Detroit-Style Pizza Catching On

**TexasT** · April-01-13, 10:51 AM

"They want to see "Detroit-style pizza" uttered with the same familiarity and respect accorded to Chicago's or New York's famous styles -- and sooner rather than later.Think it sounds farfetched? They and other experts said they believe it's only a matter of time."

http://www.freep.com/article/2013033...ans-nationwide

Any of you metro Detroiters recognize this as "Detroit-style?" I've called it that since I first had it [[since I'd never experienced it anywhere else) but I've gotten confusion from people from the region when I've used that term. Once I describe it [[square, crispy crust, sauce on top), people are like "Oh like Buddy's/Jets/Shields" but calling it Detroit-style hasn't caught on, in my experience.

Via 313, a Detroit-style pizza joint back in Austin, is really popular, FYI.

**Honky Tonk** · April-01-13, 10:53 AM

Any of you metro Detroiters recognize this as "Detroit-style?" I've called it that since I first had it [[since I'd never experienced it anywhere else) but I've gotten confusion from people from the region when I've used that term. Once I describe it [[square, crispy crust, sauce on top), people are like "Oh like Buddy's/Jets/Shields" but calling it Detroit-style hasn't caught on, in my experience.

Via 313, a Detroit-style pizza joint back in Austin, is really popular, FYI.[/QUOTE]

I think if you buy it @ a gas station or party store, that's Detroit style pizza.

**Vic01** · April-03-13, 02:09 AM

What makes folks think that any/every "deep dish" or square pizza is "Detroit Style" pizza?

Here's a quote from the website mentioned in the original Free Press article

Detroit-style pizza is often referred to as “upside-down pizza” or “red top pizza” because of the way its prepared:
1 – Start with a thick, chewy Sicilian crust
2 – Line the crust with a layer of pepperoni
3 – Mound plenty of cheese on top [[traditionally brick and mozzarella) all the way to the edge
4 – Heap any extra toppings on the cheese
5 – Drizzle on a thick layer of signature red sauce that trickles through the bubbling cheese

**rooms222** · April-03-13, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Vic01

What makes folks think that any/every "deep dish" or square pizza is "Detroit Style" pizza?

Here's a quote from the website mentioned in the original Free Press article

Detroit-style pizza is often referred to as “upside-down pizza” or “red top pizza” because of the way its prepared:
1 – Start with a thick, chewy Sicilian crust
2 – Line the crust with a layer of pepperoni
3 – Mound plenty of cheese on top [[traditionally brick and mozzarella) all the way to the edge
4 – Heap any extra toppings on the cheese
5 – Drizzle on a thick layer of signature red sauce that trickles through the bubbling cheese

Noble Roman's is an Indiana chain that has been in decline. It made it to Toledo and across the midwest in the 90's, but has retreated to a few Indiana locations. Its Sicilian pizza has been its best pizza since the 70's, and it meets all the points of Detroit pizza above, except that it may use straight mozzarella for the cheese. When the few remaining outlets in Indiana have it together, it is still some of the best "Detroit pizza" ever.

P.S.-They did have an ill-fated expansion selling pizza at gas stations. This was not the same pizza at the restaurants, I believe, but perhaps par-baked crusts. They had one in Howell, among other places, for a minute....

**Bham1982** · April-01-13, 11:08 AM

This Buddys/Shields/Cloverleaf style isn't even that common in Metro Detroit. There are what, maybe 20 places with this style?

I have heard it referred to as "Detroit-style" in these parts, but even here, I don't think it's super-obvious to most that it means this style. If you said "Buddys-style", I think you would get more recognition locally.

**bailey** · April-01-13, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

This Buddys/Shields/Cloverleaf style isn't even that common in Metro Detroit. There are what, maybe 20 places with this style?

Or Jets... [[200 locations.)

**Bham1982** · April-01-13, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by bailey

Or Jets... [[200 locations.)

IMO Jets isn't specifically Detroit-style. They have deep-dish pan pizza, like every other chain, but it doesn't look or taste like Buddys.

I thought places like Buddys were sorta unique and "Detroit-style" for reversing the sauce and cheese, and for using that sticky, chewy dough. Jets, to me, is just regular pan pizza, like Pizza Hut.

**jerrytimes** · November-25-18, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

Or Jets... [[200 locations.)

Jet's is NOT Detroit style.

**softailrider** · November-25-18, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by jerrytimes

Jet's is NOT Detroit style.

I think that THEY think they are. But the sauce isn’t on the top - it’s confusing.

**Bong-Man** · October-23-19, 08:52 AM

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Was pumping gas in Watertown, New York, when I looked up and saw this advertisement.

**TexasT** · April-01-13, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

This Buddys/Shields/Cloverleaf style isn't even that common in Metro Detroit. There are what, maybe 20 places with this style?

It's not necessarily how many places there are, it is more the fact that it has been pretty much exclusive to the Detroit metro area for seventy years [[until recently, as it is starting to pop up outside of Detroit, specifically labelled as "Detroit-style" like the place in Austin that I mentioned.)

313 Via is a popular stop on 6th Street; they are opening a second location soon. EDIT: Second location is open - full restaurant coming soon.

http://slice.seriouseats.com/archive...tin-texas.html

**Bham1982** · April-01-13, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by TexasT

It's not necessarily how many places there are, it is more the fact that it has been pretty much exclusive to the Detroit metro area for seventy years

True; I'm a fan of this style, and haven't tried it anywhere else. Usually "deep dish" means Sicilian-style, but Detroit has its own unique take.

**Maof** · April-01-13, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

True; I'm a fan of this style, and haven't tried it anywhere else. Usually "deep dish" means Sicilian-style, but Detroit has its own unique take.

Sicilian style or "scfinciuni" isn't really deep dish in the sense that it's not thick. traditionally, it's made in a cookie sheet and with no pepperoni. just your sauce, cheese and bread crumbs. if we had anchovies that was a treat. the closest to my grandmas is made at bommaritos in st clair shores.

**Zug** · April-01-13, 11:26 AM

I've called it "Detroit-style" with people I know for years, since I really like pizza and it's just easiest to say that when comparing our pizza to Chicago & New York. But never heard others use the term until recently. I think what happens is that we're just so used to it here that we think of it as "square pizza." It really is a style in its own, and probably it would be cool if "Detroit style" pizza becomes an accepted term. Also, I think it's not really accurate to say not many places serve it...if you think of all of the Buddy's, Jets, Shields, Papa Romanos, etc. that starts adding up. Of course we don't ONLY eat square pizzas...but it's not like people in Chicago only eat Chicago style.

**Bham1982** · April-01-13, 11:36 AM

I don't know; to me, Jets and Papa Romanos sell pan pizza, no different than Pizza Hut or all the other chains.

They have that spongy dough, normal crust and the cheese and sauce aren't reversed like at Buddys.

**TexasT** · April-01-13, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

I don't know; to me, Jets and Papa Romanos sell pan pizza, no different than Pizza Hut or all the other chains.

They have that spongy dough, normal crust and the cheese and sauce aren't reversed like at Buddys.

It's not an "authentic" Detroit-style since the toppings are not reversed, but 1) it's square and 2) it has the crispy/cheesy/burned edge on the crust. It's close enough to Detroit-style that I'd consider it that [[moreso than just traditional deep dish).

Jets:

Papa Romanos:

Pizza Hut:

**JBMcB** · April-01-13, 11:50 AM

Time for a list, I guess:

Buddy's
Cloverleaf
Shield's
Loui's
Green Lantern

Little Caesars is reportedly making a Detroit-style deep dish pizza soon.

Any more?

**TexasT** · April-01-13, 11:44 AM

FYI, this is [[Detroit-based) Little Caesar's newest offering, rolling out soon:

Look familiar?

**Eber Brock Ward** · April-01-13, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

I don't know; to me, Jets and Papa Romanos sell pan pizza, no different than Pizza Hut or all the other chains.

They have that spongy dough, normal crust and the cheese and sauce aren't reversed like at Buddys.

Agreed. I think that the cheese/sauce reversal is an essential part of a Detroit-style pizza.

**chicagoforlife** · April-01-13, 11:57 AM

This is the first that I've ever heard a pizza called "Detroit style." It kind of looks like a smaller version of Chicago style pizza but not really.

I love Chicago style though, I love my hometown's food legends. But it's true not all Chicagoians eat Chicago style pizza, we have chains like Little Caesars and Domino's, I don't like either place but they are here.

So for someone visiting downtown Detroit where would the best place be to get this pizza from? I had pizza once from a place in Greektown and liked it, does anyone know the place I'm talking about? If you are coming from the casino it's right across the street in the middle of the block.

**nain rouge** · April-01-13, 11:57 AM

Detroit truly is a pizza capital. We're home to four of the top 15 [[and two of top five) highest grossing pizzerias in the United States: Domino’s, Little Caesar’s, Hungry Howie’s, and Jet’s. No other state can compete with those numbers.

**Bham1982** · April-01-13, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by nain rouge

Detroit truly is a pizza capital. We're home to four of the top 15 [[and two of top five) highest grossing pizzerias in the United States: Domino’s, Little Caesar’s, Hungry Howie’s, and Jet’s. No other state can compete with those numbers.

It's great that we have these companies here in Michigan, but IMO these four chains are pretty much all inedible.

Dominos is maybe tolerable. Jets is pretty bad, Little Caesar's and especially Hungry Howie's are terrible. The $4 Costco frozen cheese pizza is much better.

**TexasT** · April-01-13, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by chicagoforlife

This is the first that I've ever heard a pizza called "Detroit style." It kind of looks like a smaller version of Chicago style pizza but not really.

I love Chicago style though, I love my hometown's food legends. But it's true not all Chicagoians eat Chicago style pizza, we have chains like Little Caesars and Domino's, I don't like either place but they are here.

So for someone visiting downtown Detroit where would the best place be to get this pizza from? I had pizza once from a place in Greektown and liked it, does anyone know the place I'm talking about? If you are coming from the casino it's right across the street in the middle of the block.

Pizza Papalis is the one you are thinking of - it's more like Chicago style [[my favorite chicago place is Pequods in Lincoln Park, which interestingly is a mix of Chicago and Detroit. It's the thick pie-like middle of Chicago with almost a Buddy's style crust. Second favorite was Pizano's in the Gold Coast, which is straight up Chicago-style).

The best place to have Detroit-style pizza, in my humble opinion, is Buddy's. It seems to be the standard. The original one is in the city, but it's in a rougher area if that kind of thing bothers you. You can check out one in the suburbs too - Dearborn isn't that far. But I swear, the original is the best!

http://www.buddyspizza.com/locations.html

Buddy's needs to open a downtown location, for real.

**bailey** · April-01-13, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by TexasT

Buddy's needs to open a downtown location, for real.

Buddy's isn't, but Shields is. Kales building... spring of 2007

**chicagoforlife** · April-01-13, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by TexasT

Pizza Papalis is the one you are thinking of - it's more like Chicago style [[my favorite chicago place is Pequods in Lincoln Park, which interestingly is a mix of Chicago and Detroit. It's the thick pie-like middle of Chicago with almost a Buddy's style crust. Second favorite was Pizano's in the Gold Coast, which is straight up Chicago-style).

The best place to have Detroit-style pizza, in my humble opinion, is Buddy's. It seems to be the standard. The original one is in the city, but it's in a rougher area if that kind of thing bothers you. You can check out one in the suburbs too - Dearborn isn't that far. But I swear, the original is the best!

http://www.buddyspizza.com/locations.html

Buddy's needs to open a downtown location, for real.

The problem is not being in a bad area because I live in an iffy neighborhood in Chicago so I'm not worried about that too much. It's just getting there, I drive but I like to depend on mass transit and in Detroit that leaves me with the bus so that's the problem I had.

This is off topic but it'd be nice if downtown and midtown Detroit were connected and that expressway was removed, I think that's I-75.

I'm kind of replying to ya backwards lol, you're right on the place in Greektown and that wasn't bad to me. In Chicago I pretty much go with Connie's, Beggar's or Giordano's. Most Chicagoians would probably say Giordano's or Gino's East for pizza.

I love the Italian Beef from Mr. Beef that place on Orleans Street is the bomb.

Then you have Nancy's, Lou Malnatti's which I hate. There is also a pizza place in the Holiday Inn on Harrison in front of the post office, that place is awful. That's Arellio's, it's not even Chicago style pizza.