Ohio’s pizza scene is a hidden treasure trove waiting to be discovered. Beyond the chain restaurants that dot the landscape, there’s a world of family-owned pizzerias serving unique pies that have locals lining up for decades. These spots might not make the tourist brochures, but they hold the authentic flavors and traditions that make Ohio pizza special.
1. Rubino’s Pizza: Bexley’s Thin-Crust Legend
Step into a time capsule at Rubino’s, where cash-only transactions and no-delivery policies have remained unchanged since 1954. Their paper-thin crust cracks with each bite, supporting a perfect ratio of tangy sauce and melted provolone.
Locals don’t mind the no-frills atmosphere or the wait – they’re here for the rectangular-cut pizzas that define Columbus style. The tiny dining room fills quickly with regulars who’ve been ordering the same specialty pies for generations.
Fun fact: Rubino’s hasn’t changed their original pizza oven since opening, believing it holds the secret to their distinctive crust.
2. Terita’s Pizza: A Columbus Institution Since 1959
Hidden in a residential neighborhood, Terita’s welcomes pizza lovers with the aroma of decades-old recipes. The modest exterior belies the magic happening inside, where pizzas emerge with perfectly caramelized cheese edges and a crust that strikes the ideal balance between crisp and chewy.
Families have been passing down their Terita’s traditions for generations. Many Columbus natives mark milestones with these distinctive pies, creating a loyal following that keeps this unassuming spot bustling.
Their sausage pizza, featuring house-made Italian sausage with a secret blend of spices, remains the undisputed favorite among regulars.
3. Panzera’s Pizza: Grandview Heights’ Best Kept Secret
Behind an unassuming storefront in Grandview Heights lies Panzera’s, where pizza-making is treated as an art form. Since 1957, their hand-tossed dough has been the foundation for pizzas that locals describe as ‘perfectly balanced.’
What sets Panzera’s apart is their signature sauce – slightly sweet with hints of herbs that complement rather than overwhelm the toppings. The cheese blend, another closely guarded secret, stretches into those Instagram-worthy pulls with each slice.
During Ohio State football games, expect a line out the door as alumni return to taste the pizzas that fueled their college years.
4. The Original Josie’s Pizza: Downtown Columbus Classic
A weathered sign and worn booths tell the story of Josie’s, serving downtown Columbus since the 1960s. Their square-cut pizza features a distinctive, almost pastry-like crust that develops air pockets during baking, creating a unique texture experience.
Regulars swear by ‘The Works’ – a masterpiece loaded with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers that hasn’t changed in decades. The family recipes, passed through generations, maintain consistency that keeps customers coming back.
Lunchtime brings a mix of office workers and old-timers who’ve been eating the same pizza order for 30+ years.
5. JT’s Pizza & Pub: Neighborhood Gem With Gourmet Twists
JT’s might look like just another neighborhood bar from the outside, but locals know it houses some of Columbus’ most creative pizzas. Owner Joe Hartnett transforms classic pub fare into pizza masterpieces, like the legendary Buffalo chicken pizza topped with homemade ranch dressing.
The dough, made fresh daily and allowed to cold-ferment for 48 hours, develops complex flavors that chain pizzerias can’t match. Sports memorabilia lines the walls, creating an atmosphere where first-timers quickly become regulars.
Their monthly specialty pizzas feature seasonal ingredients sourced from Ohio farms, connecting local agriculture to pizza perfection.
6. Gatto’s Pizza: Clintonville’s Family Legacy
Walk into Gatto’s and you’ll likely find three generations of the family working side by side, crafting pizzas from recipes brought from Sicily in the 1950s. Their sauce, simmered for hours with fresh tomatoes and basil, creates a fragrant base for toppings that are sliced, chopped, and prepared each morning.
The tiny kitchen produces pizzas with impossibly crisp bottoms and pillowy edges. Neighbors often gather at the handful of tables, sharing stories over slices that taste the same as they did decades ago.
The garlic rolls – a happy accident created when the founder’s son experimented with leftover dough – now have their own devoted following.
7. TAT Ristorante di Famiglia: Old-World Pizza Perfection
Since 1929, TAT has been serving Columbus authentic Italian cuisine, but locals know their pizza is the hidden star. The crust – thicker than typical Columbus-style but not quite deep dish – provides the perfect foundation for their slow-cooked sauce made from an old family recipe.
The dining room exudes old-school Italian charm with red checkered tablecloths and vintage photos of Italy. Fourth-generation customers now bring their children to experience the same flavors their great-grandparents enjoyed.
Their signature pizza features house-made Italian sausage seasoned with fennel and red pepper flakes, a recipe unchanged for nearly a century.
8. Marion’s Piazza: Dayton’s Pizza Phenomenon
Don’t let the cafeteria-style setup fool you – Marion’s has been crowned “Dayton’s Best Pizza” for over 30 years running. Their signature thin crust pizza, cut into tiny squares that locals call “party cut,” creates the perfect ratio of toppings to crust in each bite.
Founded in 1965, Marion’s distinctive approach places cheese beneath the toppings rather than on top, preventing the dreaded topping slide. The massive dining rooms fill with families celebrating everything from Little League wins to retirement parties.
Celebrity visitors have their photos on the wall, but regulars know the real stars are the consistent, no-frills pizzas that taste exactly the same year after year.
9. Mama Santa’s: Cleveland’s Little Italy Treasure
Tucked into Cleveland’s historic Little Italy neighborhood, Mama Santa’s has been serving old-country pizzas since 1961. The brick oven, imported from Italy, imparts a distinctive char to the crust that pizza aficionados travel miles to experience.
Tables are packed tightly in the cozy dining room where generations of families squeeze in for their weekly pizza ritual. The Sicilian-style deep dish, a lesser-known specialty, features a focaccia-like base topped with chunky tomato sauce and generous cheese.
During the Feast of the Assumption festival each August, the line for Mama Santa’s stretches down Mayfield Road as Cleveland celebrates its Italian heritage.
10. Gionino’s Pizzeria: Akron’s Cheese-Edge Sensation
From humble beginnings in Tallmadge, Gionino’s has grown into a regional favorite while maintaining the quality that made locals fall in love with their pies. Their signature move – extending cheese all the way to the edge of the crust where it caramelizes into crispy, golden perfection – creates what fans call the “cheese crown.”
The sauce strikes a perfect balance between sweet and tangy, complementing their generous topping portions. Though they’ve expanded to multiple locations, each store maintains the same recipes and techniques that built their reputation.
Their chicken-bacon-ranch pizza, an unexpected bestseller created on a slow night in 1995, now accounts for nearly 20% of all orders.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
