‘Food & Wine’ shouts out Columbus-style pizza & names 7 of our local pizzerias

Wendy Pramik, a Food & Wine writer, has been eating Columbus-style pizza for more than 35 years, “ordering square-cut pies with sweet sauce and edge-to-edge toppings without giving it much thought,” she said in her article about Columbus-style pizza. She explains she didn’t realize this was its own particular “style” until other people started telling her it was.

Pramik states that in the 1990s, Columbus had more pizzerias per capita than any other U.S. city. Some of the oldest family-owned restaurants here in Central Ohio are pizzerias that serve this “Columbus-style” pizza.

She gives us seven in particular that are “finally getting the recognition they deserve.”

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1. Terita’s Pizza
   “Opened in 1959 by Gus Iannarino and now run by his son Tom, this North Linden neighborhood classic turns out thin, square-cut pizzas from an unassuming shop with glass-block windows. Toppings like capicola, mushrooms, jalapeños – and especially the housemade sausage – pile edge to edge.” – Pramik
   
2. Rubino’s Pizza
   “The thin-crust pizzas come out crackling from stone-deck Blodgett ovens, and the crust stays snappy thanks to retro-style bag wrapping. Toppings are classic, with a loyal following for the pickle pie.” – Pramik
   
3. Panzera’s
   Since 1964, this Grandview Heights favorite has served no-frills, square-cut pizzas using the same recipes for housemade dough, balanced tomato sauce, and smoky provolone… The Freddy Special, loaded with pepperoni, sausage, ham, tomato, and garlic, pays tribute to Lombardi’s father.” – Pramik
   
4. JT’s Pizza & Pub
   “Owner Joe Hartnett grew up on local pies and now serves crispy, square-cut versions topped with a provolone-mozzarella blend and a hint of sweet sauce. Specialties include the Founder’s Favorite – pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions – and the Big Al, named for Hartnett’s dad. Each month, JT’s rolls out a wild card like the Porky Mac and Cheese, layered with noodles, barbecue pork, and green onions.” – Pramik
   
5. The Original Josie’s Pizza
   “A Franklinton fixture since 1959, this west-side spot still uses the same hulking brick ovens founder Kelly Catalfina once used. The result? A crisp, square-cut pizza with a chewy crust, slow-simmered sauce and provolone that melts into the edges.” – Pramik
   
6. Gatto’s
   “The crust crackles, the sauce leans savory, and the housemade sausage is sliced into old-school sheets. Gatto’s uses a 50/50 provolone-mozzarella blend and local Esposito pepperoni that curls into crispy cups.” – Pramik
   
7. TAT Ristorante di Famiglia
   “TAT introduced pizza to Columbus in 1934, and nearly a century later, the Corrova family is still at the helm of this east-side favorite. Sisters Marianne and Michelle, granddaughters of founder Pete Corrova, carry on the tradition. Their signature pies are made in a deck oven that Michelle won’t let anyone else touch.” – Pramik

Any traditional, Columbus-style pizzerias you think should be added to the list?

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