Ninja turtle-approved pepperoni pizza in Des Moines
Cowabunga, dude! Are you and your Ninja Turtle allies coming out from the Des Moines underbelly for a stellar weekend at the Des Moines Comic Con? Well, there's nothing more Splinter-approved than snagging a slice of greasy pepperoni pie on your weekend out.
Grab your nunchucks and race to these totally tubular places to score some bodacious bites.
Taste of New York Pizza
Pepperoni pizza doesn't come better than in huge, thin crust slices — like what you will find at Taste of New York Pizza in West Des Moines. The full-sized pizzas come big enough to feed an entire family of ninja turtles, while being delicious enough to have you coming back for seconds or thirds. It's as authentic to New York style pie as Des Moines gets, making it the perfect stop for any lover of thin crust, sweet sauced, East-style slices.
Find it: 165 S Jordan Creek Pkwy Suite 160, West Des Moines
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: tasteofnewyorkpizza.com, 515-223-8669
Michael's Pizza
Cooked in a hearthstone oven to crispest perfection, Michael's Pizza doesn't mess around when it comes to an amazing pepperoni recipe. The crust comes crunchy, but not too thin — and the pepperoni, unlike most pizza joints, comes underneath the cheese and after the sauce — allowing the pepperoni to soak into the other ingredients. This semi-casual, laid-back Beaverdale spot offers a unique and nearly irresistible recipe that all ninja turtles should flock to before or after the Des Moines Comic Con action.
Find it: 2629 Beaver Ave #13
Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 4-10 p.m. Sunday
Info: dsmpizza.com, 515-255-5959
Chuck Celsi's Tavern Restaurant
Located in West Des Moines' historic Valley Junction, Celsi's offers up a different kind of deep dish than what you'd find in Chicago. It's not as cumbersome as a traditional deep dish, but is still overwhelmingly flavorful. The thick crust is sweet, crunchy, and far more filling. A small pepperoni is easily enough for two — but don't be afraid to order a bigger pie, the taste is dangerously addictive.
Find it: 205 5th St, West Des Moines
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Info: tavernpizza.com, 515-255-9827
Big Tomato Pizza Co.
Ah, yes. Big Tomato: Ingersoll's infamous late-night pizza paradise. Open until 3 a.m., this is the place you and your ninja turtle companions need to go if you're out a little too late and had a few too many to drink. If Celsi's has deep dish on lock and Taste of New York has thin crust conquered, Big Tomato is where you go for a slice that's right in the middle. It's filling, affordable, and has a little bit of a kick to it. Call Big Tomato to fill the late-night need after a long evening of ninja turtle crime fighting.
Find it: 2613 Ingersoll Ave
Hours: 11-3 a.m., daily
Info: thebigtomato.biz, 515-505-1333