Detroit-style pizza is having a moment in the culinary world, expanding way beyond the Michigan metropolis. Similar to Sicilian-style pies, Detroit-style pizza is known for its square shape, thick crust, and crispy bottom. You’ll find the world’s best version at Buddy’s Pizza.
It’s not a hard claim to make that Buddy’s Pizza has the world’s best Detroit-style pizza; they invented it! In 1946, Gus Guerra and Concetta “Connie” Piccinato opened Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria at the corner of Conant and Six-Mile. They borrowed forged steel pans from a nearby automotive plant to bake their pies, leading to the iconic crispy crust that Detroit-style pizza is known for.
The pans remain the key to a successful Detroit-style pie.
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Buddy’s Pizza has expanded to 19 locations through Michigan, but the original location on Conant St. is still in business and has become a pilgrimage destination for pizza fans.
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Food Network, Thrillist, USA Today, and The Daily Meal have all raved about the rectangle pizza, putting Buddy’s on top of the list of America’s best pizzerias.
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The dining room maintains an old-school pizzeria feel, with checkered tablecloths and paintings on the walls hearkening back to Mother Italy.
Jason Cadell
The toppings are applied opposite of what you expect on pizza: first goes the pepperoni, followed by the cheese and other toppings. Buddy’s offers its pizza in two sizes: four square and eight square. Four is enough for two people, or one really hungry person. Everyone fights for the corner pieces.
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Specialty pizzas have names that evoke Detroit’s history: Detroit Zoo, the Henry Ford (with bacon and bleu cheese!), and Motown Museum, to name a few. There are even pizzas named after the five Great Lakes.
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If you’re not in the mood for pizza, the menu also covers salads, pasta, and sandwiches. The half-pound Robby burgers come with hamburger meat delivered daily from Detroit’s Eastern Market.
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Currently, the Conant St. location of Buddy’s Pizza is open 11 a.m.-7 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m.-7 p.m. on Sundays. Visit Buddy’s website for more information, including the operating hours of the other locations.
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Buddy’s Pizza/Google
Jason Cadell
NashYankee/TripAdvisor
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Have you visited Buddy’s Pizza? What’s your favorite place to grab Detroit-style pizza? Tell us about it in the comments!
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Address: Buddy’s Pizza, 17125 Conant St, Detroit, MI 48212, USA
