To kick off Pizza Week 2014 with a mozzarella-filled bang, we present 13 of the Twin Cities' most iconic pizzerias, mapped in roughly geographic order. Some have been serving family-recipe red sauce for 50+ years; others are relatively newer entries into the Twin Cities pizza scene, bringing Korean-style toppings and superhero costumes into the mix. (Some of the Twin Cities' newest pizzerias—Burch, Pig Ate My Pizza, Day Block Brewing Co., and the like —didn't make the icon cut, but give them another 10-20 years and maybe they'll make the list in Pizza Week 2034.)
Is your favorite iconic pizzeria missing from the list? Head to the comments to discuss, debate, and disagree.
Anne Kim's south Minneapolis restaurant is one of the newer pizzerias on this list (opened in 2010), but it still gets icon status for offering up some of the Cities' most creative toppings. The Korean BBQ pizza - with Niman Ranch beef short ribs, mozzarella, scallions, arugula, sesame, and soy-chili vinaigrette - is the most iconic of all the Lola pizzas.
Love it or disdain it, Pizza Lucé is a MInnesota pizza icon, not just with six locations throughout the Twin Cities (and Duluth), but also with the omnipresent pizza boxes at seemingly every work and social event. The restaurant opened in 1993, and is also known for its vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, as well as its late-night slices.
Known for unique toppings, like mac and cheese or taco, Mesa PIzza has been open since 2006. The Dinkytown location of Mesa Pizza is a staple for college students, and the Uptown location a staple for Calhoun Square revelers; both locations serve that rare Twin Cities find: pizza by the slice.
Since opening in 1957, Dulono's has been serving thin-crust pizza from a family recipe for more than 50 years. Go for the pizza and beer, stay for the live bluegrass, with bands playing most Friday and Saturday nights for no cover. See the music schedule here.
The most iconic of Twin Cities delivery (maybe any delivery, anywhere), Galactic Pizza delivery people suit up as superheroes and drive electric cars, all in service of the restaurant's mission to serve "planet saving pizza." That means: local, organic ingredients whenever possible; power for the restaurant provided by renewable wind energy; 5% of pre-tax profits donated to charity; and much more. The Paul Bunyan pizza - with toppings all native to the Minnesota ecosystem (morel mushrooms, wild rice, free range bison sausage) - is pretty iconic, too.
This Uptown institution opened in 1959, back when there were only three other places serving pizza in town. A pizza pioneer, if you will. It's not so much known for the quality of its pizza anymore, but for an Uptown bar with a decent beer selection that also happens to serve pizza (and have some history behind it), Leaning Tower's still an icon.
Chanticlear started in 1964 with one location in Fridley; the pizza chain now has 14 locations throughout the Twin Cities. Its main claim to fame is using 100% real Wisconsin mozzarella, plus the same Italian sausage recipe they've been using from the very beginning.
Another more recent icon, the North Loop's Black Sheep opened in 2008. It's known for its blistered crust, plus simple-sounding toppings (like chicken and pickled peppers) that add up to more than the sum of their parts. (Pro-tip: make sure to also get the ever-changing farmers' market salad.)
Since the original (now relocated) Broadway Pizza opened in North Minneapolis in 1961, the restaurant has opened 14 additional locations throughout Minnesota. Known for its railroad theme (and that super distinct caboose), Broadway specializes in thin crust pizza.
This locally-owned favorite - with locations in both Minneapolis and Bloomington - is known for its walls covered with murals and its old-school charm. It's also one of the few (only?) places in town serving clam pizza, New Haven-style, a classic East Coast pizza with baby clams, herb sauce, and Asiago cheese.
With several locations around the Cities, Punch is known for its super-quick, made-to-order, wood-fired Neopolitan-style pies. It's also known for the shout-out it got in President Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address, for voluntarily raising its minimum wage. (Note: Most Punch locations are counter-service only, but the Highland Park location has an extended, full-service dinner menu.)
The original Cossetta's Italian deli opened in 1911, selling the same Italian sausage that graces the St. Paul institution's pies today. If you order a whole pizza, it's choose your own adventure, picking from a host of traditional toppings. They've also got pizza by the slice with either sausage, pepperoni, or plain cheese, plus a three-topping slice special of the day.
Of all its Minnesota locations, the original downtown St. Paul location of Red's Savoy is the most iconic. The original Red's Savoy opened in 1965, and the restaurants still use a secret sauce created by Red himself over four decades ago. The pizza is known for the mountain of toppings (which requires that pies be cut into squares in order to hold them up) and the massive amount of cheese.
Anne Kim's south Minneapolis restaurant is one of the newer pizzerias on this list (opened in 2010), but it still gets icon status for offering up some of the Cities' most creative toppings. The Korean BBQ pizza - with Niman Ranch beef short ribs, mozzarella, scallions, arugula, sesame, and soy-chili vinaigrette - is the most iconic of all the Lola pizzas.
Love it or disdain it, Pizza Lucé is a MInnesota pizza icon, not just with six locations throughout the Twin Cities (and Duluth), but also with the omnipresent pizza boxes at seemingly every work and social event. The restaurant opened in 1993, and is also known for its vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, as well as its late-night slices.
Known for unique toppings, like mac and cheese or taco, Mesa PIzza has been open since 2006. The Dinkytown location of Mesa Pizza is a staple for college students, and the Uptown location a staple for Calhoun Square revelers; both locations serve that rare Twin Cities find: pizza by the slice.
Since opening in 1957, Dulono's has been serving thin-crust pizza from a family recipe for more than 50 years. Go for the pizza and beer, stay for the live bluegrass, with bands playing most Friday and Saturday nights for no cover. See the music schedule here.
The most iconic of Twin Cities delivery (maybe any delivery, anywhere), Galactic Pizza delivery people suit up as superheroes and drive electric cars, all in service of the restaurant's mission to serve "planet saving pizza." That means: local, organic ingredients whenever possible; power for the restaurant provided by renewable wind energy; 5% of pre-tax profits donated to charity; and much more. The Paul Bunyan pizza - with toppings all native to the Minnesota ecosystem (morel mushrooms, wild rice, free range bison sausage) - is pretty iconic, too.
This Uptown institution opened in 1959, back when there were only three other places serving pizza in town. A pizza pioneer, if you will. It's not so much known for the quality of its pizza anymore, but for an Uptown bar with a decent beer selection that also happens to serve pizza (and have some history behind it), Leaning Tower's still an icon.
Chanticlear started in 1964 with one location in Fridley; the pizza chain now has 14 locations throughout the Twin Cities. Its main claim to fame is using 100% real Wisconsin mozzarella, plus the same Italian sausage recipe they've been using from the very beginning.
Another more recent icon, the North Loop's Black Sheep opened in 2008. It's known for its blistered crust, plus simple-sounding toppings (like chicken and pickled peppers) that add up to more than the sum of their parts. (Pro-tip: make sure to also get the ever-changing farmers' market salad.)
Since the original (now relocated) Broadway Pizza opened in North Minneapolis in 1961, the restaurant has opened 14 additional locations throughout Minnesota. Known for its railroad theme (and that super distinct caboose), Broadway specializes in thin crust pizza.
This locally-owned favorite - with locations in both Minneapolis and Bloomington - is known for its walls covered with murals and its old-school charm. It's also one of the few (only?) places in town serving clam pizza, New Haven-style, a classic East Coast pizza with baby clams, herb sauce, and Asiago cheese.
With several locations around the Cities, Punch is known for its super-quick, made-to-order, wood-fired Neopolitan-style pies. It's also known for the shout-out it got in President Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address, for voluntarily raising its minimum wage. (Note: Most Punch locations are counter-service only, but the Highland Park location has an extended, full-service dinner menu.)
The original Cossetta's Italian deli opened in 1911, selling the same Italian sausage that graces the St. Paul institution's pies today. If you order a whole pizza, it's choose your own adventure, picking from a host of traditional toppings. They've also got pizza by the slice with either sausage, pepperoni, or plain cheese, plus a three-topping slice special of the day.
Of all its Minnesota locations, the original downtown St. Paul location of Red's Savoy is the most iconic. The original Red's Savoy opened in 1965, and the restaurants still use a secret sauce created by Red himself over four decades ago. The pizza is known for the mountain of toppings (which requires that pies be cut into squares in order to hold them up) and the massive amount of cheese.
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