What's interesting, though, is that the Freep story focuses not on the Sicilian style that Richman praised as being "flawlessly executed" consistently throughout the region but on the up-and-coming pizzerias in the Motor City. The paper rounds up 25 places to check out. View the list, after the jump.
For people who like hard-and-fast ranking, the list may come as a small disappointment. Supino Pizzeria seems to come in at No. 1, but thereafter the pizzerias are listed in alphabetical order. That doesn't bother me so much; if I lived in Detroit, I'd want to check them all out regardless. [Hat tip to everyone who emailed me this link yesterday!]
Detroit Free Press's Top 10 Pizzerias
Supino Pizzeria: 2457 Russell, Detroit MI; 313-567-7879; supinopizza.com
It's a pretty good list. But the Freep omitted The Alibi in Troy that has one of the best pizzas in the area.
Louis, Buddy's, Shields are all out of the same mold as each other and are good. Amici's, hell, is at the end of my block and is good but overpriced. Georgio's is right across the street from where I work and have never been in there (now I will go)
Green Lantern is the kind of pizza that emotes incredible love for pepperoni grease and reminds me of my youth.
I feel lucky having a Buddies, Jets, Amici's, Shields and Alibi in close proximity to where I work and live.
I'm not from Detroit, but whenever my friends and I passed through, we made it a point to stop at PizzaPapalis. It was the first time I had deep dish pizza, so maybe it just has some nostalgic value and that's why I think it's so good, but I could go for one of their Vegetarian or a Papalis Gourmet right about now...
Oh you are really torturing me. I miss that thick crust Detroit-style pizza. Buddy's in Dearborn and Niki's Pizza (back in the day) in Greektown were my favorite places for this kind of pizza. I want to move back to Detroit! Anybody have a good recipe for Detroit-style pizza?
I'm fairly surprised that Cottage Inn is ranked so high. I would put it on par with Dominos (another chain that calls A2 home). When my wife and I lived in A2, we used to go to the Pizza House (on Church Street). Was it magnificent? No, but it was OK...and in my opinion, much better than anything at Cottage Inn.
Either the Freep is getting some of the rankings wrong, or the Detroit-area pizza scene is really hurting...
Buddy's makes a damn fine pie. My personal favorite, as an omnivore, is the Gourmet Veggie. Coincidentally, the best choice at Cottage Inn is also vegetarian with the Spinach Supreme. And lastly, for vegetarians and those who appreciate a finely made 'za, Jerusalem Pizza in Southfield rules.
But if you like meat, you'll be hard pressed to beat a big thick slice of deep dish Pepperoni & Cheese from Cal's in Detroit. Respect.
During my college years in Ann Arbor, I always preferred NYPD to Cottage Inn or Pizza House. Pizza House was always more about the breadsticks. Cottage Inn was more about the deals you could get for carry-out.
Based on the address listed for Cottage Inn, I think they are referring to the Cottage Inn restaurant which is totally different than the regular pizza places.
We also have a Cottage Inn right up the street in Birmingham, MI. I have not tried their pizza because of the so many other good places right around us.
the guys back in the day would go to PizzaPapalis for the deep dish and it was a hoot (30 years ago).
I think you're right, but Cottage Inn really does itself a disservce by (willingly or unwillingly) associating itself with the other co-named stores that sell a mediocre product.
Nobody's mentioning Silvio's Pizza in Ann Arbor. I moved to Ann Arbor from New York and sometimes that pizza is all that keeps me from moving back East.
Cottage Inn takeout places are on par with most other chains, like Marcos (don't know if I would stoop so low as to compare anyone with Dominos...that is like eating cardboard with soycheese).
The original Cottage Inn restaurant in Ann Arbor makes some of the best pizza around. It's sad that you can't find the same quality as the original at the chains, but a few of them come close. As an A2 native who lives in the Lansing area now, I crave that buttery rich, original crust with sesame seeds...rich mozza...mmmm!
Pizza House isn't horrible, but their crust is cardboardy and some of their toppings are gross. They are highly overrated, but not awful. Their prices are OUTRAGEOUS for what you actually get.
I have never had Aubree's.
Jets is a good chain, I have never been to the flagship store.
Tomatoes in Farmington Hills (two shops, one using a coal-fired oven) is simply the best. It's a New Haven style of pizza (disclaimer: I'm from NY metro) and the crust, tomato sauce and cheese are all first rate. Their sausage is killer, too. Buddy's, of course, is the star of the Detroit style of pizza. A friend of mine took me to the original store in 1981 and I've been a fan ever since.
@figlet: You're right, Sylvio's is the goods. The crust is excellent. Just had a slice there the other day. It's a Napoletana style.
Went to Loui's in Hazel Park and was disappointed. Sauce was way too salty.
NYPD in Ann Arbor has fallen prey to that peculiarly Midwest overcheesing syndrome, the slice thereby losing its balance. I think that that is what happens when you let the kids make the pizza.
Another very decent pizza not mentioned is My Cousin's New York Pizzeria in Bloomfield Hills. Sauce isn't as good as Tomatoes, but it has all the characteristics of a NY slice. One of the owners if from Brooklyn, NY. Hmmm...I'm gettin' hungry.
I've eaten some of the greats -- Una Pizza, John's, Grimaldis, Ginos, Home Run -- so i am pretty particular. Supinos is outstanding pizza. Michigander's like square pizza, and you really can't compare it to a thin crust. Tomato apizza is another great pizza.
Now, if you really want square -- Buddy's is great.
Deep Dish -- Pizzapapalis is great.
Alibi is not that great. It suffers from the same problem of many Michigan pizza. You look at the bottom of the crust and you see grid marks from a pan. This leaves a horrible aftertaste in your mouth. But, locals seem to like it.
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17 Comments:
It's a pretty good list. But the Freep omitted The Alibi in Troy that has one of the best pizzas in the area.
Louis, Buddy's, Shields are all out of the same mold as each other and are good. Amici's, hell, is at the end of my block and is good but overpriced. Georgio's is right across the street from where I work and have never been in there (now I will go)
Green Lantern is the kind of pizza that emotes incredible love for pepperoni grease and reminds me of my youth.
I feel lucky having a Buddies, Jets, Amici's, Shields and Alibi in close proximity to where I work and live.
Scoreboard44 at 12:23PM on 08/28/09
I'm not from Detroit, but whenever my friends and I passed through, we made it a point to stop at PizzaPapalis. It was the first time I had deep dish pizza, so maybe it just has some nostalgic value and that's why I think it's so good, but I could go for one of their Vegetarian or a Papalis Gourmet right about now...
cycorider at 12:43PM on 08/28/09
Oh you are really torturing me. I miss that thick crust Detroit-style pizza. Buddy's in Dearborn and Niki's Pizza (back in the day) in Greektown were my favorite places for this kind of pizza. I want to move back to Detroit! Anybody have a good recipe for Detroit-style pizza?
zemer at 12:47PM on 08/28/09
I'm fairly surprised that Cottage Inn is ranked so high. I would put it on par with Dominos (another chain that calls A2 home). When my wife and I lived in A2, we used to go to the Pizza House (on Church Street). Was it magnificent? No, but it was OK...and in my opinion, much better than anything at Cottage Inn.
Either the Freep is getting some of the rankings wrong, or the Detroit-area pizza scene is really hurting...
Johnny Cash Forever at 1:02PM on 08/28/09
Buddy's makes a damn fine pie. My personal favorite, as an omnivore, is the Gourmet Veggie. Coincidentally, the best choice at Cottage Inn is also vegetarian with the Spinach Supreme. And lastly, for vegetarians and those who appreciate a finely made 'za, Jerusalem Pizza in Southfield rules.
But if you like meat, you'll be hard pressed to beat a big thick slice of deep dish Pepperoni & Cheese from Cal's in Detroit. Respect.
thequayofian at 1:20PM on 08/28/09
During my college years in Ann Arbor, I always preferred NYPD to Cottage Inn or Pizza House. Pizza House was always more about the breadsticks. Cottage Inn was more about the deals you could get for carry-out.
blackolive at 1:34PM on 08/28/09
Based on the address listed for Cottage Inn, I think they are referring to the Cottage Inn restaurant which is totally different than the regular pizza places.
Dgital at 2:21PM on 08/28/09
We also have a Cottage Inn right up the street in Birmingham, MI. I have not tried their pizza because of the so many other good places right around us.
the guys back in the day would go to PizzaPapalis for the deep dish and it was a hoot (30 years ago).
Scoreboard44 at 2:28PM on 08/28/09
Hey Digital,
I think you're right, but Cottage Inn really does itself a disservce by (willingly or unwillingly) associating itself with the other co-named stores that sell a mediocre product.
Johnny Cash Forever at 3:35PM on 08/28/09
one of my reviewers has also mentioned the albi to me? Is it really that good?
pizzaexpert at 5:22PM on 08/28/09
If you live near the Alibi, get the pizza.
Download the menu and enjoy.
For the sake of the article, the Detroit Free Press does this every year, including burger places, ice creams, etc.
Scoreboard44 at 8:21PM on 08/28/09
Every time I come to this site I end up either making or ordering pizza. Damnit, I am out of dough.
climbhighak at 8:35PM on 08/28/09
Nobody's mentioning Silvio's Pizza in Ann Arbor. I moved to Ann Arbor from New York and sometimes that pizza is all that keeps me from moving back East.
Figlet at 9:18PM on 08/28/09
@Johnny Cash Forever
Cottage Inn takeout places are on par with most other chains, like Marcos (don't know if I would stoop so low as to compare anyone with Dominos...that is like eating cardboard with soycheese).
The original Cottage Inn restaurant in Ann Arbor makes some of the best pizza around. It's sad that you can't find the same quality as the original at the chains, but a few of them come close. As an A2 native who lives in the Lansing area now, I crave that buttery rich, original crust with sesame seeds...rich mozza...mmmm!
Pizza House isn't horrible, but their crust is cardboardy and some of their toppings are gross. They are highly overrated, but not awful. Their prices are OUTRAGEOUS for what you actually get.
I have never had Aubree's.
Jets is a good chain, I have never been to the flagship store.
omnomnom at 11:09PM on 08/28/09
Tomatoes in Farmington Hills (two shops, one using a coal-fired oven) is simply the best. It's a New Haven style of pizza (disclaimer: I'm from NY metro) and the crust, tomato sauce and cheese are all first rate. Their sausage is killer, too. Buddy's, of course, is the star of the Detroit style of pizza. A friend of mine took me to the original store in 1981 and I've been a fan ever since.
@figlet: You're right, Sylvio's is the goods. The crust is excellent. Just had a slice there the other day. It's a Napoletana style.
Went to Loui's in Hazel Park and was disappointed. Sauce was way too salty.
NYPD in Ann Arbor has fallen prey to that peculiarly Midwest overcheesing syndrome, the slice thereby losing its balance. I think that that is what happens when you let the kids make the pizza.
Another very decent pizza not mentioned is My Cousin's New York Pizzeria in Bloomfield Hills. Sauce isn't as good as Tomatoes, but it has all the characteristics of a NY slice. One of the owners if from Brooklyn, NY. Hmmm...I'm gettin' hungry.
Summerfield at 3:40PM on 08/29/09
Dolly's pizza is a really good chain, great sauce and a very yeasty dough. It's my current favorite pizza. In fact, I got some tonight.
noxturne at 8:35PM on 08/29/09
I've eaten some of the greats -- Una Pizza, John's, Grimaldis, Ginos, Home Run -- so i am pretty particular. Supinos is outstanding pizza. Michigander's like square pizza, and you really can't compare it to a thin crust. Tomato apizza is another great pizza.
Now, if you really want square -- Buddy's is great.
Deep Dish -- Pizzapapalis is great.
Alibi is not that great. It suffers from the same problem of many Michigan pizza. You look at the bottom of the crust and you see grid marks from a pan. This leaves a horrible aftertaste in your mouth. But, locals seem to like it.
I'll pass.
don1deb1 at 9:02PM on 11/12/09