The Absolute Best Pizza in Indianapolis

Pizza in this city is a matter of faith, and the doctrine changes block to block. Somewhere between a cracker-thin tavern slice and a foldable New York flag of grease, Indianapolis keeps its own communion.

You might drive to Plainfield out of hope and leave with sixty dollars less and a doughy regret, or you might find a speakeasy balcony where the wings outshine everything else on the table. We ate through the lot, chasing crusts, sauce, and the occasional revelation in whipped ricotta.

Here is the list that settles the argument.

Last Chance Pizza

Highlights
Fluffy crust, crispy edges
Face-melting scorpion sauce
Friendly, lively pickup vibe
Solid non-pizza options

I walked into Last Chance Pizza expecting a quick slice, and I left holding a box that smelled like a promise. The crust is the quiet star here, fluffy in the middle with edges that crackle when you bite. The scorpion sauce arrives with a warning in its name, and it earns every syllable. It does not merely heat. It commands attention. The room hums with a friendly, lively pickup rhythm, and even the non-pizza items hold their own. I did not invent a reason to linger. The food gave me one. This is a place where you order, wait, and then understand why the line feels like part of the show.

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Shin Dig

Highlights
Wings are city’s best
Kids menu wins hearts
Service stays remarkably attentive
Pizza decent, wings better

Shin Dig does not try to hide its priorities. The wings are the city's best, and they know it. I ordered pizza because I was reviewing pizza, but my eyes kept drifting back to the basket of wings on the next table. The pizza is decent, honest work, with a sturdy crust and a sauce that behaves. But the wings are the event. The service stays remarkably attentive, checking in without hovering. A kid at the next booth was polishing off a plate from the children's menu, and the staff treated him like the most important person in the room. That says something. I left thinking about the wings. I will return for the wings. The pizza can come along.

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Diavola

Highlights
Wood-fired pizza worth the drive
Attentive staff, superb management
Gluten-free options handled with care
Lively bar, welcoming atmosphere
Memorable meatballs, excellent sauce

Diavola sits a little off the main circuit, and the drive feels worth it before you even sit down. The wood-fired pizza arrives with a char that speaks of real fire, not a flicker of pretense. The crust holds its shape, chewy and blistered. I ordered the meatballs on a whim, and they turned out to be the quiet triumph of the meal, tender, saucy, and gone too soon. The staff move with a calm precision, and the management clearly sets a tone of care. They asked about gluten-free with a seriousness that reassured me. The bar hums with conversation. I lingered longer than I planned. That is the mark of a place that understands hospitality.

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Napolis Pizza

Highlights
Legit NYC-style pies
East side favorite
Great gooey cheese
Friendly, casual vibe

Napolis Pizza sits on the east side like a local secret, but the secret is out. The pies are legit New York style, thin enough to fold but sturdy enough to hold a mountain of gooey cheese. I watched a regular walk in and order by number. The staff greeted him by name. The cheese stretches with theatrical grace, and the sauce tastes like it has been simmering for decades. The vibe is friendly and casual, no pretension, just good pizza and honest service. I ate my slice at a small table near the window. The afternoon light caught the grease in a way that felt almost beautiful. I would drive across town for this. I may have to.

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Iaria's Italian Restaurant

Highlights
Old-school Italian comfort
Attentive, unobtrusive service
Excellent chicken marsala
Great for group dinners
Creamy, memorable desserts

Iaria's feels like a room where time moves slower, and I mean that as a compliment. The old-school Italian comfort settles around you like a familiar coat. The service is attentive without ever intruding, a rare balance that I noticed and appreciated. I ordered the chicken marsala because the table next to me seemed to be having a religious experience with theirs. It was excellent, rich and tender, with a sauce that begged for bread. The pizza is not the headline here, but it holds its own, a proper companion to the heavier plates. The desserts arrive creamy and memorable. I left full, content, and quietly grateful that some places refuse to rush.

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The NY Slice

Highlights
Thin, crispy, flavorful crust
Fresh toppings, rich cheese
Owner Dan’s warm welcome
Perfect for family celebrations
True New York style

The NY Slice greets you with the smell of baking dough and the sight of owner Dan standing by the counter, ready with a warm hello. The crust is thin, crispy, and carries a flavor that does not need a parade. Fresh toppings sit on a bed of rich cheese, and the balance is just right. This is true New York style, folded and eaten while standing, if you want, though they have tables too. A family was celebrating a birthday in the corner, and Dan made sure their plates were full and their glasses were never empty. The attention to detail is quiet but constant. I ate my slice slow, savoring the crunch. Some places get pizza right. This one gets it right and makes you feel welcome while doing it.

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The Garage Food Hall

Highlights
Local fare, not chain food
Empanadas and sauces shine
Poke bowls and pupusas
Bar inside with Hard Truth
Endless choices, lively space

The Garage Food Hall is a labyrinth of choices, and I wandered it like a kid in a candy store. This is local fare, not chain food, and the variety is staggering. I started with empanadas, and the sauce that came with them was a revelation, bright and tangy. Nearby, someone was eating a poke bowl with a thoughtful expression. At another stall, pupusas sizzled on a griddle. There is a bar inside with Hard Truth pours, which seems fitting for a place that invites you to linger. The space is lively and loud, but the chaos feels curated. I did not find one perfect pizza here. I found a dozen reasons to come back and try again.

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Sinners & Saints

Highlights
Speakeasy with outdoor balcony
Attentive, friendly service throughout
Wings worth running for
Thoughtfully prepared comfort food
Inclusive, welcoming neighborhood vibe

Sinners & Saints hides behind a discreet door, and that mystery is part of its charm. The speakeasy vibe extends to the outdoor balcony, where I sat with a drink and watched the neighborhood go by. The service is attentive and friendly from the moment you walk in, a warmth that cuts through the cool aesthetic. I ordered the wings because a man at the bar told me they were worth running for. He was not wrong. They arrived crisp, saucy, and utterly devoted to flavor. The pizza is thoughtful, comfort food done with care. The room feels inclusive, the kind of place where everyone knows the door. I stayed past my planned exit. That says more than I can.

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Piezanos Pizza - Plainfield

Highlights
Quick service, sadly undercooked
Not worth sixty dollars
Skip for better chains

I wanted to like Piezanos. The service was quick, and the staff were polite. But the pizza arrived undercooked, the crust pale and doughy in a way that made me check my watch to see if I had waited long enough. It had not been long, and it was not enough. For sixty dollars, I expected more than a reminder that some chains do this better. The toppings were fine, but they sat on a foundation that had not committed to being bread. I ate a couple of bites and then stopped, which is the worst review I can give. I will skip this one. There are too many other places in this city that respect the dough.

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Pearl Street Pizzeria & Pub

Highlights
Salad rivals their pizza
Staff knows dietary needs
Cauliflower crust earns praise
Kind service, good vibes
Flexible menu, careful checks

Pearl Street Pizzeria & Pub surprised me with a salad. That is not normally something I say with enthusiasm, but theirs rivals their pizza, and that is saying something. The staff know their dietary needs, asking questions before I even raised them. I ordered the cauliflower crust out of curiosity, and it earned real praise, crisp and flavorful, not a sad substitute. The service is kind, the kind of kindness that makes you feel like a regular on your first visit. The menu is flexible, and they check every detail with care. I watched them navigate a gluten allergy at the next table with a seriousness that made me trust them completely. The pizza is good. The care is better.

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Goodfellas Pizzeria - Mass Ave

Highlights
New York style perfection
Bar with vast selection
Slices larger than heads
Lunch special unbeatable value

Goodfellas Pizzeria on Mass Ave does not mess around with style. The slices are larger than my head, draped over paper plates like flags of a nation I want to join. This is New York style perfection, thin, foldable, and unapologetically greasy in the best way. The bar offers a vast selection, and the lunch special is an unbeatable value that makes you wonder why you ever paid more elsewhere. I ordered one slice, then another, because the first one disappeared with embarrassing speed. The room has a lively hum, filled with people who look like they know something. I now know it too. This is the slice you cross town for, and the bar is just the bonus.

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Futuro

Highlights
Tavern style, deeply satisfying
Detroit crust, crisp and creative
Whipped ricotta, memorable topping
Gracious staff, warm thanks

Futuro approaches pizza like a quiet experiment, and the results are deeply satisfying. The tavern style is flat and crisp, a crust that snaps but does not shatter. The Detroit version takes a different path, thick and airy, with edges that crunch like a secret. I ordered the whipped ricotta as a topping, and it turned out to be the memory I carried home, creamy and bright, a small act of genius. The staff are gracious, thanking me for coming with a warmth that felt genuine. The room is understated, letting the food do the talking. I sat with my slice and thought about how good pizza does not need to shout. It just needs to be made this well.

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