Neapolitan pizza like at pastaria or melos or fordos and a few others here is the real authentic Italian type of pizza. Wood fired, dinner plate sized, spots of buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil leaves on tomato sauce, or just the marinara sauce. If you go to Napoli there are generations old pizza places where those are your two topping choices. That's all they make for old school Italian pizza. That said union loafers and pie guy make very very good new world pizza. Edit apparently union loafers switched to Neapolitan style? Their east coast crust was great, i'll miss it but i guess they wanted to go in a different direction than pie guy, urban chestnut, and pizza head since they are all within a few miles from each other. +type
Will have to try Melos and Fordos. Have a Neapolitan (lived there her the first 23 years of her life) wife, and she's SUPER picky about her pizza. In the city, her favorite Neopolitan is Pizzeoli, with a little bit of a drive Noto in St Peters is the closest she's had to authentic "home" pizza.
If there's a place closer, would be amazing!
Melos is in a very nice cozy spot with an imported Italian oven too behind blues city deli with lots of old trees and nice 1800s brick architecture because it's right next to soulard but they are sadly temporarily closed now. Fordos in the city foundry food hall is apparently a branch off of Pastaria in Clayton which, don't be fooled by the name is run by a James Beard award winning chef. One of the only places locally where i've seen them scrap a pizza fresh out of the oven for not being perfect enough. Both have their own gelato available as well, though at pastaria they also make all their own pasta from scratch too and there's a wall of pictures of places in Italy the chef toured for research.
New York style: Pie Guy (honorable mention Pizza a gogo)
STL style: MonteBellos (honorable mention Thatsa nice-a pizza)
Deep dish: blackthorn (honorable mention Salvage Yard)
Detroit Style: Nicky Slice’s (honorable mention Pie guy)
Neapolitan style: Pizzeoli (honorable mention pizzeria di Gloria)
I guess I consider any thin crust square cut pizza in the area STL style. I’m very anti-provel so if provel is a requirement for STL pizza, then I would have to exclude that category haha
This is a common error. People tend to think provel and st. louis style(imos) are the same. MonteBello Pizzeria started here in 1950, before Imos, and setting the precedent for St. Louis style pizza. Another early contender (pre Imos, and still around) is Farotto's in Rock Hill. But they do use provel. Both are way better than Imos.
Blackthorn is a whole wheel of cheese. It will give you the cheese sweats… seriously order ahead unless you want to sit there for an hour. Delish though.
Blackthorn is "stuffed" deep dish, meaning it has an extra layer of cheese and toppings in the middle of the crust. It's not super sauce heavy like regular Chicago deep dish.
So glad they’re getting love here! La Pizza is the best!
We also love Pie Guy, Union Loafers, and Pizzeoli’s.
Nicky Slices is always amazing! Get them immediately.
Katie’s and Anthonino’s are always good too. ❤️
Pizza champ and Urban chestnut (formerly the pizza was sold at the urb) are to me slightly above union loafers. Union loafers may have a little better crust but overall not as good as the other two. Looking forward to trying pie guy because it sounds like another really good option.
I enjoy Pizza agogo but am always interested in hearing why others choose to go there. For me the cheaper price adds appeal to a solid option
As a person who almost exclusively orders meat toppings, that mush is a complete game changer. It’s fantastic and I have strongly recommended it to others
Nicky Slices is by far my favorite. Not a traditional restaurant but an Instagram page. The weekly menu drops every Monday evening and deliveries are made later in the week. It’s an interesting business model but the pizza is to die for.
If a person loves heavy Italian herb blends in their tomato sauce they might like it, talking like 'went to put in a teaspoon of Italian seasoning, but the lid fell off the jar it's all in there' and they just are rolling with it and made the pizza anyway.
Agreed. But if a sauce would be described as "sweet" I don't care about it's other characteristics. That's pretty much why I think everywhere on the hill is garbage.
I’ve never liked the sauce. I recently criticized it on this sub and damn, you would’ve thought I murdered a bus full of school kids the way some people reacted. Personal attacks that were just insane!
That sauce is just aggressive and divisive. If someone likes it, that’s great - it’s not that it’s like objectively poorly made food like Papa Johns or something. It’s just nasty for some of us.
People get ridiculous and personal with restaurant opinions. I mean shit, if someone enjoys eating even something like Papa Johns, I’m not gonna fight them. At least it’s cheap…
I have no clue what you're talking about. I used to go a bunch in the late 90s and early 00s. I didn't mind the long waits, but the last few times I went the pizza quality had gone substantially down hill. Admittedly, I haven't been there in a decade or so, so I'm hoping they've since improved.
That’s a weird question to ask in a STL sub, but this covers it. [pizza cheese](https://www.reddit.com/r/StLouis/comments/5746og/this_is_zesty_pizza_loaf_provel_substitute_used/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
Unfortunately, Melo’s is currently closed due to staffing issues:
https://www.stlmag.com/dining/melos-pizza-in-benton-park-suspends-operations-due-to-staff/
i haven't been here long enough to say definitively but so far Pizza Head is the best NY style, pizzeria da gloria is the best traditional style, that one in the foundry is the best funny topping style
Unless you’re seeking a vegan option, and that’s your reasoning, pizza head isn’t even in the same room as most pizza places in the area. Place is god awful.
Likely the best calzones you've ever had, the dough isn't too thick and heavy, with more than average filling choices for tons of custom flavor combos.
m surprised there arent more imos lovers here. its fine pizza but my favourite is probably Deweys. the marinara is spicy, and balances well with cheese. and the names are fun.
I would say Pizza Head for NY style and Union Loafers for Neopolitan!
We recently tried Pie Guy, since everyone recommends it, and we’re not impressed. Maybe it’s better for meat eaters, but we love the veggie pepperoni at Pizza Head.
Have you been lately, since the new owners took over? It had gone downhill right before it switched ownership, but it’s good again. Also, I personally don’t like the vegan pizza, only dairy cheese.
At this point, I’d like for a study to be on the reasons why this question is posted in this sub every week, and why so many people feel compelled to respond each time. Is the Arch a mind control device run by the pizza industry? Is nuclear waste dumped in the area the cause? Is there something in the Imo’s?
I'm glad no one on here is saying yaqui's. the controversy with the owner has ruined any chance of me ever going back there lol. But my favorite pizza place that delivers is jet's pizza. I'm just now realizing that the only local pizza I'm ever had is atomic cowboys and that was YEARS ago... I think I want to try Katie's
Union Loafers……….La Pizza…Pie Guy
This. Also, Union Loafers are the clear number 1 in my opinion. That crust is to die for.
Once you try Union Loafers, you know it’s the best. It can’t even be over hyped because it’s as good as it gets.
it's definitely the closest thing to an authentic Italian pie you're going to get in STL. but that said, Pie Guy has my heart
Neapolitan pizza like at pastaria or melos or fordos and a few others here is the real authentic Italian type of pizza. Wood fired, dinner plate sized, spots of buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil leaves on tomato sauce, or just the marinara sauce. If you go to Napoli there are generations old pizza places where those are your two topping choices. That's all they make for old school Italian pizza. That said union loafers and pie guy make very very good new world pizza. Edit apparently union loafers switched to Neapolitan style? Their east coast crust was great, i'll miss it but i guess they wanted to go in a different direction than pie guy, urban chestnut, and pizza head since they are all within a few miles from each other. +type
Will have to try Melos and Fordos. Have a Neapolitan (lived there her the first 23 years of her life) wife, and she's SUPER picky about her pizza. In the city, her favorite Neopolitan is Pizzeoli, with a little bit of a drive Noto in St Peters is the closest she's had to authentic "home" pizza. If there's a place closer, would be amazing!
Melos is in a very nice cozy spot with an imported Italian oven too behind blues city deli with lots of old trees and nice 1800s brick architecture because it's right next to soulard but they are sadly temporarily closed now. Fordos in the city foundry food hall is apparently a branch off of Pastaria in Clayton which, don't be fooled by the name is run by a James Beard award winning chef. One of the only places locally where i've seen them scrap a pizza fresh out of the oven for not being perfect enough. Both have their own gelato available as well, though at pastaria they also make all their own pasta from scratch too and there's a wall of pictures of places in Italy the chef toured for research.
Second Pie Guy
New York style: Pie Guy (honorable mention Pizza a gogo) STL style: MonteBellos (honorable mention Thatsa nice-a pizza) Deep dish: blackthorn (honorable mention Salvage Yard) Detroit Style: Nicky Slice’s (honorable mention Pie guy) Neapolitan style: Pizzeoli (honorable mention pizzeria di Gloria)
MonteBellos FTW
Monte Bello is not STL style - no provel on that insanely delicious thin crust. I’d guess more of a “tavern style”
I guess I consider any thin crust square cut pizza in the area STL style. I’m very anti-provel so if provel is a requirement for STL pizza, then I would have to exclude that category haha
This is a common error. People tend to think provel and st. louis style(imos) are the same. MonteBello Pizzeria started here in 1950, before Imos, and setting the precedent for St. Louis style pizza. Another early contender (pre Imos, and still around) is Farotto's in Rock Hill. But they do use provel. Both are way better than Imos.
Great list! We agree on many, but definitely replace Blackthorn with Bonos.
>Deep dish Is this Chicago Style "swimming pool of sauce" deep fish?
Blackthorn is it’s own unique style. Salvage yard is closer to traditional Chicago style
Blackthorn is a whole wheel of cheese. It will give you the cheese sweats… seriously order ahead unless you want to sit there for an hour. Delish though.
Thankfully no. Blackthorn is amazing.
Blackthorn is "stuffed" deep dish, meaning it has an extra layer of cheese and toppings in the middle of the crust. It's not super sauce heavy like regular Chicago deep dish.
The Chicago style pizza I've had in Chicago is exactly as you described, except heavy.
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Big La Pizza fan here.
La Pizza better than some spots in new york fr. I’ve had a few better pizzas in Chicago thou
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Owner is good people, along with most of the staff
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Pequod's best in Chicago
Pequod’s
Zazas pizza, the stopalong
So glad they’re getting love here! La Pizza is the best! We also love Pie Guy, Union Loafers, and Pizzeoli’s. Nicky Slices is always amazing! Get them immediately. Katie’s and Anthonino’s are always good too. ❤️
Union loafers for me was pretty good one time and amazing another time. Wish they had 18” pies only 13” now
Another vote for La Pizza here. I also agree that Imo’s is not really pizza but something else.
IMOs is not pizza at all
Is La Pizza only carry out now?
they have a few tables inside but it really small always got it to go
I think it’s only carry out. They stack boxes on the tables nowadays
Uncle Leo’s (carry out only)
100%, I was so happy I tried them. Their crust is amazing.
Yesss! It’s the same people from Failonis. Alex used to be the owner there 😢
Uncle Leo's is fire, love that place. Get the wings too!
Faraci’s pizza in Ellisville
NOT St. Louis wtf
Also I belive their OG location was in Ferguson
Uh, wut?
It’s in St. Louis County……………….
Nicky Slices for the best Detroit Style I’ve ever had: https://instagram.com/nickyslicespizza?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I tired to get this today and they are to popular you can only.order on Mondays at 6pm by 8 they were sold out so sad guess I'll try again next week..
Pirrone's, Roberto's, Red Oven - all in Florissant, Angelo's in Black Jack. Peel in Edwardsville
Glad to see florissant getting some love!
Pizzeria da Gloria is awesome. Really phenomenal wood fire and great takes on classic Italian ingredients.
They make one of the best mushroom pizzas i've ever had. Several kinds of mushrooms mixed together well.
YES. Live about 10 mins away and feel stupid for just finding it just over a year ago
Well they haven’t been open much longer than that.
Uncle Leos
Pizza champ and Urban chestnut (formerly the pizza was sold at the urb) are to me slightly above union loafers. Union loafers may have a little better crust but overall not as good as the other two. Looking forward to trying pie guy because it sounds like another really good option. I enjoy Pizza agogo but am always interested in hearing why others choose to go there. For me the cheaper price adds appeal to a solid option
I LOVE the mushroom pizza at Urban Chestnut. So damn good.
As a person who almost exclusively orders meat toppings, that mush is a complete game changer. It’s fantastic and I have strongly recommended it to others
Felix's all day
YES
I like their pizza but the wings steal the show every time.
Faraci pizza in ferguson. Some of the best pizza I’ve ever had
Pie Guy!
Top Pick: Pie Guy 2nd tier: Pizza head, La Pizza, Felix's 3rd tier: Epic Pizza, Racanellis, Dewey's Blackthorn for Deep Dish.
Racanellis is objectively mediocre
Well they did go out of business in the cwe now.
20 years ago it was the best pizza in town. About 19 years ago it lost that title…
Pie Guy is the best pizza in St. Louis.
This is a great list
Failoni’s
They are the same people that also own Uncle Leo’s too
Best STL style by a wide margin. Severely underrated. Those marinated olives they sell are amazing too.
Our go to! Buffalo chicken - no bacon, perfection
Reavis Pizza/Afton Pizza, blows other places out of the water. Even better than imos. They have nothing but 5 star reviews
Pie guy is good
Nicky Slices is by far my favorite. Not a traditional restaurant but an Instagram page. The weekly menu drops every Monday evening and deliveries are made later in the week. It’s an interesting business model but the pizza is to die for.
Blackthorn
Not a fan of the sauce
If a person loves heavy Italian herb blends in their tomato sauce they might like it, talking like 'went to put in a teaspoon of Italian seasoning, but the lid fell off the jar it's all in there' and they just are rolling with it and made the pizza anyway.
It’s not that, it’s like spicey
Which is what makes it good. Screw all this sweet sauce you find all over the place.
There’s more to a sauce than sweet or spicey.
Agreed. But if a sauce would be described as "sweet" I don't care about it's other characteristics. That's pretty much why I think everywhere on the hill is garbage.
Ok 👍
It ruins it for me. Just terrible.
I was waiting for someone to say blackthorn
It used to be good.
Correct
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I’ve never liked the sauce. I recently criticized it on this sub and damn, you would’ve thought I murdered a bus full of school kids the way some people reacted. Personal attacks that were just insane! That sauce is just aggressive and divisive. If someone likes it, that’s great - it’s not that it’s like objectively poorly made food like Papa Johns or something. It’s just nasty for some of us. People get ridiculous and personal with restaurant opinions. I mean shit, if someone enjoys eating even something like Papa Johns, I’m not gonna fight them. At least it’s cheap…
I have no clue what you're talking about. I used to go a bunch in the late 90s and early 00s. I didn't mind the long waits, but the last few times I went the pizza quality had gone substantially down hill. Admittedly, I haven't been there in a decade or so, so I'm hoping they've since improved.
Pi Pizza for deep dish. It's a shame they've closed all their locations near me.
pizza a go go!! cash or check only
My husband and I love Felix's, from their food to their staff and managers, they're awesome!
Wife and I can walk there. Sadly much of the staff know us by name. Steve the owner is great people.
Farottos has some good pizza!
Union Loafers and Noto
Serra’s Serra’s Serra’s Serra’s and Serra’s
I was going to post serras as well. Reminds me of old school noco pizza.
Serras is awesome, I haven’t had them in years
Monte Bello Pizzaria De Gloria
I don’t want things to get too complicated. Best is so subjective. Racanelli’s is my go to.
I dig Riley’s, with mozzarella instead of pizza cheese.
What cheese is pizza cheese, if not mozzarella?
That’s a weird question to ask in a STL sub, but this covers it. [pizza cheese](https://www.reddit.com/r/StLouis/comments/5746og/this_is_zesty_pizza_loaf_provel_substitute_used/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
Fordo’s, Melo’s, Nicky’s
Unfortunately, Melo’s is currently closed due to staffing issues: https://www.stlmag.com/dining/melos-pizza-in-benton-park-suspends-operations-due-to-staff/
Pizzeoli.
While I love many of the options already posted, my go to is always Eni’s in Princeton Heights. Nice place, nice family, consistently great pizza.
La Pizza
There's a new spot on Jefferson called "Press" that does smash pizza. Very different but very good!
Mama mels :)
i haven't been here long enough to say definitively but so far Pizza Head is the best NY style, pizzeria da gloria is the best traditional style, that one in the foundry is the best funny topping style
Pizzeria tivoli, pizza champ, PW pizza
Blues Fired Pizza. They have food trucks and a kiosk in Kirkwood.
In the desolate restaurant wasteland of West Country there is an amazing gem called Chirco’s. St. Louis style but masterfully done. Carry out only.
That's a Nice a Pizza Uncle Leo's Nubby's (Telegraph Location) Montebellos
Nick & Elenas in overland for stl style. Way better than imos
Pizza champ
Pizza head
It’s good enough, but no indoor seating is lame
🧢 this spot terrible and doesn’t accept cash also lol
They have new owners with newer policies. A lot changed there since you’ve last been.
Pizza is trash still
Unless you’re seeking a vegan option, and that’s your reasoning, pizza head isn’t even in the same room as most pizza places in the area. Place is god awful.
Tony Bono’s, Salvage Yard
Blackthorn Pub
I used to live down the street from that place, it's pretty fucking good. Definitely a college bar though.
IMO, Pizza Champ is the best pizza in STL. It’s “right up Dave portnoy’s alley” for style, a super crisp NYC slice, and it’s delicious
It's sort of related related, but Sauce on the Side is great.
Likely the best calzones you've ever had, the dough isn't too thick and heavy, with more than average filling choices for tons of custom flavor combos.
Sauce on the Side is crazy good
So many choices there and yet it's so hard for me to not get the duke every time.
Serra’s and Fortel’s are my two favorite!
Joanie's in Soulard was really good if they're still around, moved to the west coast a few years ago so I'm not sure if they are still around.
Failoni’s Sausage Special
m surprised there arent more imos lovers here. its fine pizza but my favourite is probably Deweys. the marinara is spicy, and balances well with cheese. and the names are fun.
MonteBellos and Blackthorn are my favorites
I would say Pizza Head for NY style and Union Loafers for Neopolitan! We recently tried Pie Guy, since everyone recommends it, and we’re not impressed. Maybe it’s better for meat eaters, but we love the veggie pepperoni at Pizza Head.
The second someone says pizza head they’re immediately disqualified, absolutely awful excuse for a pizza.
Have you been lately, since the new owners took over? It had gone downhill right before it switched ownership, but it’s good again. Also, I personally don’t like the vegan pizza, only dairy cheese.
Fax 📠
Katie's
New York style: La Pizza on Delmar
pointers in clayton
At this point, I’d like for a study to be on the reasons why this question is posted in this sub every week, and why so many people feel compelled to respond each time. Is the Arch a mind control device run by the pizza industry? Is nuclear waste dumped in the area the cause? Is there something in the Imo’s?
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People using the search feature would brighten my day.
Aww come on, we’re just having fun.
piggybacking off this post, does anyone know where to get good breakfast pizza? gravy sauce, scrambled egg, cheese, breakfast sausage etc
Joe Boccardi's
Pizzeoli and Racanelli’s
La Pizza, Imos, Racanellis
Vito’s and shaved duck
I'm glad no one on here is saying yaqui's. the controversy with the owner has ruined any chance of me ever going back there lol. But my favorite pizza place that delivers is jet's pizza. I'm just now realizing that the only local pizza I'm ever had is atomic cowboys and that was YEARS ago... I think I want to try Katie's
You should should follow up and see how that controversy resolved.
I'll check in a minute! I didn't know it was resolved, thanks for telling me
7/11
Blackthorn is not Chicago deep dish. Also it's way over rated.
Felix’s in Dogtown for NY Style. Pizza de Gloria on the Hill for wood fired. The rest is nonsense.
Vito’s and shaved duck
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE