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While there’s a lot of pizza around town, searching for the best local pie is not as easy as it sounds. But look hard enough and there are some bangers waiting to be found at the most unexpected places.
Best Single Slice: On the Rocks – Spicy #^&!@$% Pepperoni
Money is tight these days, and sometimes you can’t afford a whole pizza. With that in mind, On the Rocks has the biggest slices for an affordable price.
The Spicy #^&!@$% Pepperoni is the clear favorite while not getting complicated. It sticks pepperoni alongside a good helping of jalapenos. In addition, the proportion of sauce to cheese to toppings elevates this slice.
Most Unexpected Pizza: Cooler’s Icehouse – Papa’s Special
When the word ‘special’ is attached to pizza, the brain tends to imagine a souped-up supreme, but not at Cooler’s.
They do this pizza right, with a jalapeno mayo base, American, Swiss, and provolone cheese, piled up with ham, turkey, and roast beef. A little gravy is drizzled across the top and the surface is covered in a bed of shredded lettuce.
The crust holds solid, keeping the need for napkins to a minimum with this special and the taste is on point.
Lightest Pizza: Bodega Wine Dive – The Bodega
Pizza can feel like a good idea until you’ve had one piece too many and walk away stuffed. The Bodega feels light across the board, with a thinner, softer crust, and a spread of marinara. The mozzarella has a smoked flavor that accents the pepperoni and salami, and truffle oil drizzle adds a little decadence.
This pizza is a perfect compliment to a bottle of Pinot Noir, but if you’re looking for a full dinner, you may have to order two.
Most Toppings: Tony’s Pizza – Tony’s Special
A mainstay of Lake Charles, Tony’s Pizza can whip you up a pie of any kind, but if you want the best bang for your buck, there’s nothing better than the Tony’s Special.
Topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, and Canadian Bacon, as well as onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms, there’s not an inch of the pizza that doesn’t feel appreciated. If you’re dining in, try a little bit of Tony’s special BBQ sauce for an even more unique taste. Don’t be surprised if there’s an extra little pizza’s worth of toppings on the tray when you’ve finished the last slice.
Best Chicken Pizza: Joe’s Pizza & Pasta – Chicken Alfredo Pizza
Joe’s, like Tony’s, has been a local staple for years now, and with good reason. They can proudly claim they’ve got the best pizza in town, and their pasta isn’t any slouch either.
One of their most popular sellers is the Chicken Alfredo Pizza, and it hits the mark with its simple yet perfect flavor profile.
The chicken is shredded and distributed across the pizza so that every bite feels full without feeling overstuffed while the alfredo base ties it together and gives it a unique twang.
Best Hidden Gem Pizza: Crying Eagle – What the Fig?!
Oil base. Mozzarella and Goat Cheese. Proscuitto. Black Mission Figs, bacon jam, and arugula?
On paper, nothing about this pizza works, but this pizza (bacon) jams hard, tasting like a sweet and savory treat more than a salty entree. The figs and goat cheese blend together, and with a little bit of arugula, make for one of the most unique bites in town.
