Cheese pizza is forever, and not just for kids. While a slice of good cheese can’t be beat, there are so many ways to make this dish and not all come out basic. One pizzeria uses lemon and ricotta on top. Another laces the dish with buttery olives. From white pies to wood-fired beauties to New York style, these five examples showcase the joy of a cheese-based pizza.
The White Tiger at Joy Hill
Yes, Joy Hill does offer a basic cheese pizza ($16) on the menu for those who want a classic tomato sauce, Sicilian oregano, and grated cheeses type of pie. But for diners looking for adventure, order The White Tiger ($22) instead.
The dough gets slathered in roasted garlic cream. Next, a mixture of mozzarella, Cambrian sheep milk ricotta salata, and Grana Padano top the sauce. A crack of black pepper makes the pie, giving it just the right zing. Go on a Thursday for the added bonus of half-price bottles of wine (yes, all of them), and make sure to snag a table on the roof patio. 1229 S. Broadway, Denver, joyhilldenver.com
Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta
Since 1984 Anthony’s has been dishing out slices of its New York style pizza, and not much has changed since then. The institution remains the place to go for a piece of The Big Apple, and each slice gets heated in the oven on demand. With dough, sauce, and the basic cheese blend remaining consistent, even as the company grows (19 locations so far), fans know they can pick up the perfect slice of cheese ($4.45).
Each piece can be tailored with garlic powder, parmesan, and crushed red pepper per the eater’s liking. Now whether you fold it in half like they do in NYC, that’s up to you. Multiple locations, anthonyspizzaandpasta.com
White Pizza at Cart-Driver
The original Cart-Driver opened in RiNo in 2014, showcasing wood-fired pies with stretchy dough and a lot of flavor. Though simple, the vegetarian White ($18) pizza offers plenty to crave.
On top diners will find a healthy slathering of mozzarella dotted with bright green castelvetrano olives, which, if you’ve had them, have a buttery taste with a light salinity. A bit of lemon freshens the dish, and basil gives the White that Italian flare. Still, there’s nothing wrong with adding a little more, the chefs recommend a pile of prosciutto for an extra $6. 2500 Larimer St., Denver, cart-driver.com
Detroit Style at Blue Pan Pizza
Some of the best Detroit-style pizza comes out of Blue Pan, which opened in West Highland in 2015 and has since expanded to three locations. While we love a lot of the meaty combos, the simple cheese showcases the solid ingredients and crispy-cheese rim the style is known for.
Before toppings, each Detroit pizza features a base of homemade pizza sauce and a layer of cheese including Wisconsin brick, whole milk mozzarella, and white cheddar. Each pie gets finished with Sicilian oregano and Pecorino Romano. We recommend the small size ($13), which serves one or two people and ensures each slice has a corner, hence, more of that aforementioned cheese crisp around the edge. Multiple locations, bluepandenver.com
Lemon Ricotta at Quinto Neighborhood Pizzeria & Taphouse
Falling into the white pizza category, the Lemon Ricotta ($18) features house-made white pesto, ricotta laced with lemon zest, a special cheese blend, and torn fresh basil. All that gets put on dough made using imported flour, and sent into the wood-fired oven.
The result is a pie with slightly charred bubbles poking through the gooey cheese, and a pliable dough perfect for handling the light weight of the ricotta dollops. The bits of lemon add a pleasing acidity to cut the fat, making a pizza that’s so good it stays fresh in memory, bringing us back to the family-owned restaurant again and again. 10443 Town Center Dr., Westminster, quintopizzeria.com
