Utah Valley's pizza scene is better than it has any right to be. Between Provo and Orem, you can find legitimate Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, oversized New York-style slabs, Detroit-style thick crust, and a handful of local joints that have been doing their own thing for decades. This guide covers the best of them.
The Top Tier
1. Pizzeria 712
Neapolitan/Wood-Fired · $$$ · Orem
The best pizza in Utah Valley. Pizzeria 712 fires thin, blistered Neapolitan-style pies in a wood oven with the kind of ingredients you'd find at a serious pizzeria in Portland or Brooklyn. The Margherita is the benchmark — San Marzano sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and a crust with the perfect char. The menu changes seasonally, and the specials (often featuring local produce and creative combinations) are worth ordering blind.
The braised beef short rib appetizer has become almost as famous as the pizza. The wine list is thoughtful. This is a restaurant that happens to specialize in pizza, not just a pizza shop.
The move: Margherita plus whatever special they're running. The Bianco (white pizza with ricotta) is excellent. Short rib to start.
Good to know: No reservations for small parties. Weekend waits can stretch to 45 minutes. Weeknight visits are significantly easier.
2. Slab Pizza
New York-Style · $ · Provo (near BYU)
Giant, foldable, New York-style slices cut from oversized pies with creative toppings. Slab is the antithesis of Pizzeria 712 — casual, cheap, fast, and built for volume. One slab is a full meal for most people. The toppings rotate daily and range from classic pepperoni to mac and cheese, pulled pork, pesto, and seasonal combinations.
This is the default pizza for BYU students, and for good reason. The price-to-portion ratio is hard to beat anywhere in the valley.
The move: Check the daily specials board. The creative toppings are usually the best value. One slab, maybe two if you're starving.
3. Via 313 Pizza
Detroit-Style · $$ · Orem
Detroit-style pizza done right — thick, rectangular, with a crispy caramelized cheese edge (called "frico") and a soft, airy interior. Via 313 brought this style to Utah Valley from Austin, Texas, and it's filled a gap that nobody knew existed. The crust is the star: golden, crunchy, and structurally perfect. Toppings are quality, and the sauce — applied on top of the cheese in true Detroit fashion — ties everything together.
If you've never had Detroit-style pizza, this is an excellent introduction. If you have, this is one of the better versions outside of Michigan.
The move: The Detroiter (pepperoni with frico cheese) is the classic. The Cadillac adds sausage and peppers.
Excellent Options
4. Brick Oven
Wood-Fired/Traditional · $$ · Provo
A Provo institution since 1956, Brick Oven has been feeding BYU students and Provo families for generations. The wood-fired pizzas are solid — not as refined as Pizzeria 712, but reliable, generously topped, and served in a family-friendly atmosphere. The homemade root beer is legendary and arguably the real reason many people come.
The move: Combination pizza plus a mug of root beer. Share a large with the table.
5. Lucky Slice
New York-Style · $ · Provo
Another strong New York-style option, Lucky Slice serves big slices from a counter-service shop that stays open late — making it one of the best post-event and late-night food options in downtown Provo. The pizza is greasy, foldable, and exactly what you want at 10 PM after a show at the Covey Center.
Good to know: One of the few late-night food options in downtown Provo.
6. Nicolitalia Pizzeria
New York/Traditional · $$ · Provo/Orem
A local chain with a loyal following. Nicolitalia does thick, hearty New York-inspired pizzas with quality ingredients and generous toppings. The calzones are massive. The breadsticks are addictive. It's not trying to be artisan — it's trying to be a really good neighborhood pizza joint, and it succeeds.
7. The Pizza Studio
Build-Your-Own · $ · Provo
A fast-casual build-your-own concept where you choose your crust, sauce, and toppings assembly-line style, then watch your pizza go through a high-heat oven in minutes. The quality depends on your choices, but the customization is genuinely useful for groups with different preferences and dietary restrictions. Good value, quick service.
Pizza by the Situation
Best overall quality: Pizzeria 712. No contest.
Best value/student budget: Slab Pizza. Giant portions, tiny prices.
Best for families: Brick Oven. The atmosphere, the root beer, and the familiarity.
Best late-night: Lucky Slice. Open late when nothing else is.
Best for trying something different: Via 313. Detroit-style is a genuine revelation if you haven't had it.
Best for groups with picky eaters: The Pizza Studio. Build your own means everyone's happy.
Related Guides
- 25 Best Restaurants in Provo
- Best Restaurants in Orem
- Best Food Near BYU
- Eating on a Student Budget
- Center Street Dining Guide
- Late Night Food in Provo
Last updated: April 2026. Restaurant hours, menus, and prices change — always verify directly.