#pizza PAPizza food travel Pittsburgh

[itsasaltylife]

The Western PA Pizza Tour

So last week I hopped a plane in Nashville and headed back to my hometown of Mt Pleasant, PA. I landed in Pittsburgh and wasted no time getting my fill of something I love as much as life itself....pizza!!! And let me tell you Western PA has no shortage of pizza and it mostly being served up by Mom and Pop shops and bars.                                            

Mineo’s Pizza House

My first stop was Mineo’s Pizza House named by Tasting Table (a website for culinary enthusiasts) as the best pizza in all of Pennsylvania and one of the top 26 pizza places in the Country in May of 2017.                                                  

Mineo’s has two locations in the Pittsburgh area. Their family has been making pizzas since 1958. I dined at the Squirrel Hill location with my longtime friend that I’ve known since High School Rob Nace. Mineo’s is open till 1AM so if you get the craving late, they got your back. 

We rolled in around 11:30pm and bellied up to the bar to order up a few Peroni drafts and an 8 cut....yes I said cut since most pizza joints in the area call their slices cuts. We waited maybe 20 minutes and out to the bar our pizza arrive. “Here Yinz Go” said the kind lady, who was obviously born and raised in the area with that unmistakable Western PA accent. 

I admit at first I was a bit skeptical when I saw the large amount of cheese on this pizza. This is normally a no no because as we know too heavy on the toppings makes for a sloppy soggy mess. However this was not the case here. Buried under all that beautiful cheese was a generous helping of pepperoni (Rob’s half had mushrooms..SMH). I took the first bite or two with a fork, only to realize just how perfectly done it was. The crust was crunchy yet had a nice chew to it. All with the ability to hold up all that beautiful cheese, which is grated in house daily along with house made dough and sauce.                         

The pizza was outstanding! Its so obvious that the family took pride in their pie, as you can always taste the difference when quality ingredients are used.The sauce has a unique spicy goodness to it, the cheese was of excellent quality and the crust had a very unique flavor all its own. So if your ever up around Da Burgh, you must try it. They also send pizzas via FedEx if your an out of towner and really gotta have one . Check out www.mineospizza.com

Lobingier’s Pizza

As I made my way back to Mt. Pleasant, one of the first things I want to do is call Lobingier’s on Main St to order up one of my favorite pizzas. As a kid, you were either of fan of Lobingier’s or the Village (which is just a few blocks up Main St.) Now, don’t get me wrong, the Village has a good pie, but Lobingier’s gets my vote every day (except Sunday - cause they are closed). From my parents house, you can see Lobingier’s from the back porch so there is no wonder why it was one of my go to places growing up. I mean I used to run a tab there for pizza and cokes after school. Come on! To this day, they still have that unforgettable homemade pizza that tastes exactly the same as it did when I was a child living on Yoder Ave.  Enough with the history lesson, let’s talk pizza...

The price may have gone up through the years, as a large pepperoni has gone from $5.50 to $10.50, but the quality and taste are unmistakable. The crunch of a perfectly baked crust, that sweet sauce combined with the perfect amount of cheese and my favorite topping, pepperoni, still stands the test of time. 

Recently, Lobingier’s added a White Pizza to the menu. This was my first time trying it and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. For those unfamiliar with White Pizza, it’s basically a olive oil base, topped with cheese, tomatoes, and a hint of garlic and oregano. So if you aren’t in the mood for a traditional pizza, I recommend you give this one a try. 

Oh and don’t forget to get yourself an order of Hot Cheese Balls. I promise you won’t be disappointed. 

You can check out Lobingier’s on Facebook: Lobingier’s

So Lobingier’s and Mineo’s were so good...I had them twice!

Bud Murphy’s

Billed on the sign out front as Bud Murphy’s World Famous Pizza, this is always a stop when I’m home. It has a Cheers feel to my family since when you walk in and sit down at the bar, everyone knows your name. Bud’s has a wide array of standard bar fare from sandwiches, salads, deep fried goodies, and such. But again we are here to talk about pizza.

Bud’s pizza is another of many local joints with a very unique flavor. The crust has a great chew to it and just crispy enough to support the generous amounts of sauce, cheese, and of course, pepperoni. To this day when I visit Bud’s, I can’t help but think about all the times I came here as a kid, popping quarters into the Pac-Man machine waiting for that piping hot pie. Bud Murphy’s is a Connellsville, PA institution that continues to provide good food and fun for generations to come. 

Sorry we were hungry....

You can check them out on Facebook: Bud Murphy’s

Slice on Broadway

If you are on the North Shore of Da Burgh, specifically heading to PNC park to take in a Pirates game (Go Reds!), stop by and grab a bite here. Open daily even when the Bucs aren’t playing, you can grab a New York style slice and a cold Iron City brew. 

Here’s their website to check them out: www.sliceonbroadway.com 

Hope you enjoyed the Western PA Pizza Tour! 

Stay Salty my friends!

Jay