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BELLVILLE — Pizza is personal. At its best, it’s tied to Friday-night family rituals, post-game celebrations, young love, and first dates. For some, the memories go back a generation or more. At its worst, pizza is a pat on the back for a job well done, when cash would have been nicer. Even then, it’s hard not to appreciate a good slice.
Some people swear by the pizzeria they grew up eating at, while others, like me, live to discover new favorites.
That got me wondering: who serves the best pizza in Richland County, and why do people love it so much?
Munch Madness: A pizza poll
Over the course of a month, I tallied more than 18,000 votes, read hundreds of comments and online reviews, studied menus and photos, and hosted three taste tests with more than 50 local pizza fans.
While studying those hundreds of comments, I found myself stuck in the middle of die-hard fans duking it out over the best slice. The passion was impressive, but the consensus was nonexistent.
Sweet sauce. Spicy sauce. Thin crust. Thick crust. Square cut and solid or floppy and foldable. What one person called perfect, another called inedible.
That level of discord is exactly why I didn’t want to be the only one doing the reviews.
Taste tests
Every pizza was ordered the same way: large, cheese and pepperoni, cut into 16 slices. A level playing field.
The results varied, more than expected.
One person scored a slice 9s and 10s. The next handed it an unremarkable 2. One taster raved about a “crispy, airy crust,” while another wrote, “crust is grainy.”
Participants
The bracket focused on locally owned shops, giving independent pizzerias across Richland County a chance to take center stage. But even with 17 spots included, fans reminded me there were plenty of other favorites out there. Which made picking a favorite a lot harder.
Is the “best” pizza actually the best, or just the one people talk about most?
That’s when I realized I could take everything we collected and turn it into something more useful: a guide to help you find a slice you might love but haven’t tried yet.
Pizza preferences
Going into this, I thought I had my own perfect slice figured out. I usually lean toward wood-fired pizza. Crust that’s crispy and airy on the outside, a little chewy on the inside, with sauce that has a little spice and acidity. But I’m also a sucker for places that get creative with their toppings or specials. Sometimes the weirder the combination, the better.
But pizza has a way of surprising you. I learned I can appreciate almost any style, and I found new favorites in places I hadn’t tried before.
Crowned victorious
After three rounds of voting, endless debates, and weeks of tasting way more pizza than I ever thought possible, the final matchup came down to just two: Fast Eddie’s Pizza in Bellville and Deschner’s Pizza in Mansfield. In the end, Fast Eddie’s edged out the win.
When I stopped by to present the award, I spoke with one of the managers, Spencer Schnittke, who expressed his gratitude for the title, saying, “We do this all for the community, and the community supports us a lot.”
And the community definitely showed up. Many voters praised Fast Eddie’s for its hand-tossed crust, perfectly balanced flavors, and generous toppings. It’s no surprise this spot inspires such a loyal following. Their full review is coming soon.
A pizza guide
By the end, this project was less about crowning one pizza the “best” and more about understanding what people actually love in a slice.
Note: I may have eaten more pizza in the last month than the average person, or what the Surgeon General would consider safe, but I’m not a pizza expert.
These recommendations are based on compiled votes, comments, reviews, and a little help from this guide, America’s Regional Pizza Styles.
Try it yourself: Go out there, support local restaurants, and taste for yourself. Try the classics, chase the weird specials, and see which slice becomes your favorite—because it might be who you’ve always loved, or you might just be surprised!
Download our free pizza review sheet and see which slice comes out on top.
Besta Fasta Pizza
Get this pizza if: You like a pizza with a thinner, breadier crust and a sweet-and-spicy sauce. Reviewers mentioned big portions and good value.
Other recommended items: Spicy chicken bacon ranch pizza
Clara’s Pizza
Get this pizza if: You want slices with a crispy bottom and a softer rim, paired with a sweet-tangy sauce. Reviewers mentioned a friendly, hole-in-the-wall vibe.
Other recommended items: Wings, breadsticks
Countryside Pizza & Drive Thru
Get this pizza if: You want slices with a crisp, no-flop base, a sturdy but slightly fluffy crust, and tangy-sweet sauce. Reviewers mentioned generous cheese and toppings.
Other recommended items: Subs, potato skins, wings
Deschner’s Pizza
Get this pizza if: You like heavy, generously topped pies with a crunchy outside, soft inside, thick, flavorful sauce, and abundant cheese.
Other recommended items: Lunch specials, JoJo’s, wings
Fast Eddie’s Pizza
Get this pizza if: You like a thicker, doughy crust with a slightly spicy, zesty sauce, a hit of garlic salt, and a pizza that reviewers mention feels balanced and consistent.
Other recommended items: Garlic bread, pasta
Hamilton’s on Main
Get this pizza if: You like a light, crispy-chewy crust with sweeter sauce and fresh, balanced toppings.
Other recommended items: Unique pizza specials, strombolis, loaded baked potatoes
Leaning Tower of Pizza
Get this pizza if: You like a crispy medium crust, caramelized cheese, thicker pepperoni, and slightly sweet sauce.
Other recommended items: Subs, salads
Mama’s Pizza
Get this pizza if: You like a thick, hearty crust, smooth sauce that is less acidic. Reviewers say the toppings taste fresh.
Other recommended items: Foldovers and unique specialty pizzas
Mr. Bill’s Woodfired Pizza
Get this pizza if: You want foldable slices with a crisp edge, airy inside, sweet, fresh sauce, cupped pepperoni, and that unmistakable wood-fired flavor.
Other recommended items: Panuzzo sandwich and unique specialty pizzas
Pronto Pizza & Coffee
Get this pizza if: You want a firm, chewy thin-to-medium crust with lightly sweet sauce, even toppings, and a sprinkle of parmesan on the edge. Reviewers say pizzas taste balanced.
Other recommended items: Extensive menu offerings, coffee
Robsagna
Get this pizza if: You want a chewy wood-fired crust, slightly sweet sauce, and fresh toppings. Reviewers say it tastes nostalgic and comforting.
Other recommended items: Smoked lasagna
Scotty’s Pizza
Get this pizza if: You like thick, airy square crust with sweet marinara, caramelized edges, and generous cheese.
Other recommended items: Garlic cheesy bread, taco pizza
Southside Pizza & Drive Thru
Get this pizza if: You like a medium-thick chewy crust with a sauce that is mild and slightly sweet.
Other recommended items: Garlic strips, stromboli, old-world pepperoni
The Cove Coffee Shop & Pizza Company
Get this pizza if: You like a light, airy crust with cupped pepperoni, a mild sauce, and caramelized cheese.
Other recommended items: Bagels, coffee, gluten-free options
The Pizza Company
Get this pizza if: You like slightly thicker buttery crust, foldable slices. Reviewers mention this slice tastes well-balanced, and the cheese is of good quality.
Other recommended items: Specialty pizzas, pepperoni rolls
Tommy Tomato’s Masterpiece Pizza
Get this pizza if: You want a chewy, dough-forward crust with a crisp edge, slightly spicy pepperoni, and a tangy, slightly acidic sauce.
Other recommended items: Pizza sub, specials
Warrior Pizza and Ice Cream
Get this pizza if: You want a fluffy-but-crisp crust with a slightly sweet, tangy sauce. Reviewers mention that the sauce is unique and flavorful.
Other recommended items: Lasagna pizza, menu variety
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