This Northern Michigan Pizzeria In An Ordinary Plaza Is So Good Folks Drive Three Hours Just For A Slice

I wouldn’t normally expect a pizza worth planning a road trip around to be hiding in an ordinary shopping plaza. But Michigan has a habit of putting good food in places you’d never think to look twice.

In Benzonia, a small pizza joint is making a case for taking the scenic route, and the secret starts long before anything goes into the oven.

Sourdough crust changes the conversation entirely. There’s that subtle tang, the promise of a satisfying chew, and the kind of texture that makes ordinary pizza feel a little less exciting.

This hidden Michigan pizza spot in Benzonia serves sourdough-crust pizzas in multiple styles, bringing a food truck success story to a permanent neighborhood location.

Its story began on wheels before finding a proper home. There’s something appealing about a business that built its following one pizza at a time. The storefront might be unassuming, but the menu deserves a closer look.

The Family Fare Plaza Is The Pizza Clue

Upriver Pizza is at 1681 Benzie Highway, Suite 2, in Benzonia, Michigan. Follow Benzie Highway through town toward the Family Fare Plaza rather than searching along a remote forest road.

The pizzeria is tucked into the shopping center, where its storefront is easier to miss than a free-standing roadside restaurant. Family Fare is the practical landmark for the last turn.

Park in a designated plaza space and walk to Suite 2 for the pizzeria entrance. Check its current opening days before making a long drive; the published business pages differ on some seasonal hours.

Before The Storefront Came A Wood-Fired Truck

A pizza truck came first, which makes the permanent address feel like a second chapter rather than the whole story. Upriver began as a wood-fired food truck in March 2020 before opening its Benzonia storefront in April 2022.

Those dates give the business a clear path from mobile cooking to an established restaurant. The truck allowed the team to build a following before taking on a place where customers could return to the same door.

Keep that beginning in mind when looking over the menu. There is something appealing about a restaurant whose early work happened around a traveling oven. Its growth is a useful reminder that an ambitious food business does not need an impressive building to get its start.

The Sourdough Does More Than Hold The Toppings

Flour, water, oil, and salt sound like a short shopping list, not the foundation of an entire menu. At Upriver, a maintained sourdough starter helps turn those basics into pizza dough, sub rolls, and bread.

Chef Chris Bertram brings nearly two decades of pizza experience to that work, according to the supplied business background. Using one starter across different products connects the menu without making every item eat the same way.

Give the crust a little attention before reaching for another topping. Taste an edge on its own, then compare it with a bite from the center. That simple habit helps you notice the bread beneath the cheese, which is often where a pizzeria shows its character most clearly to diners.

Try New York Style For A Thinner Bite

Sometimes the right pizza is the one that leaves room for another slice. Upriver’s New York style uses a thin crust cooked directly on the oven stone, giving diners a different starting point from the restaurant’s thicker options.

Choose this style when you want the toppings and bread in a lighter balance. A straightforward order can also make it easier to judge the dough without too many competing flavors.

If a single slice is your plan, ask what is available before building your visit around it. Slice choices and service can change, and a headline is not a menu guarantee. For a group, checking the current sizes helps everyone agree on an order before hunger turns a small decision into negotiations.

Detroit Style Gives The Edges Their Moment

The edge gets a starring role here, and that is good news for anyone who reaches for a corner first. Upriver bakes its Detroit-style pizza in carbon steel pans, creating the caramelized border associated with this thicker style.

Compared with the New York option, the appeal shifts toward a more substantial base and the meeting point between crust, cheese, and pan. It is a useful choice for diners who consider texture as important as toppings.

Sharing both styles makes a lively table comparison without turning dinner into a technical tasting. Start with modest portions and decide which crust suits you. Neither needs to win an argument; the pleasure is having two different approaches available from the same kitchen during one meal.

A Third Style Keeps The Menu Interesting

Two famous regional styles could fill a menu, but Upriver also offers an American-style pizza. Its thicker crust includes added flavorings, providing another direction for diners who want a substantial bread base.

The useful distinction is not simply thick versus thin. With New York, Detroit, and American options, the restaurant gives crust preferences real weight in the ordering process, rather than treating the base as an afterthought.

Ask the staff how the current American-style option differs from the Detroit pie before choosing. Menu descriptions can only explain so much, especially when both sound hearty. If your group has strong opinions about pizza, settle the crust question first. Toppings are easier to discuss once everyone knows what will be underneath them tonight.

Beyond Pizza There Is Room For A Detour

Not everyone at the table has to order a pie. Upriver’s broader menu has included subs, Greek and Caesar salads, sweet choices such as cinnastix, and a smash burger that began as a special in March 2024.

The burger has been offered on Thursdays, with local beef, hand-cut fries, house-made sauce, and a brioche bun. Because specials can change, confirm that schedule rather than treating it as a standing promise.

For mixed appetites, this range makes planning easier: pizza fans can follow their crust preferences while someone else chooses a different meal. Check the current menu before discussing options with children or a large group. Few things complicate dinner faster than promising a dish that is not available when you arrive hungry.

Plan The Drive Around The Actual Opening Hours

A long drive deserves one short phone call. The supplied business listing gives Upriver’s hours as noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday closed.

Check upriverpizza.com or call 231-383-4441 before setting out, since hours, specials, and slice availability may change. If timing matters, ask about the expected wait and whether your preferred pizza style is available that day.

There is no verified basis here for saying customers routinely drive three hours for a slice. What you can plan around is a specific Benzonia address, several crust styles, and a kitchen with a documented sourdough focus. Let those details guide the trip, then leave yourself enough time to sit down and enjoy the order without watching the clock.

The First Bite Deserves A Little Patience

Hot cheese has a way of making patience disappear. When your pizza arrives at Upriver, give the first slice a moment before taking a bite, especially if steam is still rising from the toppings.

That short pause lets you notice more than heat. Look at the browned crust, smell the sauce, and try a bite before reaching for any extra seasoning.

For a first visit, this is a simple way to figure out what you enjoy about the pie itself. Save the conversation about your favorite style until everyone has tasted theirs, then compare notes while the rest is still warm.

A Shared Order Makes Comparing Easier

One person wants familiar toppings, while someone else wants something different. A shared order can turn that small disagreement into the best part of lunch at Upriver Pizza.

Before ordering, ask about current sizes and how many people each pizza might reasonably feed. Mention allergies or dietary needs directly rather than guessing from a topping list.

If your group orders different pies, trade portions so everyone can compare without committing to an entire pizza. Keep one choice simple and let another reflect the more adventurous eaters. You might leave with a favorite you would never have picked on your own otherwise.

Nearby Scenery Can Round Out The Stop

A pizza stop does not have to be the whole afternoon. Benzonia puts you in Benzie County, where lakes, small towns, and outdoor stops can give your drive another purpose.

If you plan to take your order somewhere scenic, choose a legal picnic spot before the food is ready. Check park rules, parking access, and the weather rather than assuming every waterfront has tables.

Bring napkins and a bag for your trash, and keep the pizza box level during the ride. Better yet, eat while everything is fresh, then explore afterward without juggling warm food and directions on unfamiliar local roads.

Leftover Slices Need A Road Trip Plan

Finding an extra slice in the box feels like a small victory. On a long drive home from Upriver, though, leftovers need more thought than an empty spot on the back seat.

Pack a cooler with ice packs if you expect to bring pizza home. Perishable food should be refrigerated within two hours, or within one hour when temperatures rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once home, store slices in a covered container and eat refrigerated leftovers within three to four days. Reheat them thoroughly when hunger returns. A little planning keeps tomorrow’s lunch from becoming the disappointing end to today’s outing.