Best Pizza in Iowa?

[chuckd4735]

Im surprised no one has mentioned Leaning Tower in Ankeny. They are easily my favorite local place. Best in Iowa for me it will always be Happy Joes. The one in Ames was not as good,IMO, but growing up in Dubuque, its by far the best in the State.

 

[abe2010]

pickles in Kamrar is worth the trip

 

[IAStubborn]

1. Jerry's Pizza in Sioux City - best regular crust
2. Great Plains in Ames - best thick crust
3. Wig & Pen in Iowa City - best Chicago Style
4. Paglliai's (sp?) Iowa City or Town House Sioux City best thin crust.

 

[TRZA]

People start to form opinions on pizza when they are little kids and they love the cheese and meats but don't even want to eat the crust. Later in life people figure out that too many topping ruins a lot of pizza, the more topping the faster the crust turns bad. Its all about the crust when it comes to pizza, from the type of flour to the proofing to the spinning or pressing and finally the type of heat used to bake it.

 

[Omaha Cy]

My dad owned a bar when I was a kid, and Pisquales (sp?) frozen pizza did it for me. They were made in Humboldt and have a restaurant up there. Unsure if they are all that good, or just a staple food from my childhood, but I love those things.

#BarPizza

 

[IAStubborn]

Im surprised no one has mentioned Leaning Tower in Ankeny. They are easily my favorite local place. Best in Iowa for me it will always be Happy Joes. The one in Ames was not as good,IMO, but growing up in Dubuque, its by far the best in the State.

Easy, the former owner of the Ames one produced a fine ISU football player. Plus I disagree the Dubuque one is good but so was the Ames one. The dsm ones weren't up to snuff imo. I think it's more that Happy Joes is awesome when you are a kid and when you go back as an adult it isn't quite as good as you remember maybe because the sauce is sweeter than other places.

 

[CysRage]

My dad owned a bar when I was a kid, and Pisquales (sp?) frozen pizza did it for me. They were made in Humboldt and have a restaurant up there. Unsure if they are all that good, or just a staple food from my childhood, but I love those things.

#BarPizza

Pasquale's. If you think the frozen is good, wait until you try it fresh from the restaurant. You won't find a better thin crust pizza anywhere.

 

[Al_4_State]

Mabe's in Decorah/Cresco is pretty damn good (Cresco location isn't as good as the Decorah location, but still pretty damn solid). Jeff's in Ames is always awesome. When I lived in Des Moines, I always liked Fong's and Big Tomato. Falbo's and Mesa in Iowa City are really good as well.

Always found Great Plains to be completely overrated, which sucks because it's such an Ames icon, but the crust just doesn't work for me at all.

 

[3TrueFans]

Always found Great Plains to be completely overrated, which sucks because it's such an Ames icon, but the crust just doesn't work for me at all.

That Denver crust, mmmmmm mmmmmmmm, *****.

 

[Al_4_State]

The best pizza I've ever had was from the long-defunct Borderline chain, particularly their Chester location. Thick, buttery crust, a tangy sauce, and just the right amount of cheese and meat. Burned down in the mid-late to 90's, but their recipe resurfaced at what was R&B in Osage, and now allegedly resides at a carwash/liquor store in Osage, which I believe is called Kwik-Serve, or something like that.

I'm hoping someone else here has ever been to Borderline in Chester. Damn, that was some incredible pizza.

 

[CysRage]

Mabe's in Decorah/Cresco is pretty damn good (Cresco location isn't as good as the Decorah location, but still pretty damn solid). Jeff's in Ames is always awesome. When I lived in Des Moines, I always liked Fong's and Big Tomato. Falbo's and Mesa in Iowa City are really good as well.

Always found Great Plains to be completely overrated, which sucks because it's such an Ames icon, but the crust just doesn't work for me at all.

Funny story about Mesas. The night before the Iowa game in 2012, after the bars closed there must have been a crap ton of Cyclone fans in Mesas because a huge Cyclone Power chant broke out. It was amazing even if they spit on all of our pizza as a result

 

[Wesley]

Breadeaux Pizza was my favorite at one time until, they had the split ownership, one with the original recipes, the others with the recipes they could get their hands on.

 

[CyCloned]

My dad owned a bar when I was a kid, and Pisquales (sp?) frozen pizza did it for me. They were made in Humboldt and have a restaurant up there. Unsure if they are all that good, or just a staple food from my childhood, but I love those things.

#BarPizza

I agree, the chicken is great. Pizza is okay, which is a huge improvement over the original pizzas they served. The crust was bad and the sauce was chef bo r dee sweet. Worse then Totinos.

This. I go to Pizza ranch for the chicken, not the pizza. Absolutely amazing.

 

[CyArob]

Great Plains is good when I want to burn off all my taste buds.

 

[CloneinWDSM]

Gusto is pretty solid in WDSM.

 

[Agkistrodon]

I know I'm in the minority, but I honestly think Happy Joe's pizza is some of the worst food I've ever had. Especially their taco pizza.

 

[Erik4Cy]

I don't mix ethnicities in food!

That is an awful rule to have, IMO.

Fong's Crab Rangoon Pizza FTW.

 

[CyBroncos]

Mabe's in Decorah/Cresco is pretty damn good (Cresco location isn't as good as the Decorah location, but still pretty damn solid). Jeff's in Ames is always awesome. When I lived in Des Moines, I always liked Fong's and Big Tomato. Falbo's and Mesa in Iowa City are really good as well.

Always found Great Plains to be completely overrated, which sucks because it's such an Ames icon, but the crust just doesn't work for me at all.

I liked the crust,what kind of ruins it for me is the obscene amount of thick hard to chew cheese they pile on it

 

[CyBroncos]

So what place is more overpriced: Happy Joe's or Godfathers?

 

[3TrueFans]

Great Plains is good when I want to burn off all my taste buds.

You're like my son, he says something is hot when he takes a giant bite right after it comes out of the oven.