As the weather gets colder, kitchens begin to heat up with cozy comfort foods whose sole mission is to warm the soul and most importantly, warm the body. There’s nothing like a steaming hot bowl of chili or a hearty stew to put you at ease on a cold winter’s night.
If you’re like me, one-pot meal or not, sometimes I just don’t feel like cooking. That’s when I reach for one of the meals I love most: pizza.
When I want something quick and cheap, I call my local Dominos; however as a true pizza connoisseur, there are instances when I want a more upscale pie. I do have my go-to pizza joints, but I have noticed that there’s a whole city full of pizza that I have not tried.
Some of these restaurants are beginning to get much more buzz and I’m curious to see what they’re about. My parents taught me not to talk with food in my mouth so if you see me at one of these spots, just nod.
Napolese
114 E. 49th St. – (317) 925-0765
I have no clue why I have yet to visit Napolese because I hear it’s really good. This restaurant is also part of the Patachou restaurant family so I am secure in the fact that these pizzas are made with fresh, quality ingredients. Napolese is an artisanal pizzeria which means it’s made in a wood burning oven. Each pizza is made from hand-formed dough topped with housemade tomato sauce and a wide range of ingredients ranging from your traditional pepperoni or mushrooms to the extreme including goose, smoked chicken, goat cheese and quail eggs.
Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza
5646 E. Washington. – (317) 356-6612
Located in the Irvingron area, Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza is said to be gourmet pizzas made with extra-crisp crust and offbeat toppings combos such as the Shrimp Scampi pizza (house special creamy parmesan sauce, shrimp, red pepper, green onion and garlic) or the Heidi Hernandez (chorizo sausage, tomato, basil and garlic with no sauce.) Don’t worry, you can build your own pizza too. Jockamo’s also has lunch and brunch specials. If I’m not in the mood for pizza (which does happen sometimes) their sandwiches look really good – especially the Italian beef.
Honorable mentions
Some Guys Pizza
6235 Allisonville Road – (317) 257-1364
Located in the plaza on 62nd and Allisonville Road, Some Guys Pizza serves up hand crafted pies that have an unapologetic attitude to it (if food can have a personality). The crust has a hint of sweetness to it and the simplistic goodness of the ingredients makes for a delicious meal. Every time I visit this restaurant I order the Bomb. It’s your standard “everything” (that’s for all you region folks) pizza, but is far superior than other restaurants that pile on all those the toppings.
Puccini’s Smiling Teeth
Various locations (Greenbriar, Clearwater and Sunnyside)
I absolutely fell in lust with Puccini’s Smiling Teeth pizza. It has a fast food pizza chain kind of feel to it, but the pizza is made with love and care that other pizza slingers just don’t have. There are several locations in Indianapolis and even in Carmel and Fishers. I typically order the Ultimate Warrior, but other items are out of the box and contain combinations that I have yet to see in self-proclaimed gourmet pizza restaurants. There’s even several options for vegetarians.
Bazbeaux Pizza
Various locations (Broad Ripple, Downtown and Carmel)
When I first moved to Indy, I had no clue where I’d get good pizza. Coming from an area that’s known for it’s decadent deep dish, I was absolutely convinced I’d have to drive north on I-65 any time I had a hankering for my favorite meal – until I went to Bazbeaux.
This restaurant is so different from any pizza I had ever had. What made me fall in love was its clean, fresh taste. There’s no excess grease and the perfect amount of toppings… every time! This award-winning pizza is the best for a reason. I may have a flavor of the month when it comes to good pizza, but I’ll always love Bazbeaux Pizza.
