Maryville Pawprint Maryville Pawprint, Maryville University's Student Newspaper
St. Louis is known for a few things: being the best baseball town (GO CARDS!), toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, oh and St. Louis style pizza, also known as cracker crust with roof cheese to those who haven’t grown up around it. Cracker crust with roof cheese, why that name you ask? Of course, we all know that St. Louis style pizza is very thin, which is where the cracker crust comes in, but the roof cheese is a different story. Most people who haven’t grown up eating provel cheese actually can’t stand it. My Dad is the one who gave it that nickname because he says the cheese sticks to the roof of your mouth. He can’t stand it, born and raised in Chicago he wouldn’t go near it with a ten-foot pole. I on the other hand am a die-hard Cardinals fan, I could eat toasted ravioli at every meal and I could finish it with gooey butter cake. So what does that mean? You guessed it, I was born and raised in St. Louis and I love my cracker crust, roof cheese pizza. That is why I decided to find the best St. Louis style pizza.
When most people think of St. Louis style pizza, they think of one place: Imo’s. I wanted to think outside of the box (literally) and find the best pizza that wasn’t well known. I did my research, I ate a lot of pizza, and I came up with the top 5 places in St. Louis to get St. Louis style pizza (believe me it wasn’t easy.)
5. At number 5 I would have to say Serra’s Pizzeria in Maryland Heights, Mo. It has been around since 1970 and has been family owned and operated since. They use the freshest ingredients and it really shows. Their fresh garlic is what really makes the pizza stand out to me. Serra’s goes by, “one taste and you’ll agree, our pizza is the best!” Well, it sure is one of the best I’ve ever had.
4. Coming in at number four, I would have to say Nicoletti’s. While they are known for their steak and pasta, don’t be fooled. Their St. Louis style pizza is out of this world. My favorite at Nicoletti’s is the bacon and onion. The bacon is extremely crispy and it just works really well together. Nicoletti’s is located off of Big Bend Road in Twin Oaks, Mo. You won’t be disappointed.
3. For the third best St. Louis style pizza, I chose Café Manhattan. There is no website for Café Manhattan but it isn’t really needed. Drive there once for pizza and you will remember exactly where it is. Right in the heart of Clayton, you will fall in love with this cracker crust. Even a review on Yelp said that someone who was not a pizza eater really enjoyed this “yummy provel pizza.” Café Manhattan is a school diner look and it might take you back to your grade school days where of course pizza days were the best days!
2.How did that chant we used to sing growing up go? First is the worst.. Second is the best.. Well first is definitely not the worst in this case but second might be tied with first as far as being the best goes. I am talking about Farotto’s pizza. Not Villa Farottos in Chesterfield Valley either. The original Farottos off Manchester Road in Rock Hill has been a St. Louis establishment since the mid 60s. Their pizza and salad lunch special is my favorite with hamburger and garlic for my toppings.
Farotto’s started out as a family owned pizzeria with only a few pastas, limited seating, and a carry out service and boy, have they came a long way!
1. And as it always goes the best is saved for last which has got to be O’B Clark’s in Brentwood. O’B Clark’s is known for bar food but their pizza is so delicious that right now I have one hand on my keyboard and the other on my phone. The sauce is really what makes O’B's pizza stand out more then any other St. Louis style pizza in the area. It has a sweet flavor to it which makes the pizza sing and not only that very addicting. I would tell you how many pieces I have eaten at once but I know you would judge me. Their pizza comes out in a rectangular shape and their veggies are always fresh and cut to the perfect size.
The top five pizza places were hard to put in order because they all are really great St. Louis style pizzas. If you like cracker crust and you feel like having cheese stick to the roof of your mouth, you now have five new great places to check out.
Kevin James said it best when he said, “There is no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap.”
Hmm, I wonder if he has ever had St. Louis style?
You should have tried Pio’s in Old St Charles. I have been to OBCs as well. Friends, family and myself agree that Pio’s kills it hands down.
I love JJ Twigs. It is great. I just didn’t mention it because they don’t use provel cheese.
I have never heard of any of these places. I will definitely have to try some of them out. Some good places in the city that are my favorites are Guidos, Vitos, and Onestos. JJ Twigs in Des Peres is also really good too.
No I am not from the country side. Have you ever tried these places? They are great. Have to try the ones you are talking about too.
Are you from the Country Side? You need to venture to the city for some realllll good pizza! I’m talking Guido’s Pizzeria and Tapas on the Hill! Now that is where it’s at!!
funny article-especially liked the roof cheese info.