Pizza pie experts say try Lansing for a great slice. Here are some places to check out
LANSING — Lansing, the pizza city?
It may not be the best pizza in the U.S., but Lansing is home to some of the best pizza in Michigan, according to a recent study from pizza oven manufacturer Pizzello.
Lansing's pizza was ranked at 162 out of 250 cities, a slice below the halfway point and well ahead of Detroit (210), often considered one of the nation's prime pizza cities.
Grand Rapids was ranked as having the state's best pizza (30th nationally) with Wyoming (43rd), Warren (47th) and Dearborn (128th) topping Lansing.
The study used Google review rankings and the results were tight: Chicago, at 11th place, had an average score of 4.53 and Rochester Hills shared the lowest average score of 4.43 with two dozen other cities. Lansing's average review was a 4.45, shared with Farmington Hills.
Nine Michigan cities appeared in the ranking that gave credit to Lansing's pizza, which doesn't really have a specific type - it can include thin crust, thick crust, Detroit-style squares and more.
It can often come down to customer service, said Danelle Admire, the manager for the last 15 years of the Sir Pizza in Old Town Lansing, one of four local branches of the pizzeria.
"Detroit is good. Pizza and people, they put love into their food and they're good to their community," she said. "Here in Old Town, we’re part of the crew. We’re a regular person on the block. People come in get the food, get the sarcastic-ness if they want it and that's the way we interact with our customers. We're all about bringing the community together because we're part of the community."
What makes a Lansing-style pizza is often more about the attitude than the particular style, said Matt Gillett, co-owner of Slice By Saddleback, which has two Lansing locations.
"If you look at it from a city standpoint, we're always a tight-knit community and we support our neighbors and those core values and that, I think, rotates over to the pizza world," said Gillett, who is one of two people who make the dough for their pizzerias.
He said there are a number of great local options for pizza, including Barnhill's Westside Deli and Klavon's Pizzeria & Pub, both in Mason, where Gillett lives.
"Art's Pub pizza, they do a great job there, we have so many choices," he said." For typical chain pizza, I'm a big Jet's fan and Cottage Inn does a great job."
Slice's best sellers are usually the typical pies, cheeses and pepperonis, but the Lansing area is also supportive of more unique and creative pizzas like Slice's crab Rangoon option, Gillett said.
But sometimes not so much, like a year ago when a Mardi Gras-inspired take didn't exactly take off with customers, he said.
And that willingness to experiment, from pizza makers and customers, may be part of Lansing's special sauce, Gillett said.
At Sir Pizza, Royal Feast pizzas - topped with pepperoni, sausage, onions, mushrooms and green peppers - are one of the most popular items, Admire said.
"Everyone loves the Royal Feast," she said, "I’m picky so I'm more of a ham and Hawaiian type."
Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing chosen as one of the best pizza towns in Michigan
