Pizza made its way to the United States in the post-WWII years as GIs came back, having tried this delicious food in Europe. It coincided with a move toward quick and microwave meals, meaning it was the perfect food at the perfect time. It helps, too, that it’s darned delicious. There’s spectacular pizza being made all across Wisconsin, but these places are some of the oldest spots and have decades of experience serving up the very best pizza pies you can imagine. The restaurant industry is notoriously tough, so for these spots to have endured for so long, you know the food is spectacular. In no particular order, here are 11 old-school Wisconsin pizza parlors you just have to try:
- Wells Brothers Pizza — Racine
TripAdvisor/cheesehead752
Not only voted as one of the best pizzas in the state but also named one of the best pizzas in the country, this place has history and all the accolades you can imagine, making it well worth a drive to check out.
TripAdvisor/priceypup2 Located at 2148 Mead St., Mt Pleasant, WI 53403.
- La Rocca’s Pizzeria — Oregon
Facebook/LaRocca’sPizzeria
This family-owned spot has roots in Sicily and the family has been working at pizza places since they came to the US. It’s simple, fresh, amazingly good fare.
Facebook/LaRoccaPizzeria Located at 971 Janesville St., Oregon, WI 53575.
- Angelo’s Pizza — Wausau
Facebook/AngelosPizza
Some pizza places have fans who will spread the word of the good pie far and wide. Angelo’s is like that. You cannot find an article about the best pizza in Wisconsin without also finding Angelo’s customers in the comments touting how great this place is. Anywhere that has that kind of devotion from its patrons has to be amazing.
TripAdvisor/noparamour Located at 1206 N 6th St., Wausau, WI 54403.
- Bill’s Pizza — Stevens Point
Google/JohnWojcik
These folks have been serving pizza up in Stevens Point since 1957. They’ve survived this long by serving up delicious, cracker-thin crusts with the perfect amount of sauce, making for tasty pizzas you dream about.
TripAdvisor/Toddxox Located at 1101 Main St., Stevens Point, WI 54481.
- Cranky Pat’s — Green Bay, Neenah and Oshkosh
TripAdvisor
It’s had a few names, but this pizza has been making folks in the Fox Valley happy since 1955. Locals love the pizza buffet that lets them sample all the different toppings and flavors.
Facebook/CrankyPat’sGB Located at 709 Bellevue St., Green Bay, WI 54302, 905 S Commercial St, Neenah, WI 54956, and 100 N Main St, Oshkosh, WI 54901.
- Greenbush Bar — Madison
TripAdvisor/Greengal08
You’ve probably walked or driven past this place dozens of times without realizing it’s hiding some of the best Italian food in the state in the basement. This neighborhood was once Madison’s Little Italy and this place was a gathering location. They still teach Italian classes, but the gem is the food in the basement.
TripAdvisor/BridgetteS Located at 914 Regent St., Madison, WI 53715.
- Caradaro Club — Milwaukee
TripAdvisor/Paul
As Milwaukee’s very first pizza place, these folks have been serving up the good stuff since 1945. Men returning from WWII had pizza in Italy and these folks saw that it could work here in America. They handed out free slices downtown and people were hooked.
Facebook/CaradaroClub Located at 5010 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI 53208 and 1417 S. 70th St., West Allis, WI 53214.
- Sam’s Pizza — Wausau
TripAdvisor/Simfinate
Serving up delicious pies since 1958, this place still has a small location in Wausau and then a bigger spot over in Schofield. It remains the only place in town where you can watch the pizza makers assemble your pie.
TripAdvisor/NoParamour Located at 111 Elm St., Wausau, WI 54401 and 5811 Business Hwy. 51 South, Schofield, WI 54476.
- Hup’s Pizza — Milwaukee
Facebook/HupsPizza
With very little online presence and the kind of facade that makes you want to keep driving, Hup’s is a bit of an icon in Milwaukee. Their devotees will tell you it’s well worth the trek here to get the pizza. If you want Hup’s, you kind of have to work to get it and yet the place is still a local legend that’s been operating for years.
Google/Ryan Chase Located at 5400 W Hampton Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218.
- Frankie’s Pizza — Ashland and Hayward
TripAdvisor/SamW
The Ashland location started in 1953 and a small little standing-room-only spot that kept folks coming back for more. Decades later, it’s the kind of place that locals adore and vacationers dream about until they can return again next year.
Facebook/Frankie’s Pizza Located at 1315 Lake Shore Dr. E, Ashland, WI 54806 and 16144 W Hwy. US-63, Hayward, WI 54843.
- Tilley’s Pizza — Beloit
Facebook/TilleysPizza
Family run since they opened in 1955, Tilley’s is the stuff of legend in Beloit. They joined forces with a local tavern to create one of the most beloved spots in the area.
Facebook/Tilley’sPizza Located at 900 4th St., Beloit, WI 53511.
Which old-school pizza parlor is your favorite? Which places did we forget? Let us know about them in the comments!
TripAdvisor/cheesehead752
TripAdvisor/priceypup2
Located at 2148 Mead St., Mt Pleasant, WI 53403.
Facebook/LaRocca’sPizzeria
Facebook/LaRoccaPizzeria
Located at 971 Janesville St., Oregon, WI 53575.
Facebook/AngelosPizza
TripAdvisor/noparamour
Located at 1206 N 6th St., Wausau, WI 54403.
Google/JohnWojcik
TripAdvisor/Toddxox
Located at 1101 Main St., Stevens Point, WI 54481.
TripAdvisor
Facebook/CrankyPat’sGB
Located at 709 Bellevue St., Green Bay, WI 54302, 905 S Commercial St, Neenah, WI 54956, and 100 N Main St, Oshkosh, WI 54901.
TripAdvisor/Greengal08
TripAdvisor/BridgetteS
Located at 914 Regent St., Madison, WI 53715.
TripAdvisor/Paul
Facebook/CaradaroClub
Located at 5010 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI 53208 and 1417 S. 70th St., West Allis, WI 53214.
TripAdvisor/Simfinate
TripAdvisor/NoParamour
Located at 111 Elm St., Wausau, WI 54401 and 5811 Business Hwy. 51 South, Schofield, WI 54476.
Facebook/HupsPizza
Google/Ryan Chase
Located at 5400 W Hampton Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218.
TripAdvisor/SamW
Facebook/Frankie’s Pizza
Located at 1315 Lake Shore Dr. E, Ashland, WI 54806 and 16144 W Hwy. US-63, Hayward, WI 54843.
Facebook/TilleysPizza
Facebook/Tilley’sPizza
Located at 900 4th St., Beloit, WI 53511.
Looking for more delicious Wisconsin pizza? Check out this pizza bucket list and start planning your next pilgrimage.
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