A Slice (or Five) of St. Louis Pizza Perfection

- So, you're ready to dive into the world of St. Louis pizza. Let me stop you right there because this isn’t your ordinary pizza roundup. We’re not talking the infamously polarizing St. Louis style with its cracker-thin crust and Provel cheese blend. You can save that conversation for a heart-to-heart with Pizza Babble, the city's local pizza oracle. But what we have here are crusts crafted from dreams and dough worthy of center stage.

- Let’s bite straight into my personal top five, where the crust is so good it should have its own fan club. Ready? Here we go.

Fordo's Killer Pizza: Bread-first Philosophy

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Welcome to Fordo’s Killer Pizza, a revolutionary creation by the Gerard Craft restaurant group. Nestled in The Foundry, with a bonus spot in Urban Chestnut Grove Brewery, Fordo's isn’t kidding with the “killer” tag. This isn’t pizza, folks—it's crust artistry. The kind of crust that has me daydreaming about ordering it sans toppings, just to savor its breadiness. But hey, if you’re feeling social, request some cheese for instant breadsticks. Here, carbs take on a life of their own and invites your senses to a glutenous symphony.

Pizzeria De Gloria: Old-School Goodness on The Hill

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Over in the Italian heartbeat of St. Louis, The Hill, you’ll find Pizzeria De Gloria. It's everything a classic should be, providing a wood-fired delight that doesn't just blister—it crackles. Each bite is a trip to nostalgia with creative toppings that dance atop a crust you can trust. De Gloria holds its title as the neighborhood's sweetheart with effortless space and taste that could charm any skeptic.

Pizzaioli: Where Creativity Meets Cooking

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Next, let’s pivot to Pizzaioli in Soulard, just a stone's throw from downtown. New to the game doesn’t mean it’s shy—these guys are the culinary daredevils of pizza. They use local ingredients to craft pies inspired by secrets hidden on their website. You didn’t hear it from me, but there’s a hidden pizza slice icon that unlocks a secret menu, featuring wacky creations of the "you gotta try this" variety. And oh, their garlic beef tallow-fried wings? Absolute must-try, not to mention a flight of dipping sauces to explore. The place even boasts the most photogenic bathroom in town, if Instagram charm is high on your crust criteria.

Modern Brewery: Brewing Up Dough Delight

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Modern Brewery steps up next, silently shouting “sourdough.” Their in-house concoction is a New York-style dough kissed by the heat of high-temp ovens. It’s predictably perfect, and as smooth as your favorite jam track. But the true showstopper? The Charlie Murphy. Spicy sausage, pepperoni, hot honey, whipped ricotta, and fresh basil unite in delicious anarchy that’s surely whispered about in kitchen corners across St. Louis. You can tell because imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and riffs on this flavor combo are popping up on pizza menus all over the city.

Union Loafers: One of the Best Pizzarias in STL Isn't Even a Pizzaria

Union Loafers is widely known as the ulitmate commercial bakery in STL and are famous for their unbelievable bistro cafe-style lunch service including soups, salads, and of course sandwiches on their house made breads.  The kicker is, they effortlessly flip into an upscale casual pizza place in the evenings and they are putting out some of the most creative and well-executed 'za anywhere in Saint Louis.  Thier house-made sourdough neapolitan inspired crust comes bursting with charred bubbles, a more crispy than chewy texture, and flavor for days.  I've, more than once, thought about asking them to just bake the crust and give it to me with a side of sauce to dip it in. Maybe someday.  

NOTABLE MENTIONS THAT I HAVE NOT TRIED YET

Nettie's Pizza Den

Noto Pizza

BB Slices (Not STL)