Yes, yes, I know... It's obvious I was making a tremendous sacrifice for all of you. But worry not. I survived, and I came up with my preliminary Top 10 Oklahoma City Pizza Places list.
First, I asked for your recommendations. I wanted your absolute favorites, the big chain at a specific location that does it so well or the family-owned, out-of-the-way gem of pizza goodness. Some posted at the Great OKC Pizza Hunt discussion over on the forum and some sent me e-mails.
Then, I updated this search diary throughout the summer. I posted all of the following thoughts on many of the places I tried, adding and updating as I went with the ultimate goal of finding the best pizza in OKC.
Finally, I did it. I named the Top 10 Pizza Places in Oklahoma City. You may not agree with all of my choices, but if you're a pizza connoussier, you'll have a great frame of reference on where to begin. Plus, you'll know that this list was put together after tireless efforts of research and bloating.
But don't consider this the end. After reading this search diary and seeing many of the places I reviewed, give me your recommendations as well. If you're an owner or operator of a pizza restaurant and want to make sure you're included, let me know.
After all, the list can always change. I will leave no pie uneaten in the Great OKC Pizza Hunt.
Here's the diary chronicling my search:
The Hunt Begins
A map of the metro in hand, little red circles dotting Oklahoma City to indicate pizza prizes, I began my trek with a couple of reader recommendations. I find it necessary, however, to first detail my personal preferences in the realm of pizza. Each person is different, of course, so you should read with this in mind.- I'm generally a fan of thinner pizza rather than the unnecessarily doughy crusts. I like some crisp to my crust.
- I'm not typically big on a ton of toppings. Give me one or two selections that aren't oversized but are flavorable, and I'm happy.
- Spice to the sauce works best for me. I know many that like it, but sweet sauce doesn't seem to fit my tastes.
My first stop was down south in Norman. On the north side of Boyd Street, Campus Corner, NEW YORK PIZZA awaited.
With the accented announcers calling World Cup soccer on the flat-screen televisions around the room, I was immediately encouraged by my choice and therefore by this entire endeavor. After all, it's always good to start things off right.
The pizza was right out of the oven, piping hot with cheese stretching from the pan pedestal upon the table to my plate. Toppings somewhat mild in flavor and sauce with a subtle tomato and garlic taste, the pizza filled me up quickly with its plentiful cheese.
Pros:
- Plenty of cheese to spare
- Good sauce coverage
- Thin, tasty crust you won't toss to the side
- A tad greasy
- Not much spice to sauce or toppings
From there, I chose one right in the heart of OKC, the fairly recent addition to the pizza landscape JOEY's PIZZERIA on Classen just south of 18th.
With a non-descript exterior and an empty dining area, my hopes were not too high. I can say right off that the atmosphere falls well short of justifying the menu prices of the pizza. That said, there's still something to like here, notably the flavorful, parmesan-sprinkled crust and slightly spicy meat toppings. Unfortunately, the sauce is far too sweet for my tastes and gives the pizza an odd, almost sugary aftertaste.
Pros:
- Good flavor to toppings
- Chewy crust topped with parmesan and spices
- Good topping and cheese coverage
- Very sweet sauce
- Price surpasses quality
