Allison Young Oldies from p 23 in 1993 by Mark Russell in memory of his parents. There’s the throwback decor (each location houses about 1,000 books, and the walls are studded with vintage signs and photos, including a portrait of Russell’s parents at every location), Sinatra singing over the speakers, and the smell of marinara sauce permeating the place. The restaurant is known for both its thin-crust and super-stuffed Chicago- style deep-dish pie with Wisconsin cheese, hand-tossed and baked in a hearthstone oven. Digging in is like diving into a fond memory. Grand Avenue Pizza Company 1031 Grand Avenue You can count on Grand Avenue Pizza Company, especially when you stumble out of, say, Bikini Lounge, and all you want is a slice of cheesy goodness. The late-night, no-frills fixture cranks out floppy, foldable, thin-crust creations from its gas ovens with just the right dough-sauce-topping ratio. Get a “Cheesus Slice,” or the signature “Diana Ross,” a pizza diva with pepperoni, fennel sausage, red onion, bell peppers, mushrooms, and extra mozzarella — or try one of the rotating slice selections to cure your after-hours cravings and, with any luck, your hangover. 24 Ziggy’s Magic Pizza Shop 401 West Van Buren Street, Suite B Ziggy’s is a nod to nostalgia, from the dangling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurines to the checkerboard floor to the VHS copies of ’80s movies and the Yoda overseeing it all. But don’t be fooled by the paper plates: This New York-style pizza is a slice above, with its crispy crust, bubbling cheese, and ample toppings. Perhaps even Oregano’s thin crust Aunt Margherita Pizza with extra parmesan. more telling, the kitchen staff seems to be having just as much fun as the hungry hordes who line up at lunch and late at night (Ziggy’s is next to the Van Buren and Star- dust pinball bar). Maybe it really is magic. Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen Multiple locations There’s something about the sauce at Spinato’s, the family-owned local chain of pizzerias. Slightly tangy with a nice sweet- ness, the secret recipe has kept pizza enthusiasts going back for over 40 years. Must-orders include the Get Meaty, with housemade Italian sausage, Italian beef, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, and all the cheesy mozzarella; the Chicken Presto Pesto, with grilled chicken, artichoke hearts, red onions, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil pesto; and the Mamma’s Signature, with fresh spinach, Roma tomatoes, ample garlic, and the family’s secret seasoning, all square cut with toppers right to the edge. Organ Stop Pizza 1149 East Southern Avenue, Mesa Organ Stop Pizza is the ultimate in dinner and a show. A Mesa mainstay since 1975, order at the counter. Pizzas come in 8-, 12-, and 14-inch and are cooked on a con- veyor oven; there’s also an old-school salad bar with fixings like peas and rad- ishes, as well as spaghetti and meatballs, and pitchers of pop or beer. Settle into one of the many picnic table-style seats for a mighty show on the Mighty Wurlitzer, the largest pipe organ of its kind in the world, with nearly 6,000 pipes. While the pizza might be forgettable, the experience is anything but. FEB 17TH– FEB 23RD, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
