Perfect Pizza Restaurant: Thirsty Pagan

For half a century, Sammy’s Pizza dominated the local Italian pie scene with its trademark thin crust and tasty sauce. Pizza Lucé came along in 2001 and shook things up with unusual toppings and a funky vibe. These days, however, Thirsty Pagan Brewing has won over pizza connoisseurs in the Twin Ports with its deep-dish pies, loaded with Wisconsin cheese. The TPB was the clear winner in PDD’s best pizza restaurant poll.


(Thirsty Pagan owner Steve Knauss)

It was in 2006 that Susan and Steve Knauss bought Twin Ports Brewing, located in the old Russell Creamery building at 1623 Broadway Ave. in Superior, and changed the name to Thirsty Pagan Brewing — transforming it from a tiny brew pub into a restaurant with killer ‘za, daily live music and nine brews on tap.

The TPB does not have a stunning array of toppings or lengthy menu with numerous combinations, it just excels at very traditional flavors. The Derailed — with sausage, pepperoni, salami, ham, black olives, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, spinach, garlic and pepperoncini — is always a favorite, along with five other specialty options, but diners can also pick and choose toppings and customize however they like.

Thirsty Pagan won the best pizza restaurant voting with a commanding 46 percent. Honorable mentions go to Pizza Lucé (25 percent) and Sammy’s (18 percent).

PDD Awards Index