2, 4, 6, 8 who thinks pizza is so great!? I sure do! Here are a few pizza places around Des Moines that are crowd favorites. Find them below and let me know which one is your favorite!
Best Pizza in and around Des Moines
Parlor Pizza Joint
4041 Urbandale Ave, Des Moines (Beaverdale) 515-274-1293
Parlor Pizza Joint specializes in Detroit-style pizza. This is a rectangular pan pizza with a thick caramelized chewy crust. It can take a few extra minutes to cook. Play shuffleboard or watch sports while you wait.
Their appetizers are not typical bar food but delicious eclectic versions. Try their onion rings with a Calabrian chile remoulade or Bacon Wrapped Dates with a carrot puree. They also have many salads and sandwiches that can be made vegetarian and a gluten-free apple cider bar with spiced honey buttercream.
Gusto Pizza Bar
2301 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines 515-244-8786
Gusto Pizza Bar is centrally located on Ingersoll Ave with free parking behind the building. It’s a casual, family-friendly restaurant with multiple seating options for groups. They offer both vegan and gluten-free pizza options. The five pizza crust options are Gusto Signature Crust (Thin), Detroit Pan Style, Chicago Deep Dish, Gluten Free Crust, and Gluten-Free Cauliflower Crust.
Some of the highlights of their menu include White Cheddar Curds with Thai Chili sauce or Iowa sauce (Ranch). The Fromage Blue Salad is fresh and full of toppings. They offer sandwiches with a gluten-free bun option.
Dough Co. Pizza
2 locations: Drake neighborhood and Ankeny
2330 University Ave, Des Moines 515-630-0796
2405 SW Birch Dr Suite 100, Ankeny, IA 515-214-1131
Dough Co. specializes in New York-style dough that is hand-made in a two-day process. Their pizza is sold by the slice, 14”, 18”, and their 26” giant pizza. Likewise, they offer a cauliflower crust that is vegan and gluten-free while also having vegan cheese available.
Similarly, they also offer salads, sandwiches, and desserts. Their sandwich bread is vegan and used to make their Vegan Grinder. You can also order their breadsticks vegan and they can substitute vegan cheese on their cheese breadsticks.
Dough Co. offers a lunch special Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. It’s a two-topping slice, breadsticks or salad, and fountain drink.
7 Stone Pizzeria
9350 University Ave, Suite 118 West Des Moines 515-987-7768
7 Stone Pizzeria is located in a strip mall and you can easily miss it. They have two options for crusts: 7-Stone Crust and Artisan Crust. The 7-Stone is a stone caramelized deep dish pizza crust loaded with the toppings you chose. The Artisan is a wood-fired thin crust. They offer six specialty pizzas and a make-your-own option.
7 Stone has two lunch specials Wednesday through Friday from 11 am to 2 pm. The specials are a toasted hoagie served on their wood-fired bread with toasted mozzarella and a pizza combo. The pizza combo is half of a 3 topping pizza with a drink.
// Looking for more dining options? Check out Where Kids Eat Free & Cheap //
Great Plains Sauce & Dough
129 Main Street Ames, IA 515-232-1627
Before you attend an Iowa State event make sure to stop by Great Plains. It is a staple in Ames and a favorite with the locals. It has a homey family atmosphere with tables and booths. The wait can be long, but worth it! Unfortunately, they do not offer gluten-free options due to making the crust in-house each day.
Choose from six crust options: Sam’s Recipe – classic white thin, Thin Denver – whole wheat thin, Idaho Style – thin soft potato flour, Denver Style – rolled-edge whole wheat (most popular), New Orleans Style – thick white crust, Oat Style – rolled-edge oat flour crust. With all those options you are going to find a crust that you like. The Denver style is delicious with honey and they offer that to you.
