An interesting article and I admit an affection for pizza from this bit of the world, but have never seen some of this stuff, like “Ohio Valley Pizza”
Pittsburgh, Youngstown an Cleveland lay in the zone between NYC and Chicago, and that is reflected in the style here.
Steubenville
Hometown of Dean Martin
I have lived in this region for over 34 years, and I can tell you in Pittsburgh, while there are indeed a lot of independent shops in this town, and there are some definitely “UNIQUE” ones...
None of them I have found are great... some are better than others for sure, but if someone comes to town and wants something unique in the Pizza experience... Vinnie’s is unique, and distinctive, but its not “Great”.. memorable for sure, but not great pizza.
The classic Mineos and Aiello’s feud is legendary in this town, but honestly NEITHER are “great” pies.
Bado’s is flat out disgusting, but definitely not something I’ve seen elsewhere, and been there for a long time so clearly folks from around here at some level like it.
However, I would never ever tell a pizza lover that if they are searching for great pizza they need to make a stop in Pittsburgh at some point.
I grew up in Reading PA. A lot of Italians there who emigrated to work in coal mines and later the confectionery and candy business. In the late 50’s my Dad, who was a school teacher, moonlighted as a cabby at night. Around 11 pm was when he got off his shift and would bring home pizza from a bar called Marty’s. It was NY style Neapolitan, always with mushrooms. My Mom would wake us kids up so we could have a piece of fresh pie when he came home. Most other pizza in Reading was from sandwich shops, which always served thick square Sicilian pie by the piece. No toppings. Good pizza, good times.