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Aaron Yunker, AKA Uncle Pizza, a locally known pizza aficionado, has traveled the Upper Peninsula for the last 25 years in search of the U.P.’s best pizzas. While he says that great pizza can be found all over the U.P. the Ishpeming and Negaunee area is definitely the U.P.’s pizza capital. He has provided a brief note about each of the pizzas places on the West End below.
Some of the best pizza in the UP can be found in Ishpeming and Negaunee, and it's not just a couple of places. There are a number of very good pizza places in the area that use only top-notch ingredients and have very loyal followings. There is no doubt in my mind that this area is the pizza capital of the U.P. |
Aaron Yunker | U.P. Pizza Expert | Over 10,000 pizzas eaten | Founder of Pizzatology (the celebration of all things pizza)
A very unique pizza, the zesty sauce, and cracker thin crust make this one of Ishpeming’s favorite pizzas. I love mine with extra sauce. Cudighi, top cheese, gluten safe crust, and cheese fries are some popular options to check out. |
The Huron Mountain Bakery makes excellent wood fired pizzas! They have a variety of specialty pizzas as well as the largest selection of toppings in Ishpeming if you want to choose your own. My favorite combination is pepperoni, cudighi, mozzarella, feta, and tomatoes. |
Jasper Ridge is known for its’ huge 16” inch pizza and delicious craft brews. If you are in the mood for a non-traditional pizza try their tasty Crispy Buffalo Chicken Pizza. They have a great Tuesday night pizza special. |
One of the areas newest restaurants offers both a thin and traditional hand-tossed crust with homemade sauce and fresh mozzarella. They also make a Chicken Artichoke pizza that is delightful. |
Lawry’s opens at 7 A.M., so if you are like me and want pizza for breakfast I suggest giving them a call whether it’s for traditional (they load it with mozzarella) or their famous breakfast pizza. The breakfast pizza features sausage gravy, eggs, bacon, cheese, and ham or sausage and is to die for. |
Mama Mia’s makes an excellent pie and are one of the local places that offers feta as a topping. That alone puts them in my regular rotation but they also have great sauce and cudighi. It may sound weird but make sure to order a piece of their delicious garlic bread when you get a pizza. |
The Moose Drop Inn, in Michigamme, is a seasonal restaurant that's well known for its excellent pizza. They make their own traditional or sourdough crust and have a number of popular specialty pizzas. |
The only Ishpeming pizza place that delivers. |
Bowling, billiards, and PIZZA... the River Rock Lanes has 12 or 16 inch pizzas available for dine-in or take-out. I am a big fan of their sausage but if you are looking for something different they serve an excellent Philly Cheese Steak pizza. Family entertainment and pizza in the same place makes this great place for birthday parties and other events. |
Tino’s makes some of the best cudighi around so I always make sure to order it on my pizza which comes with a delicious homemade sauce and a great thin crust. They also serve a hugely popular taco pizza that locals rave about. Two unusual toppings for this area that you can find at Tino’s are sauerkraut and anchovies. |
The Venice is another Ishpeming classic that locals have been eating for years, the spice is homemade and has a little kick to it. The Venice cuts the pizza into squares which makes it great for sharing. |
