DeCheco's Pizzeria serves fun, sizzling pizzas on Main Street in Akron | Local Flavor

In the beginning, things were a little hairy for Jack and Shirley DeCheco.

No, really – they were hair stylists.

Then, Shirley broke her ankle, and the two decided it was time to dive into a new industry.

Fortunately for the rest of us foodies, that new venture was a pizzeria now named DeCheco’s.

Who'd have thunk it? Hair + broken ankle = delicious pizza.

Does DeCheco’s Pizzeria have a dining room?

Located on South Main Street in Akron, DeCheco’s is a takeout-only shop, although it does offer covered outdoor seating for customers who can’t help but dig in before the drive home.

While picking up my order, the cashier pointed to the door next to the order window and mentioned that sometimes people walk right into the kitchen assuming it's a dining room.

After seeing the large pizza ovens and towering stacks of to-go boxes, they quickly scurry out, he said.

Is it worth the hype?: We tried Yuki House after social media blow up | Local Flavor

What to order at DeCheco’s in Akron?

There were many fine-looking pizzas ready for eating on the menu, but I decided on a small meat lovers pizza with pineapple substituted for cheese ($12).

Even with a small pie, you really get your money’s worth with the toppings on a meat lovers pizza. Plus, the crust was the perfect thickness to ensure the dough under all those meats didn’t get too greasy.

I also ordered pinwheels without cheese ($8) and funnel cake knots ($6), which are mini dough balls tossed in butter, topped with powdered sugar and caramel.

The pinwheels were soft and paired nicely with their red sauce, which I could tell was homemade with its rich flavor and abundance of seasonings. If you’re looking for something a little different texture-wise but still want that classic pizza taste, this is the side dish for you.

The funnel cake knots were yummy but not quite like a funnel cake since they are covered in caramel. But it was soft and sweet and buttery like any dough-based dessert ought to be.

My friend Sarah had a small New Yorker pizza ($12) and mozzarella moons ($9).

She thought the pizza was well seasoned and the crust wasn’t doughy. The mozzarella moons are a twist on traditional mozzarella sticks and come with that same homemade red sauce. Sarah said she prefers normal mozzarella sticks, as the cheese-to-breading ratio was a bit off in the moon form.

Unconventional eats at DeCheco’s

There are quite a few outside-of-the-pizza-box menu items at DeCheco’s.

Ever heard of a Doritos pizza? How about one where pickles are the main star? If those aren’t your style, they DeCheco's also has Popeye, potato or taco pizzas up for grabs.

Nathan DeCheco, who bought the restaurant from his parents a decade ago, gets inspiration for unusual menu additions from his mom and the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas he attends annually. He also mimics market trends — one example being the chicken sandwich wars in recent years leading to his Nashville hot pizza.

“I kind of do market research on the food industry, not just pizza,” he said. “I try to take different ideas that I see at restaurants or in the media and then tweak them to my brand.”

DeCheco’s also offers non-pizza items that you won’t see on most other pizzeria boards.

Take their barbecue blue loaded jojos, for instance. For this dish, Nathan’s team takes a large order of jojos and tops it with brisket, blue cheese, green onions, ranch and barbecue drizzle. Another version of the loaded jojos is made with bacon, cheddar, green onions, and Nathan’s sauce.

If that’s not enough loaded goodness for you, DeCheco’s also offers loaded potato bites, which are essentially balled up hashbrowns with bacon, green onions, and cheddar served with sour cream.

Popular menu items at DeCheco’s Pizzeria

According to Nathan, the white pizza is most popular item at the shop. Apparently, the pie with homemade white sauce, tomato, banana pepper, black olive and fresh basil makes up almost 50% of DeCheco’s sales.

Fall flavors are in full swing: Pumpkin pancakes, bubble tea and more: 11 local restaurants with fall-flavored everything

Nathan hopes to spread his pizzas all across the land. His goal is to open eight stores over the next five years, and he is already in the works of opening a few other locations in the Akron area.

It’s a lofty goal, but it is wise to not underestimate the power of pizza.

Details

Place: DeCheco’s Pizzeria

Address: 2075 S. Main St., Akron

Phone: 330-724-4835

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Website: dechecospizzeria.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: DeCheco's Pizzeria in Akron serves up sizzling pizzas on Main Street