Editors Note: This story has been updated with the spelling of a name. It is Tom Gavozzi, not Tom Gabozzi.
FIRST: Lucci’s Place
Located directly across from Kent State’s campus at 405 E Main St., Lucci’s Place offers customers New York-style pizza from the heart. After finding out they were voted best pizza by the Kent community for the ninth consecutive year, owner Peter Finley hooted and hollered with excitement.
“We’ve been popular with the Kent community in general since we opened in 2015,” Finley said. “June is going to be our 10 year anniversary, so we’re always happy to see that people like us here.”
Lucci’s Place offers whole pizzas and pizza by the slice, allowing customers to grab and go. Customers have a choice of classic toppings like pepperoni and cheese, or they can try something out of the traditional pizza box, like pickle slices and an assortment of vegetables.
“We’ve got some unique specialty pizzas,” Finley said. “My favorite specialty pizza is the dill pickle and pepperoni pizza. I think people are afraid to try it, but once they do, they realize it’s the best thing.”
Finley’s favorite pepperoni and pickle pizza is coated in a white sauce, topped with cheese, pepperoni, dill pickle slices and garnished with dry dill weed. This uncommon combination is a Lucci’s “must try” in Finley’s eyes.
Finley loves serving authentic slices of the East Coast and hopes to remain a Kent community favorite.
SECOND: Belleria Pizza and Italian Restaurant
Belleria Pizza and Italian Restaurant is located in the nooks of Acorn Alley at 135 E. Erie St. and offers Italian favorites like pizza, pasta, hot sandwiches and soups.
Owner Tom Gavozzi explained that Belleria is primarily known for its pizzas. The restaurant offers the Kent community a variety of different pies, like its breakfast pizza, buffalo chicken and Hawaiian specialties.
“That’s why we’re here,” Gabozzi said. “We’re here to please the people, the students, the community and give them a good product.”
Belleria also offers weekly specials including a 12-inch traditional pizza for $7.99 and $1 off any sandwich on Tuesdays.
“We are student and family-friendly, and we work really hard to provide a quality product at a good price,” Gabozzi said.
Gabozzi loves his staff and believes their dedication to serving the Kent community is what makes Belleria such a large city staple.
THIRD: Guys Pizza Co.
Guys Pizza Co. is located in the heart of downtown Kent on 146 S. Water St., and its close proximity to the local bars makes it a midnight staple.
Guys Pizza sells fan favorites like their Guyzones, pasta, chicken wings, salads and of course, pizza. Their slices go for $2.50 each, or customers can indulge in specialty pizzas like their Texas BBQ or loaded baked potato.
“We’ve been doing this for over 20 years now so I’d like to think we provide good quality food and reasonable prices,” owner Evan Lundberg said. “We’re here and we have pizza ready to go.”
Lundberg said their Guyzone is one of the most popular menu items, other than the classic pepperoni pizza.
“It’s our version of a calzone, and you get three toppings in there with cheese, and then you get dipping sauce on the side, those are always popular,” Lundberg said.
Guys is open weekly until 10 p.m. and stays active until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“I mean, just our location really is what helps us the most,” Lundberg said. “We’re just right downtown in the thick of it, so if people are out, or just walking around enjoying the day they can come in and grab a slice.”
Kent is filled with unique pizza spots, and Lundberg wants to keep working to produce quality pizza in order to stand as one of Kent’s best.
Chloe Robertson is the opinion editor. Contact her at [email protected].
