Local’s Favorite Pizza Places in GR

National Pizza Day is February 9 – and to celebrate, we asked our social media followers to recommend their favorite Grand Rapids pizza places. The first batch of pizzerias below got the most mentions in our poll, but another 17 (listed as “honorable mentions”) also got votes – indicating that a) there are a lot of great pizza places around town and b) just about every one of them is somebody’s favorite.

You really can’t go wrong with any of the 75+ pizza joints in our restaurant listings. But locals say the following will send your taste buds into orbit:

The Mitten Brewing Company

Edging out the rest of the field by a comfortable margin, The Mitten Brewing Company continues to set the pace for pizza awesomeness. The brewery offers all the usual options you would expect, but it really excels in its original creations like Hog Heaven, Curse of the Goat and Westerdog. Can’t decide? Order up a flight of six pizzas, including the weekly special.

Even better – get the Flights of Flavor digital pass to earn points toward free merchandise when you get the pizza flight.

In addition to its flagship location in GR’s West Leonard neighborhood, The Mitten serves its specialty pizzas and flights in its Saugatuck restaurant and tasting room.

JT's Pizza & Spirits

Serving Grand Rapids since 1975, JT’s Pizza & Spirits makes its own signature fresh pizza dough, Italian sausage and pizza sauce from scratch. Selections include a BLT, CLT (substituting chicken for bacon), a classic margherita and more, as well as a create-your-own option.

Pair you pizza with wine, beer or a cocktail, and settle in to watch sports on 20+ large flatscreen TV or play live Keno. JT’s is located in Cascade, close to the hustle and bustle of 28^th St.

Vitale’s

Vitale’s is a storied name in Grand Rapids pizza history. The first Vitale’s location  (on Leonard St.) was opened in 1966 by Sicilian immigrant Salvatore “Sam” Vitale. He and his family opened a takeout location in Comstock Park in the mid-1980s, and expanded it into a full-fledged restaurant in 1994, the first season for the West Michigan Whitecaps in close-by LMCU Ballpark. 

While Vitale’s Comstock Park and newer additions Vitale’s Ada, Vitale’s Hudsonville and Vitale’s Zeeland are not owned by the Vitale family, they still make pizzas using the original recipes Sam brought with him from the old country – though each has added some new wrinkles throughout the years – like a Taco Pizza and a gluten-free cauliflower crust.

Quarantinos

Opened in GR’s Uptown neighborhood in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic – the name is a play on “quarantine” – Quarantino’s Pizza has evolved from a pop-up takeout shop into one of the area’s favorite pizza joints, complete with comfy indoor seating and a friendly, attentive staff.

Quarantino’s  offers seven Detroit-style pizzas with red sauce and another six with alternative sauces. All pizzas come with a house cheese blend and gluten-free crusts are available.

Fricano's

Fricano’s is another legendary name in the local pizza landscape. The original and current Fricano’s Pizza Tavern in Grand Haven was opened by second-generation Italian immigrant Cosimo (Gus) Fricano way back in 1949. He brought a traditional Italian ultra-thin crust to West Michigan, which absolutely fell in love with it – Fricano’s has won numerous “best pizza” awards from locals through the years, and it was the 31^st US pizzeria  inducted into the “Pizza Hall of Fame” by industry magazine PMQ Pizza, in 2015.

Fricano’s pizza is deceptively simple and simply delicious: only five toppings are available and only one size (12-inch) is offered. Fricano’s Comstock Park, opened in 2003, offers a handful of specialty pizzas in addition to the original-recipe pies.

JB's Pizza Parlor

Founded in 1998, JB’s Pizza Parlor offers both deep-dish and thin-crust pizzas, with vegan and gluten-free options available. Specialty pizzas include a Southwest Pickle Pizza and Chipotle Chicken Pizza, and you can build your own pizza from 35+ ingredients.

JB’s also offers a wide range of subs, salads, pastas and more, which can be enjoyed in its cozy Alger Heights dining room or for takeout.

Licari's Sicilian Pizza Kitchen 

Voted Michigan’s Best Pizza by MLive readers in 2016 and recognized as one of the state’s Top Pizza Restaurants by the Detroit Free Press two years later, Licari’s Sicilian Pizza Kitchen continues to impress. Their hand-tossed pizzas are crafted with house-made sauces, fresh vegetables, and imported meats and cheeses. Choose from traditional “pizze,” stuffed-style schiacciata pizze or pan-style pizze, and pair your choice with a signature house cocktail, mocktail, spiked coffee drink, or glass or bottle of wine.

The original Grand Rapids Licari’s, founded in 2012, moved to a new, larger space (with bocce ball court!) on Leonard St. in 2024, and the owners opened Licari’s Sicilian Pizza Kitchen Hudsonville in 2018.

New Holland Brewing - The Knickerbocker

The second brewery on our pizza list is The Knickerbocker, a brewpub in downtown GR’s Bridge Street Entertainment District. The Knickerbocker is equipped with a wood-fired oven that turns out an array of specialty pizzas – from Pickle to Pesto Goat to Dixie Luau – as well as a rotating pizza of the month. You can also build your own pizza from a choice of 25 ingredients. All pizzas are available with a 10-inch hand-tossed crust or 12-inch gluten-free crust.

Wash down your pizza with a New Holland-made craft beer, spirit, seltzer or canned cocktail, in the all-season beer garden or the spacious indoor dining room featuring three separate bars. 

Salvatore's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

A Grand Rapids fixture since 1976, Salvatore’s  offers an extensive menu of homemade Italian food, but it may be most admired for its pizzas. Take the Taste of Grand Rapids pie, for example. Made with Sicilian-style sauce, ham, fresh basil, onions, sausage, Romano cheese and a cultured spice blend, it’s a winner of multiple local awards. It’s one of seven specialty pizzas on the menu. You can also choose from 20+ toppings to be layered atop a cheese pizza base. Pizzas are available in four sizes, with gluten-free and cauliflower-crust options, and a stromboli version is available, as well.  

Salvatore’s is located on the city’s working-class west side, and the owners strive to offer fine food priced within reach of a blue-collar budget.

Greco's Pizza

Located in southeast Grand Rapids, close to such family-friendly attractions as Craig’s Cruisers  and GR Skate and Event Center , Greco’s Pizza  is also well-loved for its specialty pizzas. Try the Chicken Bacon Ranch, vegetarian Primavera or Pesto Portofino, drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Any specialty pizza can be made into a stromboli, pizza by the slice is available for lunch and the restaurant’s popular pepperoni rolls are basically little pizzas folded into poppable delights.

Greco’s also offers an array of non-pizza Italian selections, all available for dine in or take out.

Florentine's Ristorante & Sports Bar

Florentine’s Ristorante & Sports Bar opened as a takeout restaurant in Grandville in 1970. It soon grew into one of the city’s favorite dining destinations, with an extensive menu of Italian (and a few Mexican) dishes. Their pizza menu is basic but beloved: choose from 16 ingredients and three sizes to build your own pie. A gluten-free crust is available.

Florentine Sports Lounge, not affiliated with the Grandville location, offers a broader pizza menu – we counted 11 specialty pizzas and 23 build-your-own-pizza ingredients on our last visit, as well as a wide selection of other Italian and American dishes.

Harmony Brewing Company

Brewery #3 on our list earned its spot on the strength of its wood-fired pizzas, which pair perfectly with its handcrafted beers. In addition to a 20+-ingredient build-your-own pizza option – which includes such goodies as prosciutto, vegan cashew ricotta, vegan Italian sausage and goat cheese – Harmony offers seven 12-inch specialty pizzas. The brewery partners with local food partners to ensure fresh flavor in every bite. Sandwiches, salads and desserts round out the menu.

Martha’s Pizza

Located in the Heritage Hill neighborhood, Martha’s Pizza offers a variety of 12-inch handcrafted pizzas, all starting with dough made from neighboring Nantucket Baking Company. You specify a crispy Neapolitan or gluten-free crust, make your choice of house-made sauces and toppings (there are 40+ to choose from), and your pizza is then baked to perfection in an 800-degree stone hearth oven.

Alfano’s Pub & Ristorante

Alfano’s Pub & Ristorante is a casual Italian eatery in Walker, a few minutes from Blandford Nature Center. This family-owned, family-friendly restaurant and bar serves up nine specialty pizzas in three sizes, plus a gluten-free 10-inch version and a build-your-own option with 25 ingredients.

Peppino’s Pizzeria & Sports Grille

With locations in downtown GR, Allendale ,  Jenison  and Kentwood, Peppino’s caters to pizza lovers and sports fans in every corner of the city. Ten-plus pie selections include margherita, vegetarian, chicken alfredo and spicy supreme selections, as well as a Detroit-style deep-dish featuring eight large square slices. You can also build your own pizza, of course.

Each location is lined with big-screen TVs – 70 of them in the downtown restaurant alone – showing all manner of athletic competitions, so you can root on your favorite team while you enjoy your pizza (and an adult beverage, If you like).

Eastern Kille

Eastern Kille is a distillery that crafts its own line of spirits in a wooded setting in Rockford, 15 minutes from downtown GR. It’s also a restaurant whose wood-fired pizzas range from classic Mozzarella & Basil to combinations like Mortadella with Pistachio & Honey. Pizzas are half-off on Mondays and a newly added Sunday Brunch includes a breakfast pizza.

Enjoy your pizza in the natural-light filled dining room under a soaring 30-foot ceiling or on the forest-lined backyard patio in temperate weather.

Archival Brewing

A northeast-side brewery specializing in historic-style beers, ciders and meads, Archival Brewing offers a relatively small menu of made-from-scratch pizzas that have accrued a fervent fan following. Choose from Peperoni, Margherita, Mediterranean, Buffalo Chicken, or Goat Cheese & Sausage Pizza, all available with the house sourdough crust or a gluten-free crust. A build-your-own pizza options is also offered.

Honorable Mentions

Testa Rossa Italian Ristorante serves crispy-crust New Haven-style pizza in GR’s Uptown neighborhood.

Andrea’s Pizza in GR’s Boston Square neighborhood has been pleasing Grand Rapids palates for more than 50 years.

Big Bob’s Pizza in East Grand Rapids is a friendly neighborhood bar and restaurant offering an array of self-described “legendary pizzas.”

Fred’s Italian Restaurant is a second-generation pizzeria featuring a range of specialty pizzas and a choice of nearly 30 ingredients for a build-your-own pizza.

Terra GR in Uptown uses fresh ingredients to craft such delicious options as a Potato pizza and Hot Honey + Pepperoni pizza.

Herb & Fire Pizzeria - Grand Rapids and Herb & Fire Pizzeria - Grandville are known for their wood-fired pizzas made with handmade dough and scratch-made toppings.

Two Sons Pizza in downtown GR serves authentic New York-style pizza in generous slices and colossal 20-inch pies.

Mike’s Pizzeria & Tavern, 30 minutes southeast of downtown GR, is treasured for its deep-dish and gluten-free crusts.

Wealthy Street Bakery (and its sister company Hall Street Bakery) offer a wide variety of handmade pizzas, including build-your-own options.

Mineo’s Pizza in the city’s Southtown Corridor has been serving up fresh-made pizzas to avid fans for more than 40 years.

Lia’s Pizza is a casual Italian eatery offering a choice of five sizes, three crusts and 17 toppings for its build-your-own pizzas, plus 10 specialty pizzas.

Enza’s Pizza, about 30 minutes south of downtown GR, features both thin-crust and Chicago-style deep dish options.

Zain’s Party Store in Rockford supplements its retail offerings with fresh-baked pizza to go.

Cottage Inn Gourmet Pizza is a Michigan-based pizza chain with downtown GR and Uptown GR locations.

Pietro’s Italian Restaurant is a full-service Italian eatery with a huge menu that includes handcrafted New York-style pizzas.

Arcane Pizza in the city’s Creston neighborhood turns out a variety of thin, handcrafted sourdough crusts with creative toppings.

Oskar Scots in Caledonia features 11 specialty pies on the menu, including a pickle pizza, chicken pizza and breakfast pizza.

Vito’s Pizza, at the gateway to GR’s downtown-adjacent West Fulton neighborhood, is open ‘til 3am (Sunday-Thursday) or 4am (Friday & Saturday) for pizza dine-in or pickup.

Remember that menu items and hours of operation are subject to change, so please check with an establishment before visiting!