Wilkeson is a tiny town in Pierce County, with a population of just 516 people. This is a place most people simply drive through on their way to visit Mt. Rainier — but should you happen to find yourself there, we sincerely hope you’re hungry when you do. The Carlson Block is an absolute hidden gem of a pizzeria, and you’ll be surprised by the deliciousness you discover inside.

Wilkeson was founded on coal and sandstone mining well over a century ago, and most of the remaining buildings are historic, including this one.

Marianne J / TripAdvisor The Carlson Block is the only pizza joint in town, so it’s impossible to miss. It sits right on Church Street in the town’s tiny downtown area.

The Carlson Block building was originally constructed in 1910.

The Carlson Block / Google Back then, it was known as the Carlson Hotel and had 16 pristine guest rooms for weary travelers. And for the last 4.5 years, it has been home to some of the best pizza on the planet.

Step inside and you’ll see plenty of historic touches with a modern flair.

Ash Galbraith / Google The owners have done a great job of preserving the building while keeping it contemporary.

There’s really no better way to describe this pizza than “absolute perfection.”

Fida / Google The dough is made fresh daily from a decade-old starter, the sauce is made in-house, and the mozzarella is as fresh as it gets. It’s also made in-house using curd sourced from Ferndale Farmstead.

The pizza here is wood-fired, which makes a world of difference in the way it tastes.

The Carlson Block / Google

The only “secret” to this pizza is that it’s made entirely from fresh, quality ingredients that are made from scratch whenever possible.

The Carlson Block / Google It’s quite a labor of love to make this pizza, but it’s clearly worth it. Read the online reviews and you’ll find hundreds of people declaring that it’s the best pizza in the entire PNW.

While the pizza is obviously the star of the show here, we highly recommend staying for dessert.

The Carlson Block / Google The cheesecake here is out of this world.

This beautiful building is owned by chef Ian Galbraith and his wife Ashley, who own and operate the pizzeria and even live on the second floor with their daughter.

Wilkeson, Washington / Google They spent six years renovating the building and creating the business, and clearly, their efforts have paid off.

Have you ever heard of The Carlson Block? Check out their full menu here.

Marianne J / TripAdvisor

The Carlson Block is the only pizza joint in town, so it’s impossible to miss. It sits right on Church Street in the town’s tiny downtown area.

The Carlson Block / Google

Back then, it was known as the Carlson Hotel and had 16 pristine guest rooms for weary travelers. And for the last 4.5 years, it has been home to some of the best pizza on the planet.

Ash Galbraith / Google

The owners have done a great job of preserving the building while keeping it contemporary.

Fida / Google

The dough is made fresh daily from a decade-old starter, the sauce is made in-house, and the mozzarella is as fresh as it gets. It’s also made in-house using curd sourced from Ferndale Farmstead.

It’s quite a labor of love to make this pizza, but it’s clearly worth it. Read the online reviews and you’ll find hundreds of people declaring that it’s the best pizza in the entire PNW.

The cheesecake here is out of this world.

Wilkeson, Washington / Google

They spent six years renovating the building and creating the business, and clearly, their efforts have paid off.

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Address: The Carlson Block, 531 Church St, Wilkeson, WA 98396, USA