Ah, pizza, what’s not to like? It’s the Friday night meal of choice 9 times out of 10. These days, most companies offer the beautiful service of delivery — which is perfect for the days when you swear mother nature has mistaken North Dakota for the North Pole. For a college student like me, it’s a wonderfully economical choice: order a large and I don’t have to think about what I am going to eat for the next three meals. But by far the most controversial decision, yet the most rewarding is the endless choice of toppings. Luckily for us, the Greater Grand Forks area houses many local businesses which offer an abundance of variety in this foodie favorite.

1 & 2. Rhombus Guys | Midwesterner & Tator-Tot

Downtown Grand Forks, home to many local restaurants, is a pizza lovers’ (and beer drinkers’) hub. Located on Kittson Ave., Rhombus Guys’ menu features both creative names and toppings. The “Midwesterner”, a personal favorite, is absolutely loaded with some of my favorite classic toppings. It’s got marinara, pepperoni, sausage, canadian bacon, beef, bacon, green peppers, onions, and mozzarella. All served with a side of creamy ranch. Keeping up in good regional faith, Rhombus Guys has something for all the true Midwesterners. Imagine this: hotdish and pizza. Together? You ‘betcha. It’s called, the “Tator-Tot” — every North Dakotan’s dream. Just as you’d imagine, it’s got cream of chicken for sauce, beef, tater tots, corn, mozzarella, cheddar, and to spice things up, (like literally) jalapenos. And you can enjoy these delicious creations while coloring at your table or eating on the rooftop!

3. Toasted Frog | Gorgonzola and Beef Tips

Rhombus isn’t the only place putting a twist on pizza in Grand Forks by placing traditional meals atop of pizza crust though. The Toasted Frog, a sophisticated 21+ restaurant, is located on N. Third St. — practically the heart of downtown. Here, you’ll find the extremely unique “Gorgonzola and Beef Tips” pizza. As the name suggests, this pizza is topped with brown sugar marinated beef tips, garlic olive oil, basil, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, Gorgonzola, and mozzarella. Hearty and delicious!

4. Eastside Express | Breakfast Pizza

If you find yourself leaving downtown and crossing the Red River to visit our neighboring state on your way to the lake, don’t forget to stop for gas. And your pizza! In true small-town fashion, the places you’d mindlessly pass by if not from around here are often the town gems. Well, you’ll want to make sure to stop at Luigi’s Pizza which is located inside the Eastside Express gas station. I love going here because they serve two of my favorite things in one: breakfast pizza. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and this pizza includes some of the classic mealtime ingredients. Items like eggs, sausage, bacon, and cheese. Just add a cup of coffee and you’ve got a perfect start to your day.

5, 6 & 7. Up North Pizza | Druken Rooster, Duck Duck Goat, Schnitzengiggles

Just down the road, Up North Pizza Pub, has a fun space where you can eat and play games in their game room. Pizza and games, could it get any better? Located along DeMers Ave., Up North is the home to three more extremely unique Midwestern flavors. First up, “The Drunken Rooster”. This pizza is topped with bechamel sauce, pheasant sausage, and whiskey glazed apples. I know what you’re thinking – pheasant?! As seasonal hunting is a common part of Midwestern living, incorporating wild game into elevated foods is a favorite challenge among local chefs.

Continuing their use of nontraditional pizza meats, “Duck Duck Goat” is another Up North classic, topped with bechamel sauce, roasted duck, grapes, goat cheese, candied pecans, and arugula. But not to be outdone, when I heard about “Schnitzengiggles”, I knew this pizza joint had figured out the magic sauce behind tapping into the Midwestern heart. The toppings include bechamel sauce, canadian bacon, bacon, sauerkraut, and 1000 island. Oh, sauerkraut, the topping most Midwesterners seem to love and every canner stocks as a pantry staple!

Like I said: pizza, what’s not to like? Through the creativity of these local establishments, we are able to enjoy some of the Midwestern classics, but with a twist! I hope you’ll seek out some new toppings the next time you grab a slice of pizza in Grand Forks.

**Please note, all ingredients were found on restaurant websites or listed by restaurant staff.