If you’re craving a Chicago-style deep dish pie with thick, buttery crust, tons of rich marinara sauce, lots of ooey-gooey melted mozzarella cheese and piles of spicy pepperoni and zesty Italian sausage, Danny Boy’s Pizza in Rocky River (there are also locations in Canton, Chesterland and Sandusky) is the place you’ve got to be. There is simply no need to drive all the way to the windy city to attempt to tactfully devour a three-inch-deep pie filled with savory goodness when Danny Boy’s is in town; They’ve got all of that gooey Chicago lovin’ right here in Cleveland.
Brick Oven:Bucci’s Brick Oven
The taste and aroma of a brick oven pizza is unmistakable, and Bucci’s Brick Oven in Middleburg Heights has brick oven pizza down to a science: a delicious, mouth-watering science. The crust of Bucci’s brick oven pies is crunchy on the outside and just a little chewy on the inside, just the way brick oven pizza crust should be. Bucci’s tops off their perfect pies with house-made marinara that is loaded with basil and garlic flavors and then sprinkles a generous portion of whole milk mozzarella that melts ideally above the flavorful sauce. Topped with spicy pepperonis and banana peppers, or any of Bucci’s dozens of other available toppings, this brick oven pie is simply out of this world.
Pepperoni Perfection: Geraci’s Located on the east side of Cleveland in University Heights, Geraci’s has been featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive Ins and Dives” with Guy Fieri. This local establishment has been family-owned for decades, and their amazing pies are something that all generations enjoy. Fresh dough is made in-house each morning. The savory pizza sauce is also homemade. Geraci’s uses whole milk mozzarella cheese on its pies, and the creamy flavor really shines through. What really sets them apart, though, are the insanely-thick slices of spicy pepperoni that make Geraci’s pizza what it really is: delicious. The small but thick slices cup and crisp in Geraci’s high-temperature pizza oven, making each bite of Geraci’s pepperoni pie simply tantalizing.
Nunzio’s pizza features three locations in the Cleveland area, and each one is simple, old-school and friendly. Most have small dining rooms attached, but it’s rare that you see people eat in. Why? Because Nunzio’s incredibly affordable, enormous sheet pizzas are best enjoyed with lots of company at home. A half-sheet pie is only $11.25, plus $1.50 for each topping. A half-sheet feeds eight-or-so people, so you simply can’t beat the price. The pie is fresh and the crust is a bit buttery and slightly chewy. The sauce is perfectly spiced and not overly-abundant on the pie, making the perfect bed for lots of hot, bubbly cheese.
New York Style: Capri Pizza
Capri Pizza, which has locations in both Middleburg Heights and North Olmsted, is a longstanding tradition on the west side of Cleveland. They’re locally-famous for their fantastically floppy New York style pies, of which the slices are perfectly foldable. The crust is thin, but not too thin– and just the right amount of chewy. High-grade toppings like Italian imported whole milk mozzarella, Italian sausage crumbles and spicy pepperoni make Capri’s enormous slices stupendous. A huge, 18-inch pie is just $14.95 (plus $2.95 for each topping), but come in on Mondays or Wednesdays for an $11.99 cheese plus one topping pie, or on Tuesdays for customer appreciation day, where an 18-inch cheese pie is just $8 with toppings for just $1.50 each.
