A Pizza-Lover’s Guide to the Best Pies in Peoria

By

Aly Owdom, Guest Writer

on

Nothing beats that first bite into a cheesy slice of pizza, loaded up with all of your favorite seasonings and toppings. Whether you like to keep it classic and simple, or indulge in specialty pie, Greater Peoria has a place that is sure to steal a pizza your heart.

Here are 22 must-try pizza restaurants in Greater Peoria that just can’t be topped.

Agatucci's Restaurant​  {Peoria}   //   This family-owned restaurant has been serving pizza lovers for years. They specialize in traditional thin-crust pizza with classic toppings. Be sure to try some of their famous tiger sauce, a secret garlic vinaigrette recipe passed down for generations.

Bacci Ristorante + Pizzeria  {Peoria}   //  One thing that makes Bacci Pizza so unique is their famous jumbo slice. Enjoy any of the specialty or classic flavors as a single slice—but beware, they’re as big as your head! This is a spot to order the biggest pie in Peoria—Bacci's offers a 30” jumbo pizza.

Brienzo's Wood Fired Pizza  {Peoria Heights}   //  Devour a delicious hand-tossed, wood-fired pizza customized just for you. At Brienzos, pizzas are crafted with the individual in mind offering a variety of sauces, cheese, meats, and veggies to choose from. Too much to choose from? Try one of their house favorites instead such as The Brienzo or Margherita. All pizzas are made Neapolitan style with a crispy outer crust and a soft bread inside.

Castaways Bar + Grille  {Chillicothe}   // Castaways puts a fun new twist on a classic food with their extensive list of speciality pizzas that can be enjoyed in thin crust or deep dish style. The bacon cheeseburger, taco, and Philly Cheesesteak pizzas are just a few on the must-try list!

Chicago Grill  {Peoria}   //   Chicago Grill brings the famous Chicago style deep dish pizza right here to Peoria. They focus on quality and make the dough from scratch. Choose from a variety of toppings to craft the perfect pie, or try a unique creation like the Gyro pizza or the Chef Special Spinach pie.

Double A’s Pizza + Sports Bar  {Peoria}   //   Pizza and sports go hand in hand.  Double A’s is the spot to watch any game while simultaneously devouring some pizza. Build your own creation, or try one of their specialty pizzas like the Big M“AA”C.

Firehouse Pizza + Pub  {East Peoria}   //   All Firehouse pizzas are made to order with the option of thin and crispy, New York-style hand-tossed, deep dish, or even gluten-free crust. They’re known for the famous sweet pizza sauce, but feel free to try any of the other made-from-scratch sauce options. We highly recommend the Mango Habanero Chicken or the Backdraft pizza.

Herold’s Pizza Oven  {Peoria}   //   Expect daily fresh dough to be used in the original thin crust or New York pan-style pizza at Herold’s. They even offer a 12” gluten free cauliflower crust. Harold’s offers a modern version of the original recipes as ‘Tavern style’, topped with melted provolone and mozzarella cheeses. Try one of their specialties like the 41 or the Taco.

Hoops Pub + Pizza  {Peoria}   //   The fresh baked dough and secret made-from-scratch sauce is what make Hoops pizza so great. Whether you are looking for a light meal or feeding a group, Hoops has you covered with single slices all the way up to 19” pizzas. Flavors vary from classics to specialties like the works or the white garlic sauce chicken.

Jack’s on Adams  {Peoria}   //   Jack’s on Adams specializes in tavern-style pizza made with Trefzger's handmade pizza dough. Build your own pie, or choose from any of the delicious specialty flavors, including garlic chicken, buffalo chicken, or Maggie's Garden. Don’t forget to ask about their pizza of the week to find unique specialty pizzas not on the everyday menu.

Knuckles Pizza  {Dunlap}   //  This pizza spot has been serving Quad City-style pies for over a decade. Here the pies are cut in long strips making it stand out against the rest. The dough is the star of the show, made fresh daily and blended with dark brewers malt. Try one of their many specialty pizzas like the Knucklehead.

Maquet’s Rail House  {Pekin}    //    Maquet’s Rail House has a massive menu, but when the restaurant owners import an authentic brick oven from Italy, you know the pizzas will be excellent. Fresh ingredients and impressive topping combinations make the Rail House a top condenser for the best pizza in the area. With an impressive 170 craft and domestic beers, including 20 on draft, stop in for a margarita and a cold one.

Mickie’s Pizzeria  {East Peoria}   //  Satisfy your pizza cravings with a thin crust from Mickie’s Pizzeria. The dough is made in-house daily, the zesty sauce has the perfect blend of seasonings, and provolone cheese adds an enhanced flavor depth to each pie. Mickie’s offers “the selects” premium pies with unique flavors like the Aegean Coast pie, “specialties” like BBQ Chicken and Fiesta Chicken, as well as “the standards.”

Molly’s Pizzeria  {Chillicothe}   //   Molly’s is known for their unique, specialty pies like the Cedar Street with BBQ pulled pork or the Hot Luau bringing a new twist to pineapple on pizza. These creative combos have been sought out by regional fans for years, growing a long-time fanbase with passionate debates on which specialty is the best.

Monical's Pizza  {Peoria + Morton + Washington + Pekin + Canton + El Paso}   //   Monical’s is a crowd favorite and an easy pick for locals, but the thin crust, flavorful sauce, and fresh toppings—tomatoes! mushrooms! Italian sausage with fennel!—bring in customers from far and wide. The menu is bare bones, but the pizza has a perfectly cooked crust with amazing topping combinations, but what sets this spot apart is their sweet and tangy red dipping sauce.

Oliver’s Pizza + Pub  {Peoria + Peoria Heights}   //   Oliver’s serves one of the best handmade pizzas in the area using fresh dough and sauce made daily. Build your own masterpiece or get one of the specialties like Oliver's signature—the Chef, or other fan favorites like the Quad Pepper or the JMK.

Peoria Pizza Works  {Peoria Heights}   //  If you are particular about pizza crust, Peoria Pizza Works is for you—from stone oven artisan flatbreads to Chicago style pan pizza, thin crust, and deep dish—their menu has it all. Check out Peoria Pizza Works from 11am-1:30pm for an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring specialty and Detroit-style pizzas.

Pizza Peel  {Lacon}   //   With dough crafted in-house daily, then cooled for three days before used in a hand-tossed pie, quality is clearly Pizza Peel’s top priority. Fresh toppings are prepared each day to ensure the pizza is as fresh as possible. Build your own or try a fan favorite like the Kitchen Sink. Be sure to check out the specialty of the month for exclusive pizzas not on the regular menu.

Pizza 150  {Edwards}   //   This historic location prepares and sources all ingredients locally for the freshest, quality pizzas made in the region. Order a specialty pizza like the Firecracker, and if you stop by on a Thursday, ask about the Chef’s Choice Pizza!

Sicily Pizza  {Washburn}   //  This family-owned and operated restaurant has been serving up classic pizza pies for over three decades! Serving authentic-style pies with fun twists on the classics like their special creation, Prosciutto pizza.

Sugar Wood-Fired Bistro  {Peoria}   //   Savor the freshness of a made-from-scratch, wood-fired pizza at Sugar. Locally sourced hardwood keeps the ovens blazing for these gourmet creations. Sugar is not afraid to bring bold flavors to the menu with pies like the Smoky Pork Chipotle and Jalapeno Popper.

Weaver’s Fresh Food + Drink  {Peoria}   //  Weaver’s specializes in fresh food made to order, so you know the pizzas will be delicious with made-from-scratch ingredients. Try the Bee’s Knees, an exclusive pie with bold flavors you won't find anywhere else.

DISCOVER MORE: 5 Greater Peoria Spots for a Pizza + Cold Beer

Author
Aly Owdom, Guest Writer

Discover Peoria, IL