In Columbus, Ohio, pizza has a style of its own, although fast becoming famous beyond its borders. We’re talking about square-cut pies with edge-to-edge toppings, a sweet sauce, and the undeniable appeal of provolone cheese. The origins of this pizza style were largely unrecognized until local author Jim Ellison penned it down in his book "Columbus Pizza: A Slice of History". This distinct pizza style characteristic of Ohio's capital city is traced back to family-run restaurants, some which are the oldest in the state.

Even as international brands like Donatos and local ones like Massey’s elevate Columbus style pizza, new names add their own innovative twists to it. It’s why Experience Columbus launched the Columbus-Style Pizza Trail in 2022, encouraging locals and tourists alike to try slices from different parts of the city.

Visitors can enjoy Columbus-style pizza in places like Terita’s, run by Tom Iannarino, succeeding his father Gus. Since 1959, they've been serving thin square-cut pizzas, with toppings like capicola, mushrooms, jalapeños, and their standout housemade sausage. In 2024, The Columbus Dispatch declared it the best pizza in Columbus.

The journey continues in the suburb of Bexley, where Rubino's seems frozen in time. Owner Julie Wilhelm’s thin-crust pizzas, cooked in stone-deck Blodgett ovens, crackle with retro charm just like the black rotary phone and cash-only register at the counter.

In Grandview Heights, Panzera's Pizza has been serving square-cut pizzas with smoky provolone and a balanced tomato sauce since 1964. Carlo Lombardi, the nephew of founder Nick Panzera, insists on keeping their classic pizza simple and delicious.

Meanwhile, JT’s Pizza, voted the city’s best by the Facebook group Pizza Connoisseurs of Columbus, adds a creative shuffle to tradition. Owner Joe Hartnett serves crispy, square-cut pizza covered in a blend of provolone-mozzarella and a hint of sweet sauce.

For lovers of traditional methods, family-owned Original Josie's Pizza in Franklinton, dating back to 1959, offers crisp square-cut pizzas baked in a colossal brick oven.

In the Clintonville neighborhood, Gatto’s has been serving Columbus-style pizza since 1952. Tony DeRubertis, the owner, keeps the legacy alive with the crackling crust covered in a blend of provolone-mozzarella.

And finally, TAT, claims to be the original pizza introduced to Columbus in 1934. Marianne and Michelle, granddaughters of the founder Pete Corrova, offer signature pies baked in a deck oven which no one but Michelle is allowed to use.

Over time, Columbus has carved a niche in the pizza universe. Rich with family legacies, traditional methods and a blend of the old with the new, the city's square-cut pizza style has formed a trail worth exploring for any pizza enthusiast.