Thrillist - Arbiter of All Things Food, Drink and Travel - Tabs Michigan's Best Pizzeria

The votes are in. (No, this isn’t another general election campaign story, and no, an influx of out-of-state money didn’t affect the outcome.(

The folks at Thrillist, a digital media company that compiles lists of food, drink and property, set about finding the best pizza in America.

Buddy’s Restaurant Pizzeria, which claims the best square pizza in Detroit, topped the list in Michigan. Here’s why:

“There are great pizzas all over Michigan – from Ruggero’s in Flint Town to This Old House in Cheboygan to Vango’s way up in Marquette – but for the Detroit-style experience, nothing beats Buddy’s. Square slices with caramelized cheese on every corner? Check. Slightly burnt pepperoni? Double check. It’s not just Michigan’s best pie. It’s the definition of an entire region’s style.”

(Don’t be too surprised. Buddy’s also was ranked No. 1 on Trillist’s February 2014 list of the 10 best pizza joints in Detroit.)

Buddy’s has pizzerias in Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn, Detroit, Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe, Livonia, Novi, Royal Oak, Shelby Township and Warren.

Wait, There’s More ...

Michigan also got a mention in another Thillist category released this weekend. Traverse City was named one of “9 Small Beer Cities that Deserve National Attention.”

“Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids get most of the attention on Michigan’s brew scene (and rightfully so), but three hours North, in the vacation haven of Traverse City, there’s damn near as much beer as there is water in the Grand Traverse Bay. …

“We’re talking 13 breweries in the immediate area of a 15,000-person town also known for wine: Right Brain, Mackinaw Brewing Company, a hub of the award-winning Jolly Pumpkin, and the Filling Station, which pours its suds in a converted old train depot from the 1880s (luckily, the taps have since been cleaned). During tourist season, out-of-towners flock to the town, sipping beers overlooking the bay. Locals predictably post up all year long, and sip on a variety of winter warmers when Michigan goes sub-zero.”

... And Still More

The folks at Thrillist must really like Michigan. Old Miami – Miami stands for “Missing in Action Michigan” – was included in the “21 Best Dive Bars in America” list released in October.

The classic Cass Corridor dive was originally intended as hangout for veterans returning from war and its decor is awash with military memorabilia, but it has also become a gathering spot for everyone from punks, hippies, bikers, blue-collar workers, neighborhood folks and hipsters.

“This isn’t just a safe haven for vets to chill out with their brothers-in-arms Jim, Jack, and Johnny,” Thrillist said. “It’s a home away from home for every Detroiter in need of a stiff drink.”

Tell Us

• Do you agree with these lists? Who was overlooked?

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Photo via Buddy’s Pizza Facebook page