Aaron Landry

Pizza at Campus Pizza, originally uploaded by Aaron Landry.

I remember visiting Campus Pizza & Pasta a few times a number of years ago with cramped seating, cute gingham table cloths, a campy interior all under a large maroon and gold awning. The pizza was good but at the time I didn’t pay much attention.

Earlier this year, Campus Pizza moved across the street to a much larger and more modern space. The campiness is gone but they’ve kept the classic gingham, expanded to a full bar and most importantly — they kept the pizza the same.

My cousin and I stopped down for a pepperoni pie. They were playing through Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” and I was reminded that it was April 20. Perhaps that explained the longer-than-expected wait and why our pizza came out a bit strangely shaped. To me this was a good sign: I joked with myself that they were too focused on making good pizza instead of perfect circles. After my first bite, I knew I was right: this pizza hits square on the mark of what’s great about midwestern-style pizza.

This pizza had a tasty cracker-like crust with crispy pepperoni along with a tasty mix of cheeses. It was a bit wet with grease, but not as much as you’d find on midwestern-style pizza standards like Sammy’s or Carbone’s. I loved the tangy sauce that was just enough for flavor and apparently the same recipe Campus Pizza has used since 1959. It’s party cut into squares and as far as midwestern style goes, this is strongly recommended. My cousin opined that this is the best pizza in Stadium Village. I won’t argue.

Campus Pizza & Pasta
825 Washington Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-378-2417