# Best pizza in your neck of the woods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 11, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741 "2010-04-11T16:30:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/21 "2010-04-11T22:58:58Z")
In Dublin (and other parts of Ireland) [Apache Pizza](http://www.apache.ie/) is pretty great. Café Topolis in the City Centre does lovely more Italian style pizza. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/22 "2010-04-11T23:31:43Z")
> [@Neptunian\_Slug](#): > > I always stop into Marion’s when I am visiting the folks. Sometimes I’ll grab a Cassanos or **Ron’s Pizza** as well. Its a taste of home that I can’t miss. Ah, Ron’s. The closest Ron’s location to me (Middletown) closed many years ago; the next closest (Springboro) closed maybe 2-3 years ago. All in all, though, not a bad example of the prevalent local style of pizza. Certainly better (IMO) than Cassano’s has been for many, many years. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/23 "2010-04-11T23:33:58Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > or cicada pizza.. Um, yes? What was that again? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/24 "2010-04-11T23:48:55Z")
There is no Detroit style pizza. We have Chicago type with thick crusts , we have thin and everything in between. The Toramino family ,with an Olympic athlete in the fam ,has a good take out with lots of cheese and pepperoni. The newspapers have a contest every year and it is rare for someone to win it twice. The original Shields was a good pie but they opened a few more locations and it is not the same. We have Dominos and Caesars with horrible but very cheap pizza. In Buffalo i like LaNova pizza. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/25 "2010-04-11T23:52:30Z")
My favorite is from a local chain of four called Romeo’s. They have great pizza and Tex-Mex. There is a location a couple of blocks from my house. There used to be a bar on the south side that put in a small kitchen in the corner to make pizzas for the bar crowd. The pizza was really great, and the chain grew into Godfather’s Pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/26 "2010-04-11T23:53:45Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > Um, yes? What was that again? Oh, just that whenever the cicadas were in town, we would sing “Snap, snap, snappy cicada pizza.” We were cool and clever like that.😉 ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/27 "2010-04-11T23:57:40Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Oh, just that whenever the cicadas were in town, we would sing “Snap, snap, snappy cicada pizza.” We were cool and clever like that.😉 Oh, good! My stomach’s not in knots now! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/28 "2010-04-12T00:10:14Z")
There is no good pizza in my neck of the woods. Good pizza is one of the few things I miss about Chicago, where I grew up. And, no, deep-dish is not representative of Chicago Pizza; thin crust is the real deal. There’s a somewhat okay joint in downtown Mountain View, Kapp’s Pizza; it’s thick crust, but not terrible. I’ve also eaten at Pizz’a Chicago in San Jose, it was a couple blocks from my old (10+ years ago) office; they’re okay, but not authentic. Neither of these is in my “neck of the woods”. My wife likes Pinocchio’s nearby our house, but it’s NY-style limp-n-floppy crust, meh. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/29 "2010-04-12T00:13:48Z")
In my little burgh (6000ish people), the best pizza is probably from Extreme Pizza. Lots of toppings, decent price. We’ve only got one national chain here (Pizza Hut) and while the Hand Tossed crust is adequate enough, it’s insanely expensive here. That said, my favourite pizza is from the Canadian chain [Pizza Pizza](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza_Pizza). (Which is not to be confused with Little Caesar’s, and its marketing slogan “Pizza! Pizza!”). The closest one is in North Bay though, about a 45 minute drive. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/30 "2010-04-12T00:23:21Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > There’s a somewhat okay joint in downtown Mountain View, Kapp’s Pizza; it’s thick crust, but not terrible. I’ve also eaten at Pizz’a Chicago in San Jose, it was a couple blocks from my old (10+ years ago) office; they’re okay, but not authentic. Neither of these is in my “neck of the woods”. My wife likes Pinocchio’s nearby our house, but it’s NY-style limp-n-floppy crust, meh. If you go all the way to Mt View from Gillroy for pizza, then hit Frankie, Johnie and Luigi’s, too. It’s about the best pizza I’ve had in the Si Valley. When I lived in RI, the best pizza you could get (and it was the absolute best I’ve ever had) was at Al Forno. They used to make the same good stuff at The Hot Club (the Providence bar that was featured in _There’s Something About Mary_.) Although there were lots of Italian places that made authentic pizza, the stuff at Al Forno was out of this world. I can remember hearing people say they drove up from NYC just to have it. > [@janeslogin](#): > > ``` > The ones I make myself starting with a frozen cheese pizza from WalMart and then adding things. > > ``` 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/31 "2010-04-12T00:30:25Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you go all the way to Mt View from Gillroy for pizza, then hit Frankie, Johnie and Luigi’s, too. It’s about the best pizza I’ve had in the Si Valley. Yep, they’re pretty good. I like The Garret/Jake’s/Oasis/Broadway pizza better, though (same local chain with different restaurant names but the same great pizza). ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/32 "2010-04-12T00:49:30Z")
Colorado doesn’t really have any great or really popular chains. Blackjack Pizza is locally owned, but it is your generic delivery pizza like Pizza Hut or Domino’s. Beau Jo’s is a local chain that gets some love, but I just don’t get it. It’s overdone in every way - too much topping, way too much cheese, and sweet sauce. The “cool” thing about it is that they have honey dispensers at the tables that you are supposed to squeeze onto the leftover crust, which is huge. It used to be fun to stop in at Beau Jo’s Idaho Springs after a day of skiing, but traffic on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon down to Denver is so bad these days that losing your place in line doesn’t seem worth it. That’s not to say that there isn’t good pizza in Colorado, it’s just made by small independant shops that nobody outside of their vicinity has ever heard of. My favorite is called [Proto’s](http://www.protospizza.com/) which has a few shops in and around Boulder, and by looking at their website, I see they have a location in Boise, Idaho as well. They’re growing! Maybe they will become more widely known before long! ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/33 "2010-04-12T00:52:58Z")
Lawrence, Kansas: 1. Johnny’s Tavern 2. Papa Quino’s 3. Rudy’s Since Chicago has been mentioned, and since I once lived there, I’ll place a vote for Giordano’s as best Chicago pizza. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/34 "2010-04-12T00:56:28Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > Oh, good! > > My stomach’s not in knots now! 😉 Actually, in Oaxaca, Mexico, they’ll occasionally put roasted chapulines (grasshoppers) on a pizza, and it’s GREAT! Believe it! Not so much hard-to-chew-down “wing” as a true cicada, true…I’ll grant you that. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/35 "2010-04-12T00:56:43Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Colorado doesn’t really have any great or really popular chains. Blackjack Pizza is locally owned, but it is your generic delivery pizza like Pizza Hut or Domino’s. Beau Jo’s is a local chain that gets some love, but I just don’t get it. It’s overdone in every way - too much topping, way too much cheese, and sweet sauce. The “cool” thing about it is that they have honey dispensers at the tables that you are supposed to squeeze onto the leftover crust, which is huge. > > It used to be fun to stop in at Beau Jo’s Idaho Springs after a day of skiing, but traffic on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon down to Denver is so bad these days that losing your place in line doesn’t seem worth it. > > That’s not to say that there isn’t good pizza in Colorado, it’s just made by small independant shops that nobody outside of their vicinity has ever heard of. My favorite is called [Proto’s](http://www.protospizza.com/) which has a few shops in and around Boulder, and by looking at their website, I see they have a location in Boise, Idaho as well. They’re growing! Maybe they will become more widely known before long! I have been to the Beau Jo’s in Ft. Collins once (they serve draught beer in old Mason jars) and was less than impressed. The last thing in the world I want is honey (or anything sweet) on pizza crust, which should be savory and herb-infused NOT some sort of scone-like dessert dough… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/36 "2010-04-12T00:57:25Z")
> [@winterhawk11](#): > > Yep, they’re pretty good. I like The Garret/Jake’s/Oasis/Broadway pizza better, though (same local chain with different restaurant names but the same great pizza). Obviously just a matter of taste, but I’ve had Jake’s, and it can’t hold a candle to FJ&L’s. Considering how huge this metro area is, and how diverse the restaurant scene is, it’s surprising how little really good pizza there is. It’s one of those west coast things… ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/37 "2010-04-12T01:25:46Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you go all the way to Mt View from Gilroy for pizza, That’s the point – I don’t! If I’m going that far for a meal, I should just head for SJ airport and go visit my sibs in Illinois! 🙂 > [@](#): > > then hit Frankie, Johnie and Luigi’s, too. It’s about the best pizza I’ve had in the Si Valley. Ah, I’d forgotten that place! I used to live a quite close to it and have eaten there, but not in a decade or more. I honestly can’t say I remember the pizza, but FJL’s was definitely one good eye-talian joint. > [@](#): > > Considering how huge this metro area is, and how diverse the restaurant scene is, it’s surprising how little really good pizza there is. It’s one of those west coast things… Yeah, I’m still really surprised about that, last thing I expected when I relocated from “back East” as every east of Reno is called around here. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/38 "2010-04-12T01:35:08Z")
The best pizza I’ve had here is at my house. Thin, cracker crust or yummy big puff dough; goat cheese and veggies or pepperoni and onion… it’s just good. Not saying a lot, given the choices available (few), but I’m proud of our home-cooked. However, we definitely have plans to hit that famous Phoenix place, after reading about them on the dope. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/39 "2010-04-12T01:54:58Z")
The best pizza I’ve ever had is a little place called Tiberio’s in Lancaster, Ohio. The second best is Hook’s in Chillicothe, Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741/40 "2010-04-12T02:10:16Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > There’s a place here in Phoenix called Pizzeria Bianco which has been rated the best pizza in America and if I’m not mistaken, the best pizza in the world, many times by many different publications. Foodie snobs CANNOT STAND that (and I think it’s awesome :p), since Phoenix isn’t generally considered a hipster foodie city. What kind of whacked out foodies do you hang out with? The foodies I know generally have complimentary things to say about Pizzeria Bianco. In fact, I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about it (save for the lines.) I’ve been to Phoenix once, and I waited 2 1/2 hours to get seated there. I’ve never waited more than 15 or 20 minutes at any other restaurant. And you know what? It was well worth the wait. The pizza was the best pizza I’ve ever had. I want one now. Pizzeria Bianco is a pizza-lover’s destination. So, for Chicago: 1. Chicago-style thin crust: Vito and Nick’s 2. Chicago-style deep dish: Burt’s (in Morton Grove) 3. New York/Neapolitan-hybrid style: Coalfire 4. Chicago-influenced Neapolitan modeled after Pizzeria Bianco: Stop 50 Pizzeria (in Michigan City, Indiana) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pizza-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/535741.md?page=3)