15 Legendary Pizzerias In Ohio Where Every Slice Excites Your Palate

Ohio has a way of turning “just one slice” into “why am I googling detours at 11 p.m.” If you have ever argued crust style like it was a hometown sport, congratulations, you are already one of us. This is my love letter to Ohio pizzerias that make every bite feel like a tiny victory lap.

One night, I followed a scribbled recommendation on a napkin and ended up standing in a line that moved at the speed of pure devotion, and somehow I felt lucky about it.

That is the Ohio pizza scene in a nutshell: Lakewood loyalties, Cleveland classics, Columbus late-night legends, Youngstown’s Brier Hill pride, and Cincinnati ovens putting on a warm, bubbly show.

Some shops win with deep-dish heft, others with crackly thin squares, and a few with blistered, wood-fired magic that makes you stare at the crust like it just told a joke.

By the end of this list, you will have favorites, opinions, and a strong urge to “accidentally” end up near another pie.

1. Angelo’s Pizza, Lakewood

There are certain nights in Lakewood when it feels like half of Cleveland is orbiting one address, and that address is Angelo’s Pizza at 13715 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107.

I remember squeezing onto the patio one summer evening, watching pies float past that looked structurally incapable of supporting that much cheese, yet somehow did.

Inside, the place hums with the easy confidence of a shop that has been declared best pizza around more times than it can hang plaques for. The signature move here is choosing between the classic crust and the deep-dish version that turns the edge into its own snack.

By the time my pan-baked, browned-to-the-corners pie hit the table, I understood why locals plan entire gatherings around Angelo’s, then casually mention they might order pizza.

2. Mama Santa’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, Cleveland

Some restaurants feel like they came with the neighborhood, and Mama Santa’s in Little Italy is one of them. You find it at 12301 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106, tucked among bakeries, markets, and the sound of people arguing joyfully about sauce.

The first time I walked in, a server slid past, balancing more pizzas than should be legally allowed on two arms, and the whole place smelled like rising dough and sharp cheese.

Locals will steer you toward the classic round pies or the hearty Sicilian trays that arrive with edges just shy of caramelized. The menu is full of pastas, but every table seems to anchor itself with at least one pizza in the middle.

When I finally tried a simple pepperoni pie, the crust had that perfect chew, the sauce leaned savory rather than sweet, and I suddenly understood why people swear no other pizza tastes quite like Mama Santa’s.

3. Citizen Pie, Cleveland (Collinwood)

If you like your legendary pizza with a side of blistered crust and serious foodie energy, Citizen Pie in Collinwood is the spot. The shop sits at 15710 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110, right in the middle of an artsy strip that already feels lively before you even step inside.

I remember watching my pizza vanish into the wood-fired oven and return about ninety seconds later with leopard-spotted bubbles that looked like they had their own fan base.

The menu leans imaginative, but even the basic margherita arrives so balanced that you start noticing details like how the basil hits the olive oil. Regulars talk about their favorite combinations the way other people talk about favorite albums.

By the time I finished the last slice, I had already started mentally reorganizing future Cleveland trips to make sure Waterloo Road somehow just happens to be on the way.

4. Harlow’s Pizza, Lakewood

Every pizza scene needs a new-school star, and in Lakewood, that role belongs to Harlow’s Pizza at 14319 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107.

I still remember walking in and realizing this was the rare place where the room feels as carefully crafted as the crust.

The pies lean artisan, with toppings like hot honey, fresh herbs, and thoughtfully chosen cheeses that somehow never feel fussy once they hit the table. The crust is airy but structured, the kind you instinctively hold up to eye level just to admire the bubbles.

Locals fill the small dining room quickly, turning it into a low-key party of date nights, friend groups, and solo diners guarding their personal pies.

After one visit, I caught myself using Harlow’s as a benchmark line in conversations: Yes, it is good, but have you had pizza at Harlow’s yet.

5. Geraci’s Restaurant, University Heights

Some pizzerias earn the word institution simply by refusing to stop being excellent, and Geraci’s Restaurant is firmly in that category. You will find the original location at 2266 Warrensville Center Rd, University Heights, OH 44118.

The first time I walked in, I felt like I was stepping into a collective family memory: wood paneling, red-sauce energy, and servers who clearly know half the room by name.

Geraci’s pizza is all about classic execution. The crust is thin but sturdy, the sauce leans garlicky, and the pepperoni curls into those famous little cups that hoard flavor.

I watched a table of three generations share a sheet pizza, each person insisting their preferred corner had the real magic, which is a debate you can only have when a place has been feeding people for decades.

6. Hounddog’s Three Degree Pizza, Columbus

Columbus has plenty of pizza, but only one place has ever made me feel like I was walking into a rock poster: Hounddog’s Three Degree Pizza at 2657 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202.

The sign glows over the University District, and inside, the mood is part campus hangout, part pizza temple where ovens seem to run on pure attitude.

Hounddog’s is famous for its chewy crust, heavy toppings, and that spicy house sauce that sneaks up on you in the best way.

Late at night, you will see students, musicians, and neighborhood regulars all making the same careful walk back to their tables, balancing pans that look like they belong in a pizza weight-lifting competition.

I ordered a half-and-half creation that should have been structurally impossible, and it somehow came out perfectly balanced, like the kitchen had quietly solved a geometry problem with extra cheese.

7. Adriatico’s New York Style Pizza, Columbus (OSU Area)

Every college campus has a legendary slice, and at Ohio State, that legend has an address: Adriatico’s New York Style Pizza at 1618 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43201.

The first time I walked past, I noticed the steady stream of people leaving with boxes the size of small coffee tables. Naturally, I followed them.

Adriatico’s is known for its thick, bready crust and sweet-savory sauce that clings to the cheese like it has something to prove. The square Sicilian pies are especially famous, with edges that crisp up into a kind of honorary crust-of-honor.

Inside, the walls tell stories of decades of students, alumni, and visiting fans who have relied on these slices for pre-game fuel and post-exam therapy.

I sat near a table of OSU grads giving their kids a tour of where the real campus memories happened, and every bite of my pepperoni-and-extra-cheese slice suggested they might be right.

8. Rubino’s Pizza, Bexley

Sometimes the most unforgettable pizzas arrive on the thinnest crusts, and Rubino’s in Bexley is living proof. This old-school institution sits at 2643 E Main St, Bexley, OH 43209.

Walking in, I felt like I had stepped into a time capsule where the décor, prices, and attitude all agreed that pizza should be simple, crisp, and served on paper plates without a hint of drama.

Rubino’s is famous for its ultra-thin, cracker-like crust that shatters just slightly when you bite in. The pies are cut into small squares that somehow vanish faster than you plan, especially when topped with their well-seasoned sausage or classic pepperoni.

Cash-only signs and a no-nonsense counter routine keep things moving. I watched regulars breeze through orders so fast it sounded like a secret language, and by the time my own box appeared, I had already decided this is the kind of place you measure other thin-crusts against.

9. Harvest Pizzeria, Columbus (Brewery District)

If you ever wanted proof that farm-to-pizza can feel both cozy and cool, Harvest Pizzeria in the Brewery District delivers it on warm plates. You will find this location at 940 S Front St, Columbus, OH 43206.

I remember sitting by the window, watching the neighborhood stroll by while my server walked me through topping combinations with the enthusiasm of someone recommending favorite songs.

Harvest is known for using local, thoughtfully sourced ingredients on pies that balance creativity with comfort. You might see toppings like roasted garlic, seasonal vegetables, or spicy sausage sharing space with drizzles of finishing oil.

The crust sits right between airy and substantial, with just enough char to make each slice feel slightly smoky.

As I worked slowly through a pie loaded with fennel sausage and roasted peppers, it felt less like dinner and more like a quiet little argument that fresh ingredients always win.

10. Mikey’s Late Night Slice, Columbus (South 4th St)

Columbus nightlife has many anchors, but few are as reliable as the glowing sign at Mikey’s Late Night Slice, 268 S 4th St, Columbus, OH 43215.

I still remember grabbing a slice there after a long day, watching people drift in from concerts, bars, and office buildings, all suddenly united by a mutual need for massive pizza wedges.

Mikey’s serves big, floppy slices with plenty of cheese and a crust sturdy enough to fold without surrendering. The topping combinations get playful, but even a classic pepperoni benefits from their garlicky crack sauce on the side.

The atmosphere feels part street-party, part neighborhood hangout, and the décor leans toward mischievous in a way that somehow makes a second slice feel like the responsible choice.

By the time I stepped back out onto 4th Street, I understood why people in Columbus casually measure nights out by whether they ended at Late Night Slice.

11. Marion’s Piazza, Dayton (Shroyer Road)

Dayton pizza lore practically requires at least one pilgrimage to Marion’s Piazza, and the Shroyer Road location is a favorite. You will find it at 711 Shroyer Rd, Dayton, OH 45419, right where Shroyer meets Patterson.

The first time I walked in, I felt like I had entered a retro indoor plaza, complete with long tables, red trays, and that comforting buzz of families and teams celebrating something or other.

Marion’s pizzas arrive as wide, thin pies cut into little squares, loaded with toppings spread all the way to the edge. The signature move is ordering a couple of different combinations, then grazing through them like a tasting flight.

Locals have strong opinions on which Marion’s location is best, but everyone agrees on one thing.

Once you start snacking on those light, crispy squares, you realize how a place can stay woven into a city’s traditions for decades.

12. Wedgewood Fernando’s Pizza, Austintown

If you are anywhere near Youngstown and someone mentions Wedgewood, you are officially required to pay attention. Wedgewood Fernando’s in Austintown is at 1622 S Raccoon Rd, Austintown, OH 44515.

I remember walking in and immediately spotting trays of thick, square slices of Brier Hill style pizza, topped with peppers and Romano cheese in a way that made my regular pepperoni order suddenly feel shy.

The crust here is substantial without being heavy, a perfect base for the rich, slow-cooked sauce that gives each bite real depth. Locals debate favorite locations in the Wedgewood family, but Austintown holds its own with pride.

By the time I reached my last square, I had already joined the ranks of people trying to explain this style to friends with phrases like, Trust me, you just have to eat it to get it.

13. Avalon Downtown Pizzeria, Youngstown

Downtown Youngstown’s pizza identity has a clear headquarters, and it sits at Avalon Downtown Pizzeria, 17 W Federal St, Youngstown, OH 44503.

When I stepped inside, it felt like half the city had decided this was the place to be that night, from families sharing big pies to friends hovering over rounds of Brier Hill pizza.

Avalon leans into tradition with scratch-made dough, carefully chosen cheeses, and a sauce that tastes like someone has been stirring it since early afternoon.

Their Brier Hill pies, with peppers and Romano, are legendary, but even a straightforward cheese pizza lands with the confidence of a recipe that has nothing left to prove.

Walking back out onto Federal Street, I caught myself already plotting a return visit, mainly because I had made the rookie mistake of not ordering enough leftovers for breakfast.

14. Goodfellas Pizzeria, Cincinnati (OTR)

In Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, there is a place where slices are roughly the size of your forearm, and that place is Goodfellas Pizzeria at 1211 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

I remember walking past the display case and realizing I could probably use one slice as a very effective umbrella.

Goodfellas serves New York style pies with a thin, foldable crust and plenty of cheese and toppings, perfect for those nights when moderation is just a theory. The downstairs counter handles the slice rush, while upstairs rooms and the bar give the place a layered, slightly cinematic vibe.

The pepperoni slice with a side of garlicky breadsticks is my personal weakness here. By the time I finished, I understood why so many Cincinnati nights out eventually drift through this particular doorway.

15. Fireside Pizza, Cincinnati (Walnut Hills)

If pizza cooked in an old firehouse sounds like a clever concept, just wait until you taste the results at Fireside Pizza, 773 E McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45206.

The first time I visited, the big garage doors were rolled open, and you could see the wood-fired oven glowing like the room’s unofficial fireplace.

Fireside specializes in Neapolitan-inspired pies with chewy, blistered crusts and toppings that feel carefully curated rather than piled on. Combinations like spicy soppressata, fresh mozzarella, and a drizzle of hot oil make each bite feel deliberate.

The space fills with couples, families, and pizza fans who clearly know they have found something special tucked into Walnut Hills.

I walked out with that pleasant, slightly smoky aroma still clinging to my clothes and the distinct feeling that I had just discovered one of Cincinnati’s great pizza rituals.