Best Pizza in Toledo: Top 5 Spots Ranked [2026 List] | Arteflame

Toledo might be famous for its glass industry, but our culinary team discovered it is an absolute hidden gem for pizza lovers. After weeks of visiting local joints, dodging tourist traps, and consuming more slices than we care to admit, we found that this city offers a surprising diversity of styles. From rich, Detroit-style deep dishes to razor-thin tavern crusts, the options are endless. Whether you are a local looking for a new Friday night tradition or a visitor passing through, this guide filters out the noise. Below, we rank the top spots based on crust texture, sauce acidity, and cheese quality, and later, we reveal how we replicated these results in our own backyard.

• The 2026 Winner's List
• Detailed Taste Tests
• Price & Style Comparison
• The "Searing" Secret
• Hosting The Perfect Pizza Night

Best Pizza in Toledo: Top 5 Spots Ranked [2026 List]

Key Takeaways

• Diversity is Key: Toledo excels in both Detroit-style deep dish and super-thin cracker crusts.
• Freshness Matters: The top-rated spots all make their dough fresh daily; frozen bases didn't make our cut.
• Local Legend: Tony Packo's may be famous for hot dogs, but the dedicated pizzerias listed below offer a superior pie experience.
• DIY Option: You can replicate the high-heat sear of these restaurant ovens using an Arteflame grill at home.

Where to get the best Pizza in Toledo?

The best pizza in Toledo is defined by a commitment to house-made dough and distinct regional styles, ranging from heavy Detroit-style deep dish to crispy tavern-style cuts. After extensive tasting, we define the top tier by their dough fermentation, sauce acidity balance, and generous cheese ratios found at spots like Home Slice and Inky's.

In our testing, we focused on the "crunch factor" and the quality of ingredients. Here is where you need to go:

1. Home Slice Pizza
Located in the Warehouse District, Home Slice was our favorite for a New York-style experience. The crust is thin, foldable, and has that perfect char. We found the atmosphere vibrant, making it a great spot for a night out. Their "Meaty" pie is a must-try.

2. PizzaPapalis
If you crave deep dish, this is the place. Our team was impressed by the sheer weight of these pies. The cheese stretch is legendary, and the chunky tomato sauce on top is seasoned to perfection. Be prepared to wait, as good deep dish takes time to bake, but it is worth every minute.

3. Inky's Italian Foods
A local staple since 1957. We loved the nostalgia here, but the pizza stands on its own merit. It’s a classic, thinner crust that isn't cracker-thin but has a satisfying chew. The pepperoni is tucked under the cheese, ensuring every bite is savory without being greasy.

4. 5th Street Pub
Famous for their Neapolitan style. We watched them fire these pizzas in a high-heat oven, resulting in that beautiful leopard-spotting on the crust. If you want something artisanal and lighter than the deep dish options, this is your winner.

Comparison: Which Pizza is Right for You?

We broke down our findings to help you choose the perfect spot for your craving.

How to Make the Best Pizza at Home

I used to think my backyard pizzas were "good enough," until I realized I was essentially steaming them on a standard grate instead of searing them. The missing link between my patio and the top pizzerias in Toledo wasn't the dough recipe—it was the inability to reach and sustain extreme heat.

You don't need an industrial brick oven to get that restaurant-quality crust. You can achieve the perfect steakhouse steak and the perfect pizzeria crust right in your backyard.

The "Searing" Technique

This is where the Arteflame Grill excels. Unlike traditional grate grills that lose heat when you open the lid, the Arteflame cooktop serves as a solid steel griddle and a fire bowl. Here is why it changes the game:

1. 1,000°F Sear: The center of the Arteflame reaches over 1,000°F. This heat is crucial for puffing up pizza dough instantly and creating that leopard-spotted char that standard grills just can't achieve.
2. Cook All Food at Once: Because of the flat cooktop zones, we found you can grill your pizza while simultaneously searing veggies, sausages, or burgers on the side without flare-ups burning the crust.
3. Social Grill: The fire is in the center, so you are cooking with live fire, imparting a subtle smokiness that mimics a wood-fired oven perfectly.

Pro Tip: If you don't have time to make dough from scratch, we found a fantastic hack. Go to the Costco in Toledo (or your local wholesale club) and buy their fresh, unbaked pizzas. They are a solid base. Bring it home, add your own premium toppings like fresh basil or prosciutto, and fire it up on your Arteflame using the Arteflame Pizza Oven attachment. The open fire transforms a standard store-bought pie into a gourmet experience.

Why We Call It The "Social Grill"

An Arteflame grill isn't just for cooking; it changes the dynamic of how you host. In our experience, standard grilling forces the chef to face a wall or stare at a lid, separated from the guests. The Arteflame’s round, 360-degree design invites friends and family to stand around the fire, grab a drink, and watch the magic happen. It turns pizza night into an interactive event rather than a solitary chore.