Pizza in St. Louis

I must have tried a dozen pizza places in St. Louis.

They all stunk.

Even the ones that were good, stunk.

I know, that doesn't sound like it makes sense, but they make this very thin crusted St. Louis style pizza. Even when made with great ingredients, it is not what I would call pizza.

I'll probably be spending some more time there in February or March...

Is there anywhere that has a New York or Chicago style or any normal kind of pizza that is any good? And please, don't say Papa John's.

Ah, St. Louis - not the best town for pizza. I grew up there and always want an Imo's when I'm in town, but it's not great pizza. I think it's more like comfort food for me...

I still prefer a thin crust though. Now I live in Chicago, and I can not stand the local deep dish pizza - it's just too much.

There is a good place in Kirkwood (was mentioned somewhere on this site) can't remember the name though. Had some good reviews... Maybe try a search...

Fortell's? Seemed more East Coast Style.

I have to reluctantly agree that St. Louis pizza is disappointing. St. Louis does many food things well, but pizza is not one of them.

As former residents of the area, the best place in town we encountered was a place called the Black Thorn Pub on Wyoming Avenue near Tower Grove Park. It serves Chicago-style pizza quite credibly, with big thick crust and a dark red sauce that's terrific.

Here's a link:

http://www.gatewaytothewest.com/blackthorn/

There is a Pizzeria Uno in Kirkwood, but the chains aren't as good as the original Chicago restaurant. There also is a terrific pizza and Italian pasta place on the square in Carlinville, Ill., but its name escapes me right now.

Other than that, just drive to Chicago.

I have not tried this yet but it does not look like traditional St. Louis pizza.

http://www.creativeon-line.com/racanellis.html

Has anyone ever heard of the place in St. Louis (I think it's there) where you try to eat a ginormous pizza within an hour to win $500? I saw it on the Travel Channel or Food Network once. I've been trying to find the name of the place and some details about it for a while. Any help would be great.
Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by ClawedLeMew

I must have tried a dozen pizza places in St. Louis.

I'll probably be spending some more time there in February or March...

Is there anywhere that has a New York or Chicago style or any normal kind of pizza that is any good? And please, don't say Papa John's.

A friend of mine has been working in St. Louis for a couple of years now and he likes to go to Talayna's (the St. Charles location) for pizza and Italian food:

Talayna's At The Park
(314) 367-7788
310 De Baliviere Ave
St Louis, MO

Talayna's Italian Restaurant
(314) 434-6700
510 Westport Plz
St Louis, MO

Talayna's
340 North Main
St Charles, MO
636-940-9447

Sorry I can't give you a personal recommendation but I trust his judgment.

Brad O.

quote:

Originally posted by jrhughes

Has anyone ever heard of the place in St. Louis (I think it's there) where you try to eat a ginormous pizza within an hour to win $500? I saw it on the Travel Channel or Food Network once. I've been trying to find the name of the place and some details about it for a while. Any help would be great.
Thanks

Believe this is what you saw. The menu has a 28" pizza listed. Don't know about the $500 though.
http://www.pointersdelivery.com/

For thick style pizzas in St. Louis, I would recommend Black Thorn or Pizzeria della Piazza.

Black Thorn is a sports bar just off the South Grand restaurant area. BT won the Sauce Magazine reader's poll for best pizza the last two years.
3735 Wyoming St. St. Louis, MO 63116
314-776-0534

Pizzeria della Piazza is on The Hill at Hereford and Daggett.
5100 Daggett St. Louis, MO 63110
314-762-9100

I LOVE St. Louis-style pizza, although the chains have screwed it up. Here's a thread where y'all might glean some good recs.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=780

There is a stylish Italian restaurant just north of St. Louis University where my friend there and I eat every summer when I visit. All the food is really just excellent, but they have a pizza I dream about the rest of the year, with 8 ingredients arranged like spokes on a wheel, so someone who doesn't like one of the ingredients can avoid what they don't like. I will get the name of that place and get back to you all.

She wrote:

It's Vito's on Lindell near St. Louis University. Hand-thrown crust baked in a wood-burning oven. The pizza we ate had portobello mushrooms, proscuitto, artichoke hearts and shrimp. They also do a four-cheese version.

quote:

Originally posted by jrhughes

Has anyone ever heard of the place in St. Louis (I think it's there) where you try to eat a ginormous pizza within an hour to win $500? I saw it on the Travel Channel or Food Network once. I've been trying to find the name of the place and some details about it for a while. Any help would be great.
Thanks

That's Talayna's, the one by Forest Park. It is (well, was -- I graduated about 10 years back) a huge Wash. U. hangout. I was in there one day when a couple of guys went for the money. Let me say, the pizza is enormous -- the pan fit almost exactly the dimensions of the tabletop. The rules are that no more than two people can eat on it, you have to complete in one hour, you can't leave the table, and if you throw up you're disqualified.

Talayna's has terrific pizza. They do a New York style pizza (the Manhattan, I believe) that's pretty authentic (I lived in NYC for about three years, so I'm a pretty good judge). Their St. Louis style pizza is excellent as well -- much better than Imo's.

And for those who say St. Louis style pizza is teh suck, it's just an acquired taste.

The pizza with the $500 contest is Pointer's in Richmond Heights.

The Talayna's at McCausland and Forest Park Parkway (next to WU) closed many years ago due to a gruesome crime outside the front door. There's still one nearby on De Baliviere.

Racanelli's bills itself as NY style pizza and a lot of people do like it but I don't see it.

I still say Pizzeria della Piazza on The Hill. However, be forewarned that a thick or stuffed pizza could take a long time to come to your table as explained on the menu. Regulars call ahead to have a stuffed pizza ready by the time they arrive.

For a New York style pizza, I would recommend Pizza A Go Go at the corner of Scanlan and Ivanhoe. The owner's been making pizza since 1967. Beware, they serve pizza and soda only... no pasta, salads, etc. They open at 4PM every day except Wednesday. Cash only.

BTW, there's a nice family-run Greek place across the street (Colossus).

quote:

Originally posted by Extreme Glow

The pizza with the $500 contest is Pointer's in Richmond Heights.

The Talayna's at McCausland and Forest Park Parkway (next to WU) closed many years ago due to a gruesome crime outside the front door. There's still one nearby on De Baliviere.

Racanelli's bills itself as NY style pizza and a lot of people do like it but I don't see it.

I still say Pizzeria della Piazza on The Hill. However, be forewarned that a thick or stuffed pizza could take a long time to come to your table as explained on the menu. Regulars call ahead to have a stuffed pizza ready by the time they arrive.

quote:

Originally posted by Extreme Glow

The Talayna's at McCausland and Forest Park Parkway (next to WU) closed many years ago due to a gruesome crime outside the front door. There's still one nearby on De Baliviere.

Really? Any details? It was kind of shifty and dimly lit over there, but I also had friends who lived a block off toward Delmar and never had any trouble.

A young female customer was leaving the place and was robbed at gunpoint. Apparently, she wasn't cooperative enough and was shot and killed.

It's a decent area. In fact, The Loop is expanding east into the city.

http://www.ucityloop.com/

Another good place is Two Nice Guys Pizza on Manchester Road in Kirkwood.

Clawed,

We are hoping for a report on your experiences.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm......Imo's.......

I was listening to the John Carney radio show one night and he mentioned in passing that Father Dominic (PBS Bread Baking Show) said that a place here in St. Louis had the best crust he'd ever eaten. The place he named was That'sa Nice'a Pizza. I had never tried it though it's been there a long time. I was in the area one day and gave them a try. They're located in a little 4 shop strip mall. They have 3 tables with plastic chairs. They serve traditional looking STL pizza. I ordered for carryout. Gotta admit my initial reaction to the taste was less than wow. However, when finished I couldn't help but notice the taste of the crust lingered on and on. Now every month or so I just have to get one. I especially like it because it doesn't have to be loaded with toppings to make it tasty, thereby reducing the cost.


That'sa Nice'a Pizza
11726 Baptist Church
(at Tesson Ferry)
St. Louis, MO 63128
314-842-1211

Black Thorn is great pizza - especially the thick/Chicago crust. They'll almost always quote an hour/hour and a half wait when you order, but that's a great chance to enjoy some beer and air hockey. It's a bar, though, so don't bring the kiddies. They also serve Black Thorn pizza at Lemmon's on Hampton (or is it Gravois?) in a slightly more spacious setting.

Fortel's Pizza Den is the only St. Louis style this NYer can enjoy. It's really fantastic, but only if you get one of the mega-topping pizzas like the Bob's or Shelley's Deluxe. A plain cheese pie will disappoint. I've only eaten at the Fortel's in Affton at McKenzie & Heege. A great choice since it's a 5 min drive from Ted Drewes for dessert. I don't like the lighting inside - it's too bright - but the outside patio is great at nighttime.

La Pizza on Delmar west of the Loop is a pretty good attempt at NY-style pizza. The kind of place that I can enjoy for lunch, but I'd never bring a NYer visiting town over there.

Try cecial whitakers or Imo's,they are the 2 top runners in my opinion. Never buy domino's their pizza is good i'll admit but they have nothing speacial about them.

quote:

Originally posted by fastfood

Try cecial whitakers or Imo's,they are the 2 top runners in my opinion. Never buy domino's their pizza is good i'll admit but they have nothing speacial about them.

What,no Arby's pizza?????

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

quote:

Originally posted by fastfood

Try cecial whitakers or Imo's,they are the 2 top runners in my opinion. Never buy domino's their pizza is good i'll admit but they have nothing speacial about them.

What,no Arby's pizza?????

No, but maybe he has a job as a part-time Domino's driver.

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

quote:

Originally posted by fastfood

Try cecial whitakers or Imo's,they are the 2 top runners in my opinion. Never buy domino's their pizza is good i'll admit but they have nothing speacial about them.

What,no Arby's pizza?????

No but we are supposed to be getting pizza bites soon. The arby's stores that are not owned by U.S. Beef Corp. that are in the north has them already.

Tiki, did you have to get him started? lol

here's a link to the FAQ section of Pointer's regarding the rules for the pizza payoff.

http://www.pointersdelivery.com/faq.htm

Basically, a team of two has an hour to eat the 28" pie 2 meat topping pie which weighs 10 pounds.

Reservations a day in advance

Cost - $42

Among local pizza joints, I like both the big St. Louis Chains, Imos' and Cecil Whittakers. But, I think I like Cecil's just a bit better. They have good salads, too. I grew up with my aunt and uncle running pizza joints under both chains, and have ate plenty of both.

Besides the cracker thin crust, the other thing that is particular to St. Louis style pizza is provelone (not provel) cheese, instead of the traditional mozzerella. It seems like few outside of St. L have heard of Provel cheese.