I've heard about it a couple of times but haven't visited.
February 9th, 2022 at 8:31 PM ^
BH If it sounds even remotely interesting, try a breakfast pizza from Francisco's in TC. Sausage gravy instead of marinara so not a "pizza" in my book, but it's a life changing hangover cure.
February 9th, 2022 at 10:00 PM ^
I've been to TC a bunch of times in the summer but have never heard of either place you mentioned. I'm going to put them on my list. I'm more familiar with the restaurants that are downtown or on the strip to the east.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:49 PM ^
The wait can be irritating, and it's 175 degrees inside in the summer, but the pizza is sooo gooood.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:25 PM ^
Dennison Yard in NE-ish Ohio. Sweet red sauce on the traditional pizza, and a fantastic Pizza Bianco, too. It’s a great Italian place.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:25 PM ^
At home. My wife's homemade pizza, and now my daughters' homemade pizza. My sons' homemade pizza isn't bad either. But above all of those is my own. If I liked something better, I'd improve my recipe/technique!
February 9th, 2022 at 3:40 PM ^
Same. I like to melt some butter, garlic salt the crust up at the end. Seasonings are what pizza places miss though for me. Way to many bland places around me so we make my own.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
DJ's in Hudsonville. IYKYK.
The Old Goat in Grand Rapids is my #2. Best Neapolitan-style in Michigan.
February 9th, 2022 at 8:00 PM ^
If you’re on the west side here, give Greco’s a try some time. Do NOT miss the pepperoni rolls and make sure you ask for the garlic butter.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:28 PM ^
Favorite used to be Marco’s round deep dish pan pizza until they got rid of it. Was so pissed. Now, I’d go with Buddys.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^
When I worked at the Coleman Young Rec center as a teen lifeguard, my favorite pizza was the seafood pizza at Pizza Popalous (spg?) in downtown Detroit. Trappers Alley had a solid pizza, too. Vincent’s off of Vernor was greasy and good. Plus, Roman Village had some great pizza. Those are may Detroit locations :)
February 9th, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^
I still remember the mushroom pizza I had at the long-shuttered Ann Arbor location of Pizzeria Uno way back in 1997. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:31 PM ^
600 Downtown in Bellefontaine, OH. Absolutely fantastic. Garlic knots to die for. All the different kinds of pizza you could want but the best are the classic dough Grindhouse (all meat), the Double Barrel (two kinds of pepperoni) and John Dillinger (two kinds of pepperoni and sausage). We don’t get it often as it’s 45 minutes away from my small town but it is almost birthday time and a trip to 600 Downtown is sounding great!
February 9th, 2022 at 3:31 PM ^
Roby’s Pizza in La Maddalena Italy.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:40 PM ^
I'd love to give it a shot. Do they deliver?
February 9th, 2022 at 3:36 PM ^
When I was growing up, Stella's - Ewing, NJ
Where I am now, Eddie & Sam's - Tampa, FL - they ship their water in from NY so they can make their dough as close to NY style as possible.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:39 PM ^
aurelios pizza. Chicago Style that has locations in a few states.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:39 PM ^
Best in Michigan are Joe's in Ann Arbor, Supino in Detroit, and Brooklyn Pizza in Birmingham.
(Yes, I do prefer my pizza in the thin-crust variety.)
February 9th, 2022 at 7:18 PM ^
Freddie the pizza man has them all beat
February 9th, 2022 at 3:40 PM ^
This topic was broached recently, but Pequods in Chicago is my go to.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:41 PM ^
My wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday this weekend and I told her a full weekend in New Haven, CT. Hitting up Sally’s, Modern, and Zuppardi’s. Might try to squeeze in Louis Lunch too. It’s gonna take me ‘til spring to lose the weight but what the hell.