Lansing’s best pizza options for the gluten-free, picky and devoted

People don't mess around when it comes to their pizza.

New Yorkers fold theirs in half, Chicagoans use a fork and knife to devour deep-dish pies.

St. Louis-style pizza uses a super thin, cracker-like crust and Provel, a processed cheese. In Detroit, they bake pizza in a square pan, making the crust extra crispy on the bottom.

If you're anything like me, you firmly believe that pizza does wonders for the soul.

The late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla was known for her ability to tackle entire medium pizzas by herself. Now that's serious #foodgoals.

Whether you're a hard-core vegetarian or a devout carnivore, there's a pizza waiting with your name on it somewhere in Lansing.

We asked the community to share their favorite pizza restaurants. Over a hundred suggestions poured in, and they were still rolling in as of Friday night.

So dig in, pun intended, because we've compiled a list featuring some of Lansing's most raved about pizza spots.

Best pizza with the weirdest toppings

Where do you go when you want to chow down on Naples-style, wood-fired pizza with some, um, rather unique toppings?

The answer is The Cosmos in Old Town. Brace yourselves because their toppings include shrimp, brisket, duck sausage, rice, corn, black beans and butternut squash.

"Our pizza is chef-driven, so that's where our creativity stems from," said co-owner Sam Short, adding that the bacon and green apple pizza is "blow-your-mind good."

Feeling adventurous? Order the "trust us" pizza. Your server doesn't tell you what's on the pizza until it shows up on your table, Short explained.

"It outsells all our other pizzas probably due to the element of surprise," he said.

And they must be doing something right because Cosmos is gearing up for the National Restaurant Association's pizza competition in March.

Interestingly enough, Cosmos' menu rotates every spring and fall. And you can order off the menu at Zoobie's, which is right next door.

How to go

Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Cosmos, 611 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing.

Noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Zoobie's Old Town Tavern, 611 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing.

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Best pizza made with a lotta love

DeLuca's is where you go when you want to taste a little bit of love in your pizza.

In 1960, Italian immigrants Pat DeLuca and his brother-in-law, Jim, opened Willow Bar on the north side of Lansing, a place where nearby factory workers frequented.

Lasagna, ravioli, gnocchi and other Italian favorites are on the menu, but "the pizza really took off," said co-owner Chuck DeLuca, one of Pat DeLuca's three sons.

So they changed the business name to DeLuca's Restaurant & Pizzeria around two decades later.

The tomato sauce is hearty and made fresh daily, DeLuca said. Plus, the amounts of cheese and toppings are generous.

You can't go wrong with the house special – featuring pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, green peppers, onions and tomatoes. But if you want to try something different, go for the taco pizza – which consists of taco meat, sour cream, salsa, mixed cheese, lettuce, onions and tomatoes.

Oh, and the potato pizza? (Yes, that's really a thing.) It has potato slices, bacon, chicken, olive oil, onions and broccoli.

"When people try it, they're pleasantly surprised," DeLuca said.

Not in the mood for pizza that day? No problem. Instead, try a calzone, which includes Hawaiian, vegetarian and everything in between.

How to go

Closed Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Deluca's Restaurant & Pizzeria, 2006 W. Willow St. in Lansing.

Best neighborhood bar pizza

Harry's Place is often equated with the TV show, "Cheers" due to its friendly atmosphere.

The folks who stop by to eat leave talking about the fish fries, ribs and pizza.

“I live two blocks away, so I’m there several times a week,” said Jana Nicol, one of the regulars at Harry's. "When I first started going there, I wasn't a big fan of flat crust, but Harry's made me a fan."

The sauce is "really good" and they use "fresh" ingredients, Nicol said. Her favorite combination? Ham and pineapple.

"All my friends call it Jana's Place now because I turned them on to the pizza there," she joked.

Across the street from Harry's used to be Durant Motors before it was purchased by General Motors, which gave factory workers a convenient place to chow down. Harry’s opened in 1922, making it Lansing’s longest family-owned restaurant business.

How to go

Closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. Harry's Place, 404 N. Verlinden Ave. in Lansing.

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Best bang-for-your-buck pizza

On Sundays, when you order any size pizza at Leo's Outpost or Leo's Lodge, you get another one free if you dine in.

Unlike Cosmos, you won't find roasted pears or pistachios on your pizza. The "craziest" topping you'll find here is anchovies, which is perfect for those who prefer their pizza traditional.

Need another reason to go? (Hint: It involves booze.) Bloody Marys are $4 all day Sunday at both locations.

And if you're looking for a place outside of Lansing, Relli's specialty pizzas in DeWitt are half off all day Wednesday.

How to go

Noon to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Leo's Lodge, 2525 E. Jolly Rd. in Lansing.

Noon to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Leo's Outpost, 600 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing.

9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Relli's, 202 E. Main St. in DeWitt.

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Best gluten-free pizza

Allergic or sensitive to gluten? Chances are that you've probably given up on eating pizza a while ago, or have resorted to making your own.

The good news is that Bell's Greek Pizza in East Lansing offers gluten-free options, they never charge extra, and the crust doesn't taste like cardboard, promised owner Habib Jarwan from Lebanon.

"Our crust is seasoned with herbs, so it's flavorful," he said, "and nothing – our dough, sauce, veggies, meat – is ever frozen or canned. That's why we've been around 50 years."

Also? Bell's pizza is probably the only pizza in the Lansing area with a Middle Eastern twist.

Take the chicken shawarma pizza, for instance. Or the gyro pizza with lamb gyro meat, tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce – which usually consists of yogurt, sour cream, cucumber and garlic pureed with olive oil, dill and lemon juice.

"I'm vegan, but sometimes I cheat because the (gyro pizza) is so yummy," Jarwan joked.

When you don't feel like grabbing an entire box of pizza, stop by on Wednesdays and enjoy a slice for a dollar.

How to go

10 a.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. Bell's Greek Pizza, 1135 E. Grand River Ave. in East Lansing.

Best surprisingly tasty pizza

"We're not as fancy as some of the other guys, but we take pride in our pizza," said Center Stage co-owner Steve Mudget.

At Center Stage, you can pretty much build your own pizza because they offer "just about any topping." But the key to making delicious pizza is perfectly cooked cheese, Mudget said.

They use a blend of muenster, provolone, white cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.

"You want (the cheese) to get a little bubbly and slightly brown," Mudget said, adding that "our regulars come in and order pizza a couple times a week."

As a bonus, they also offer trivia on Thursdays and live entertainment Saturday nights.

And speaking of unexpected delights, Dispatch, an Irish sports pub right off Interstate 496 on Lansing Road, makes a mean garlic chicken parmesan pizza.

How to go

Closed Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday. Center Stage, 1785 W. State Rd. in Lansing.

Noon to midnight Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Dispatch Sports Pub & Grill, 3004 Main St. in Lansing.

What would you add to this list?

Contact Reporter Princess Gabbara at pgabbara@lsj.com or (517) 377-1006. Follow her on Twitter at @PrincessGabbara.