The Best Pizza In The Best Public Colleges

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock

U.S. News and World Report recently came out with its list of the Top Public Colleges in the Country and we know that college means one thing: Beer. Well, two things, beer and pizza. Because most of the college attending-public is underage when they first step foot into the halls of higher learning, we will focus on where to get a good slice of pie (pizza for the non NYers reading along).

Now we aren't talking about any of the Domino's/Pizza Hut / Papa John's varieties here. We are talking when Mom and Dad send you some money and tell you to go out and get a good meal and you undoubtedly blow it on pizza - albeit really good pizza.

Oh, and Mom and Dad? These are the places to hit on the way out of town after dropping Johnny or Suzy off at school.

#5 University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Brothers Angelo and Vincenzo Marrone have been serving up authentic Italian pizza in Chapel Hill since 1980. The Italian Restaurant III screams everything I know about pizza. Two Italian brothers speaking broken English, soccer and UNC basketball on the TVs, fresh-made dough and sauce, and Stromboli on the menu.

These guys have more pictures of UNC team members on the walls than anyone else in Chapel Hill. They do nice thin crust pies but if you are looking for something else, they have a ton of all the traditional Italian dishes available as well as appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and salads. My personal recommendation here is the Meat Stromboli, add onions, mushrooms and peppers. The locals know it as the IP3 so don't embarrass yourself.

#4 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Voted Best Pizza in the whole state of Michigan, Mani Osteria & Bar keeps bringing in the accolades and they have only been around since 2011. Serving artisan wood fired pizza, Mani (Italian for Hands or hand-made) also serves up pastas, soups, salads and antipasti to die for. These emphasize locally sourced ingredients, small batch wines and craft beers. I highly recommend the Puttanesca Pie with Garlic Cream, Calabrian Chile, Oven Roasted Tomato, Olives, Oregano, and Grana Padano.

#2 (Tied) The University of Virginia

Christian's Pizza in an institution in the Charlottesville area since 2000 and actually now has four locations around Charlottesville and two in Richmond. There is no beating around the bush with these places. They are straight up pizza joints with slices and pies. The downtown mall location probably has the best ambiance, but the pizza is good at them all. Whether you are getting a house favorite, a specialty pie or building your own from a choice of 45 toppings, you will enjoy. They serve salad and breadsticks for the sober women on a first date, too.

#2 (Tied) University of California - Los Angeles

The only way for me to go here is 800°. Think of the place like this: You know how when you are moving through a Subway and first you choose bread, and then meat, and then toppings? Think of the same thing but pizza with handmade dough, locally grown tomatoes, locally sourced veggies and the area's best charcuterie.

Because the ovens are at 800°, your pizza is ready as you pay. Henry Ford would be proud of this assembly line! They have craft beers and tap wine as well as salads and small plates for the weak-of-pizza-heart. They have three shops, but if you want to keep it close to campus head to the Westwood location. If you don't want to wait in the line, you can order online and skip it.

#1 University of California - Berkley

The Cheese Board Collective sounds more like a species coming to assimilate you than a pizza place. The truth is that it is more than a pizza place. In 1967, the Cheese Board opened as a small cheese store. They have added a bakery, an espresso bar and just a couple doors down, a pizza place serving lunch and dinner five days a week. The pizza joint started in 1985 as a Friday night get-together after hours using all the ingredients from the Cheese Board. Soon they opened up for lunch and dinner and extended the menu to include salad, cookies, sodas, beer and wine. They have live music at both lunch and dinner which makes waiting in the line of people for pizza much more bearable.

Wondering whar the pizza of the day is like? Here is an example: Cremini mushroom, onion, mozzarella and Presidenté french goat cheese, garlic olive oil, fresh oregano and parsley.

So if you are on your way out across the country to drop off junior, here are a few places to get you started in on your kids' college town's great cuisine. There is obviously a lot more than $5 pizzas and Natty Light. Come on, I know you remember those days. Or don't you?

---

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore