Undercover Culinary: Columbus’ best bowling alley pizza
Maybe it’s the bowling alley atmosphere – pins crashing, disco music blasting, the lingering smell of cigarette smoke trapped in the neon-printed carpet from the ‘80s – that makes it easy to romanticize the greasy squares I’m shoveling into my mouth in between turns, but I stand by the fact that the bowling alley pizza scene in Columbus is one of the city’s best-kept secrets.
While I’m not a bowling pro, I am a cheese pizza aficionado, and I’m here to let you in on these bowling joints that have that nostalgic, glossy, gooey pizza that’s best shared with friends and a pint of beer. And the best part of it all – after two gutter balls in a row, you can just blame the pizza grease on your fingers. Works every time.
Wayne’s Webb
3224 S. High St.
This crispy thin crust, extra cheesy, loaded, seasoned to perfection za is made in-house at the bowling alley restaurant, Tristan’s Pizza + Wings. They boast that they’re “not your average bowling alley restaurant” and they’re absolutely right – Tristan’s not only offers Columbus-style pizza with a homemade sauce, but also buffalo wings, beer battered white-fish sandwiches, and cowboy burgers. Many south-siders grab Tristan’s for takeout or dine-in at the bar without even picking up a ball.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Sequoia Lanes
5501 Sandalwood Blvd.
At The Bowler’s Grille, you’ll find thin-crust pizza cut in squares, oozing with cheese, right on a piece of cardboard. The sauce is on the sweeter side, with plenty of it, and the way the cupped pepperonis hold the oil, glistening under the neon lights of a late-nite bowl, could be considered art. Everyone is eyeing the last piece, but wanting to be polite to not take it, so they resort to shyly picking the extra cheese off the cardboard that fell off the squares and have since hardened – I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about, as we’ve all been in that situation.
Gahanna Lanes
215 W. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna
It’s crisp yet chewy, traditional yet everything we want out of a pizza right now. The Snack Bar at this East-side bowling alley serves pies loaded with edge-to-edge toppings. If your league already filled up on white cheddar cheese curds and Italian subs, but you’re still craving a piece, they also serve pizza by the slice.
H.P. Lanes
2012 Innis Rd, Columbus, OH
This vintage alley serves soft and doughy za with crisp edges, overflowing with cheese and toppings, and then cut into squares to share. Easy, fun, and nothing over the top – just like a night out bowling with family and friends should be.
Want to read more? Check out our print publications, (614) Magazine and Stock & Barrel. Learn where you can find free copies of our newest issues here!
