12 Ohio Pizza Spots With Some Of The Hardest Reservations To Get
Getting a table at Ohio’s hottest pizza restaurants can feel like winning the lottery. That is really not a surprise when you know their class.
These spots serve up incredible pies that draw crowds from all over the state, and their tables fill up faster than you can say mozzarella.
If you want to taste what all the fuss is about, you better have your reservation game strong.
1. Vero Pizza Napoletana
Cleveland Heights hosts one of the most authentic Napolitana pizza experiences you can find outside of Italy. Vero Pizza Napoletana operates in a compact space that fills up lightning-fast, especially during weekend dinner service.
The restaurant uses Tock for reservations, and prime slots vanish within hours of becoming available. Their traditional wood-fired oven produces blistered crusts with that signature leopard spotting pizza lovers crave.
I tried booking a Saturday table once and had to settle for a Tuesday lunch just to get through the door. The limited seating means every chair counts, so plan ahead or prepare to wait weeks for your pizza fix.
2. Lago East Bank
Positioned right in Cleveland’s vibrant Flats district, this Italian hotspot commands stunning waterfront views that pair perfectly with their extensive pizza menu.
Lago East Bank dedicates an entire section of their offerings to pizza, showcasing creative toppings alongside classic combinations.
OpenTable handles their bookings, and the system lights up with requests every single day. The location’s popularity stems from both the scenery and the seriously good food coming out of their kitchen.
Weekend evenings book solid weeks in advance, so spontaneous visits rarely work out. Their pizza program runs alongside full Italian dining, giving you plenty of delicious reasons to secure that hard-won reservation.
3. Marcella’s – Short North
Columbus’s Arts District buzzes with energy, and Marcella’s sits right in the thick of it all. Their brick-oven pizzas have become legendary among locals who know that scoring a table here requires serious planning.
The lively dining room fills with conversation and laughter as servers deliver perfectly charred pies to eager diners.
Reservations through their system get snatched up faster than gallery openings in the neighborhood, particularly on First Saturday art walks.
Last spring, I watched four groups get turned away at the door while I enjoyed my prosciutto pizza, grateful I’d booked two weeks prior. The restaurant’s reputation for quality keeps demand sky-high year-round.
4. Marcella’s – Polaris
North Columbus residents rejoiced when this sister location opened, bringing the same exceptional pizza program to the Polaris area. Both lunch and dinner menus feature their signature pies, making any time of day perfect for a visit.
The bookable tables disappear quickly here too, proving that great pizza draws crowds no matter which part of the city you’re in. Their wood-fired crusts maintain the same quality standards that made the original location famous.
Families especially love this spot for its slightly more relaxed vibe compared to the downtown energy. Smart diners reserve well ahead, knowing that walk-ins often face lengthy waits during peak hours.
5. Forno Kitchen + Bar
Buzzing with Short North energy, Forno Kitchen + Bar cranks out wood-fired pizzas that have become the stuff of Columbus legend. Their prime-time slots on OpenTable evaporate faster than steam off a fresh margherita pie.
The restaurant’s popularity means you need to jump on reservations the moment they drop if you want Friday or Saturday seating. Their kitchen balances innovation with tradition, creating pizzas that satisfy both adventurous eaters and purists.
I’ve refreshed their OpenTable page more times than I care to admit, trying to snag a coveted 7 PM slot. The effort pays off once you taste their perfectly blistered crust and creative topping combinations that keep people coming back week after week.
6. Wheat Penny Oven & Bar
Dayton’s pizza scene got a major upgrade when Wheat Penny brought their California-leaning style to town. Their pizza-centric menu accepts online reservations that fill up remarkably fast during peak dining hours.
The restaurant blends West Coast creativity with Midwest hospitality, producing pies that surprise and satisfy in equal measure. Fresh ingredients and inventive combinations keep their tables packed night after night.
Peak times see the booking system light up with requests, so planning ahead saves you from disappointment.
Their approach to pizza breaks from traditional styles, offering something different for diners tired of the same old toppings and techniques found everywhere else in the region.
7. Via Vite
Fountain Square’s most sought-after Italian spot serves wood-fired pizzas that draw downtown Cincinnati crowds in droves.
Via Vite operates through OpenTable, where you’ll notice their credit-card hold policy for larger parties, reflecting just how seriously they take their reservations.
Strong demand shows up clearly in their booking system, with weekend slots disappearing days in advance. The restaurant’s prime location makes it perfect for pre-show dinners or business lunches.
Their pizza menu holds its own against the full Italian offerings, giving diners tough choices to make. I’ve watched friends debate toppings here for ten minutes straight before ordering, then immediately planning their next visit before finishing the first slice.
8. The Bistro at Gervasi Vineyard
Canton’s premier destination dining experience includes a Bistro where brick-fired pizzas share menu space with upscale Italian fare. Gervasi Vineyard attracts visitors from across Ohio, and their OpenTable reservations stay consistently booked.
The vineyard setting adds special occasion appeal that makes tables even harder to secure during peak seasons. Their pizza program maintains high standards you’d expect from such an established operation.
Standard practice here means booking ahead, as walk-ins rarely score tables without significant waits.
The combination of excellent food, beautiful grounds, and that special vineyard atmosphere creates demand that far outstrips available seating most days of the week.
9. The Piazza at Gervasi Vineyard
Seasonal outdoor dining reaches new heights at The Piazza, where brick-oven pizzas emerge under open skies at Gervasi Vineyard. Good weather triggers a reservation frenzy on OpenTable as everyone wants to enjoy pizza among the vines.
This venue books up faster than its indoor sibling, especially during perfect spring and summer evenings. The outdoor setting creates a vacation-like vibe that makes the pizza taste even better somehow.
Planning a visit here during peak season requires booking the moment reservations open for your desired date.
I learned this lesson the hard way one June when beautiful weather arrived and every single table was already claimed for weeks ahead.
10. Mancy’s Italian Grill
Toledo’s respected Mancy’s name extends to this Italian concept, where wood-fired pizzas steal the spotlight. Weekend tables vanish quickly, making their reservation system through their website or OpenTable absolutely essential.
The restaurant’s established reputation means people trust the quality before even walking through the door. Their pizza program showcases the same attention to detail that made the Mancy’s brand famous across northwest Ohio.
Friday and Saturday evenings see the heaviest booking activity, so midweek visits offer better availability for spontaneous diners.
The wood-fired oven produces consistent results that keep regulars returning and newcomers spreading the word about their latest favorite pizza spot.
11. The Heights
Skyline views and wood-fire pizzas combine at this rooftop destination that ranks among Toledo’s toughest reservations to secure. Sunset hours create particularly heavy demand on OpenTable as diners compete for those golden-hour tables.
The elevated setting literally and figuratively makes every pizza taste special when you’re dining above the city. Their wood-fire oven produces pies worth the effort it takes to book a table here.
I once called in a favor just to get a spot during peak sunset time, and honestly, the view made the pizza experience unforgettable.
Smart planners book weeks ahead for weekend evenings, while weekday lunches offer slightly easier access to this spectacular space.
12. Maumee Bay Brewing Company
Toledo’s beloved brewpub combines craft beverages with a wood-fired pizza menu that keeps their tables constantly full. Peak-hour dining becomes much easier when you use OpenTable to secure your spot ahead of time.
The casual brewpub atmosphere might suggest that walk-ins work fine, but the reality shows otherwise during busy periods. Their pizza program has evolved into a major draw beyond just the brewing operation.
Weekend evenings and major sporting events create the highest demand for tables here. The combination of quality pizza and house-made brews makes this spot a local favorite that smart diners book in advance rather than hoping for last-minute availability.