This Ohio Pizzeria Is So Good Dave Portnoy Says You Have To Drive And Try It

A high score from Dave Portnoy can turn a quiet pizza shop into a road-trip destination almost overnight. In Ohio, one tiny pizzeria suddenly found itself dealing with exactly that kind of attention.

The pies start with scratch-made dough, bright sauce, crisp edges, and just enough char to make the first bite memorable. Even simple cheese and pepperoni pizzas seem to carry more personality than their short ingredient lists suggest.

The funny part is that all the buzz still leads back to a very small shop making pizza one careful pie at a time. That contrast may be the best reason to drive over and see what everyone has been talking about.

The Little Shop That Earned A Big Score

Word spread fast after a well-known pizza reviewer pulled up out front and gave this spot a rating that turned heads across the country.

Suddenly people were driving in from other states just to see if the hype held up. Spoiler alert, it does.

The cafe sits in a modest building that could be easy to miss if you blinked. Inside, everything centers on one thing done right, and that focus shows in every pie that leaves the oven.

What impressed me most was how personal it all feels. This is not a giant chain cranking out frozen dough.

Each pizza is handmade with real care, and you can taste the difference in the first bite. The owner treats her craft with genuine pride.

If you want to try it for yourself, mark down the address before you head out. You can find Artisan Pizza Cafe at 91 East 5th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201.

Trust me, this quiet corner of Ohio has become a real destination for pizza lovers who know good food when they taste it.

Dough Made Fresh In Small Batches

One of the clearest reasons this pizza stands out is the dough. Artisan Pizza Cafe describes its pies as made from scratch with hand-tossed dough, and current customers continue to praise the crust for being fresh, light, and airy.

That scratch-made approach was part of the story even before the shop went viral. Owner Jasmin Ahmed has described personally kneading and shaping the dough as part of the process behind each pizza.

The crust comes out with a crisp exterior and an airy chew, giving the cheese and toppings a sturdy base without making the pie feel heavy.

The shop did sell out during the enormous rush that followed Dave Portnoy’s 2025 review, but that does not mean there is a fixed daily dough quota in 2026.

Online ordering is now available, making it much easier to plan ahead instead of simply hoping there is still pizza left when you arrive.

If you are making a special drive, ordering ahead remains the smart move. The dough is still scratch-made, but the shop now has a much better system for handling the attention that came with that famous 8.1 score.

The Classic Cheese That Steals The Show

Plenty of places load up a pizza to hide flaws, but here the plain cheese pie proves how good the basics can be.

Just the right amount of cheese and sauce, a crisp bottom, and a little char on top. Simple perfection.

Even a New Yorker who normally refuses to buy pizza outside of home admitted this one was made with real love and care. That says a lot.

I ordered the cheese myself, and I understood the fuss right away. The sauce tastes bright and tangy, never heavy or dull.

The cheese melts evenly without turning greasy, and the crust does the heavy lifting with its flavor. It is a beautifully balanced pie.

My advice is to try the cheese first before piling on toppings. It is the truest test of a pizzeria, and this one passes with flying colors.

Sometimes the plainest option reveals the most skill. This kitchen clearly knows that a great pizza does not need a dozen extras to impress you.

Pepperoni With The Perfect Char

The pepperoni pie deserves its own spotlight because it delivers everything you hope for in that first crunchy bite.

The pepperoni gets a lovely char during the cook, curling up and crisping at the edges. That little bit of char adds so much flavor.

One family passing through town ordered a pepperoni and a cheese, and both came out in under fifteen minutes. Hot, fresh, and gone quickly.

Here is something special for folks who do not eat pork. The shop has offered beef pepperoni, which is a rare and welcome find.

That option makes the menu friendlier to more people, and the flavor still hits every mark. I appreciated that thoughtful touch.

When I dug into my pepperoni slice, the balance of meat, cheese, and tangy sauce felt spot on. Nothing overpowered anything else.

A smart trick I picked up is to let the pizza rest for about ten minutes after it comes out. The flavors settle and the slice holds together even better.

Meatball Pizza Worth The Buzz

Among the toppings that keep coming up in conversation, the meatball pizza earns steady applause from regulars.

It is one of the most talked-about pies here, and for good reason. The meatballs are seasoned well and taste homemade.

I love how the hearty topping pairs with that light, crisp crust. The combination gives you a satisfying bite without feeling too heavy.

Each meatball tastes intentional, not tossed on as an afterthought. That attention to detail runs through the whole menu.

Because the shop focuses on quality over quantity, the toppings they do offer get real thought and care. You will not find a mile-long list, but what you get is excellent.

If you are torn between options, the meatball is a fantastic pick for something a little more filling. It stands out from the usual choices.

My suggestion is to order it fresh and eat it while the cheese is still bubbling. This is the kind of pie that turns a first-time visitor into a repeat customer, and I completely understand why.

A Cozy Corner With Real Heart

The space itself is small and homey, the kind of place where you feel welcome the moment you step through the door.

Visitors mention the cozy atmosphere again and again. It is intimate rather than flashy.

You can tell this is more than just a business to the owner. She pours her heart into every detail, and that warmth fills the room.

One thing worth knowing is that dine-in seating is limited, so many folks treat it as a pickup spot. Do not expect a big sit-down setup.

The charm here comes from the personal touch, not fancy decor. Everything feels genuine and made with intention.

I found the friendly vibe added to the whole experience. It felt like visiting someone who truly loves what they do.

My honest advice is to go in with an open mind and enjoy the simplicity. This is a labor of love, and that spirit shows in how the place is run.

The heart behind the counter makes the pizza taste even better, and that is something a big chain can never copy.

Sweet Treats And Fancy Coffees

Do not rush out after your pizza, because the current dessert and drink menu gives you plenty of reasons to linger.

Tiramisu cake, tiramisu cheesecake, pistachio cream cake, caramel cheesecake, Dubai chocolate cake, and several other rotating sweets currently fill out the dessert side of the menu.

On the coffee side, the cafe pours options such as brown sugar lattes, Nutella lattes, pistachio lattes, cappuccinos, and regular coffee.

Taro milk tea is still available too, along with Thai milk tea, brown sugar milk tea, matcha drinks, fresh East African chai, and lemonade.

These extras make Artisan feel more like a true cafe than a simple pizza counter. You can grab a latte while waiting for your pie or add a slice of cake after the last piece disappears.

The selection changes enough that checking the current menu before visiting is worthwhile, especially if a particular dessert caught your eye online.

Why Ordering Ahead Is A Smart Move

This is still a small pizza shop, so planning ahead can make the experience much easier.

Artisan Pizza Cafe now offers online ordering through its official website, a major change from the early days when the viral rush often meant long waits and sellouts.

Ordering ahead lets the kitchen work your pie into the queue before you arrive and is especially useful if you are driving across Columbus or coming from farther away.

The restaurant remains strongly geared toward pickup because the space itself is compact and seating is limited.

That small footprint is part of the charm, but it also means showing up during a busy stretch without an order can be less predictable than reserving your food in advance.

A little planning goes a long way here. Place the order, give the kitchen time to make the pizza properly, and pick it up while it is fresh and hot.

Planning Your Visit The Right Way

Before you make the drive, a few practical details will help your trip go smoothly.

Artisan Pizza Cafe is currently closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Current pickup hours run from 11 AM to 8:45 PM Wednesday through Saturday and from 11 AM to 7:45 PM on Sunday.

That schedule is essentially a 9 PM close during the middle of the week and Saturday, with an 8 PM close on Sunday, but ordering shortly before the cutoff is smarter than arriving at the last minute.

Online ordering is available through the restaurant’s website, so you can place your pizza order before leaving home.

You can also call the shop at 614-398-1732 if you need to confirm availability or ask a question before making the trip.

Remember that seating is limited, so many customers still treat Artisan as a pickup destination.

This little Columbus shop has become a genuine pizza destination, and a small amount of planning makes the experience much easier.

Order ahead, arrive hungry, and see why Portnoy’s 8.1 sent so many people looking for this tiny pizzeria.