One of the least discussed struggles of moving can be missing the food you ate in your former city. I’m Olivia Gryson, a multimedia journalist for Bucket List Community News who you might have seen promoting our Top 5 Guides on our social media.
As a native New Yorker now living in Colorado, finding good food was not a challenge; however, finding quality pizza was. Pizza, like many delicacies, is hard to recreate, especially for a New Yorker with high standards. To save you from being disappointed by your favorite comfort food, I have compiled a list of the best pizza restaurants in Denver.
These spots are based on their overall taste, how close they are to being a “New York” slice and the overall environment of the restaurants.
Cart-Driver
This pizza may not be a traditional New York slice, but it gives it a real run for its money. “The Daisy” is your traditional plain/cheese slice. With a doughy crust, fresh sauce and a heavenly melted mozzarella, each bite will have you wanting more and more. “The Peppers” is a spicy pepperoni slice with all the same winning aspects as “The Daisy” but with a little more zing. “The Peppers” is a mouthwatering pie with a kick of spice with each bite. This slice is great for those with a low spice tolerance.
The food is beautifully presented, and the taste is just as delicious. As for the environment, Cart-Driver is a phenomenal spot for a summer or fall day or night. The fully functioning bar has an array of cocktails to choose from. When it is hot, go to their outdoor patio and cool off under its misty fans. The patio also has heaters for when the weather turns colder.
The interior of Cart-Driver is exactly what it sounds like: a storage vehicle. The infrastructure is made out of refurbished storage carts. The indoor area of Cart Driver is quite small, so if you are planning on dining at this spot, eating outdoors will be a much less cramped experience.
Why it made the list: its fresh ingredients and one-of-a-kind atmosphere make this New Yorker feel very full and content.
Cart-Driver, 2500 Larimer St., #100, Denver. HOURS: 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Learn more at www.cart-driver.com/.
Fat Sully’s/Atomic Cowboy
Fat Sully’s NY Pizza at Atomic Cowboy locations around Denver features a slice that has many notes that are consistent with a New York pizza; with a thin crust, lots of melted mozzarella and plenty of tiny pepperoni. Their sauce is more of a traditional New York sauce with a hint of sweetness.
The “Big Ass Slice” is a name true to its form. The slice is bigger than many anticipate, so the workers have a cardboard cutout to display the girth of the pizza. If you are with a group of 10+ people or want leftovers for a solid week, getting a pie of “Big Ass Slices” will fill up everyone’s stomach. A “Big Ass Slice” will run you around $7, but for the size of the slice, it is definitely worth it.
Sully’s/Atomic Cowboy is the best place for a slice on the run. With its outdoor order window, ordering is fast and easy and very reminiscent of a traditional New York pizza spot. Its location in Congress Park has limited outdoor eating, but enough for a handful of friends. The indoor environment of Atomic Cowboy is very spacious and lively. With events like Friday night trivia, this is a great spot for families or friends trying to get together for a good time and a slice.
Why it made the list: the phenomenal taste of its pizza and size of the slices.
Fat Sully’s, various locations around Denver. Learn more at www.theatomiccowboy.com/fatsullys.
Redeemer Pizza
Redeemer Pizza is by far the best New York slice in Denver. This is a very traditional slice, with a thin crust, fresh sauce and stringy mozzarella. The cheese pull you get from every bite is at least three inches long. If Redeemer was in New York, it would immediately become a neighborhood spot.
The “NY Cheese” is exactly what it sounds like. A perfectly sized slice, the “NY Cheese” does its name justice. Redeemer also has “Slices of the Week” that use the same thin crust as their “NY Cheese,” but with different toppings and sauces. I indulged in the “Peach and Jalapeno” slice they were offering. Though the combination of palisade peaches and fresh jalapenos sounded jarring, the flavor of the two combined with the crispy crust was out of this world good. I heard they recently had a pumpkin pizza with sausage and chili honey that was delicious, so you never know what seasonal pie you will get!
In addition to their incredible flavor combinations, Redeemer’s prices are out of this world. A traditional cheese slice costs around $3.50, while the slice of the week costs $5.50. Redeemer has an indoor restaurant with a seated area for those who want to eat a full meal. The interior is relatively small, but cozy and extremely comfortable. Those looking for a slice to go should definitely visit the pizza window in the back of the restaurant.
Why it made the list: how accurate its slices are to a traditional New York pizza place.
Redeemer, 2705 Larimer St., Denver. HOURS: Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Learn more at www.redeemerpizza.com/.
Blue Pan Pizza
Blue Pan Pizza isn’t known for its New York slices. Blue Pan is well-known for its Detroit-style pizza, but its New York-style pizza outperforms other restaurants that claim to serve it. Blue Pan has a solid slice thanks to its thin crust and generous sauce.
The only drawback to Blue Pan’s Pizza is that you must purchase a pie, making it ideal for a group but not for a single person. The pies are quite large, and you can easily feed up to five people. Blue Pan is a sit-down restaurant.
The atmosphere is ideal for a family or friend group dinner. There are a multitude of TVs playing sports games, creating a very laid-back environment. There are multiple locations in Colorado, but the LoHI location is a very roomy environment.
Why it made the list: excellent environment, staff and quality of pizza.
Blue Pan Pizza, various locations around Denver. Learn more at bluepandenver.com/.
Famous Original J’s Pizza
The last spot on this list is Famous Original J’s Pizza. This restaurant is well-known for its New York-style pizza, and it does not disappoint. Though the slices are not large, their flavor profile is robust. They have a very thin, crispy crust and season their dough so that every bite is full of flavor.
Famous Original J’s red sauce is traditional, and the slices have plenty of mozzarella. Its pepperoni slice has two large pieces that take up the majority of the slice but are extremely tasty. A single pepperoni slice costs $5, while a pie is $25. It also has a pizza window, making takeout convenient. They have plenty of outdoor seating at its Five Points location, which is ideal for you and your friends to relax after a night out.
Why it made the list: open late for all you night owls (like me) looking for a yummy bite after midnight on the weekends.
Famous Original J’s Pizza, 715 East 26th Ave., Denver. HOURS: Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Find more information at their website: https://famousoriginaljs.com/
Pizza may not be the first thing that comes to mind when visiting Denver, but it should be. With so many options, Denver’s pizza scene offers phenomenal flavor, high-quality ingredients and environments for people from all walks of life. Any of these spots could compete with any New York pizza place and give them a real run for their money. Now you know where to go for some za when you are out on the town, as certified by a New Yorker!
