16 pizza spots, one winner. Vote for your favorite restaurant in Round 1 of our bracket

JaNae Williams, The Oklahoman
Updated ·6 min read
Vote in our OKC Metro's Best Pizza bracket on who you think has the best pizza around Oklahoma City.
Vote in our OKC Metro's Best Pizza bracket on who you think has the best pizza around Oklahoma City.

According to TasteAtlas, pizza — specifically Neopolitan-style — is the number one food in the world.

But what makes the food so beloved? A 2019 article by inverse.com says its actually a matter of science, with multiple aspects of the flavors of pizza coming together along with the reactions that occur during the cooking process to create the perfect storm of craveability for our tastebuds.

Whether we love pizza because of something molecular or because it's just do darn tasty, one thing is certain, the Oklahoma City metro has a packed field of pizza restaurants to choose from.

What better way to celebrate March Madness than with a good old fashioned bracket? Sixteen pizza restaurants enter, but only one can leave with the title of OKC Metro's Best Pizza and it's in your hands to decide the winner.

The Oklahoman's OKC Metro's Best Pizza Bracket
The Oklahoman's OKC Metro's Best Pizza Bracket

Rules are simple, vote for your favorite metro-area pizza restaurant and share the polls with friends and family so that they vote, as well. However, a word of caution, voting is monitored and any unusual voting activity, such as the use of bots to flood polls, will not be counted in the results.

Most importantly, have fun, support local and maybe even find a new spot to try out a slice or pie.

OKC Metro's Best Pizza Bracket voting guide and dates

  • Voting started at 6 a.m. March 6, and ends at 11:59 p.m. March 10.

  • Subsequent rounds (Elite 8, Final Four, Championship) will begin each following Wednesday, featuring winners from the previous round and will run for five days.

  • Sweet 16: March 6-10.

  • Elite 8: March 13-17.

  • Final Four: March 20-24.

  • THE FINALS:  March 27-31.

  • Winner announced April 3.

Keep reading below to learn more about those in our bracket.

Saucee Sicilian vs The Pizza Shack

Sicilian-style pizza is the specialty for Saucee Sicilian.
Sicilian-style pizza is the specialty for Saucee Sicilian.

The Saucee Sicilian: Started as a food truck and featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, the restaurant now has a brick and mortar location where it continues serving the Neapolitan-style pizzas that it first became known for. Where: 1807 N Classen Blvd. Contact: 405-493-9023, thesauceesicilian.com/.

A pizza loaded with toppings is removed from the oven at The Pizza Shack in Arcadia, Okla.
A pizza loaded with toppings is removed from the oven at The Pizza Shack in Arcadia, Okla.

The Pizza Shack: Located inside the iconic Chicken Shack on Route 66 in Arcadia, The Pizza Shack's motto is "It's veggies and meats to the edgies," and they use fresh, never frozen, dough from a local bakery for their pies. Where: 210 East Highway #66, Arcadia. Contact: 405-396-5055.

Sauced on Paseo vs The Wedge Pizzeria

A 50/50 pizza from Sauced on Paseo featuring half the Kimmereno and half The Fig slices.
A 50/50 pizza from Sauced on Paseo featuring half the Kimmereno and half The Fig slices.

Sauced on Paseo: Revived after a kitchen fire by the folks at Humankind Hospitality, Sauced on Paseo has returned to the city's arts district to once again offer pizza as giant pies and by the slice. Where: 2912 Paseo. Contact: 405-521-9800, saucedpaseo.com/.

The Wedge Pizzeria: Despite recently shuttering a Western Avenue location, The Wedge continues to crank out wood-fired pizzas from two additional locations in Oklahoma City and Midwest City. Where: 230 NE First Street in OKC and 2320 S Air Depot Blvd. in Midwest City. Contact: 405-270-0660 thewedgepizzeria.com/.

Hideaway vs Joey's Pizzeria

Pizzas waiting to be served at The Hideaway in Stillwater.
Pizzas waiting to be served at The Hideaway in Stillwater.

Hideaway: What started in Stillwater in 1957 has grown to include locations in three states. With nine OKC Metro locations, the menu of specialty and build-your-own pies continues to be enjoyed almost 70 years later.Where: 5022 N Western Ave. Contact: 405-840-4777, hideawaypizza.com/.

Bianca Neve pizza with brunch pastries and other items at Joey's Pizzeria, 700 W Sheridan Ave. in Oklahoma City.
Bianca Neve pizza with brunch pastries and other items at Joey's Pizzeria, 700 W Sheridan Ave. in Oklahoma City.

Joey's Pizzeria: Purchased by chef and proprietor Irena Kendrick from the restaurant's original owners, Joey's Pizzeria has been offering up Chicago Hand-Tossed and thin crust style pizza for nearly 20 years, and from its location on Film Row since 2011. Where: 700 W Sheridan Ave. Contact: 405-525-8503, joeyspizzeriaokc.com/.

Pizzeria Gusto vs. Upper Crust Pizza

A pie from Pizzeria Gusto is served on the patio.
A pie from Pizzeria Gusto is served on the patio.

Pizzeria Gusto: Pizzeria Gusto boasts being Oklahoma City's first Neapolitan pizza restaurant and has been cranking out wood-fired pizza to exacting standards on an oven hand-built in Italy for almost 10 years. Where: 2415 N. Walker Ave. Contact: 405-437-4992, pizzeria-gusto.com/.

Some Like It Hot is just one of the many pizzas offered at Upper Crust Wood-Fired Pizza.
Some Like It Hot is just one of the many pizzas offered at Upper Crust Wood-Fired Pizza.

Upper Crust Pizza: The wood-fired pizza brand brought to Oklahomans by Hal Smith Restaurants offers up signature and build your own pies from two metro locations. Where: 5860 N Classen Blvd. and 1205 NW 178th St, Edmond. Contact: 405-842-7743 ucpizza.com/.

Empire Slice House vs. Papa Angelo's Pizza

Pizza is pictured at Empire Slice House in Oklahoma City.
Pizza is pictured at Empire Slice House in Oklahoma City.

Empire Slice House: With five metro locations, a shop in Tulsa, one on the way in Stillwater and a partnership with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Empire Slice House has grown to fit its name with its New York-style pies and slices featuring unique ingredients and fun, pop-culture driven names. Where: 1804 NW 16 Street. Contact: 405-557-1760 empireslicepizza.com/.

A single slice off an empire at Papa Angelo's.
A single slice off an empire at Papa Angelo's.

Papa Angelo's Pizza: Papa Angelo's is a small, family-owned pizzeria offering up New York-style pizzas up to 20 inches in diameter. Where: 6744 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany. Contact: 405-491-6767, papaangelospizza.com/.

Fair-Weather Friend vs Rendezvous Pizza

Fair-Weather Friend: It's a brewery, it's a wood-fired pizza restaurant, it's Fair-Weather Friend. The spot serves up scratch-made pies on pizza doughs that ferment for 48-hours and the menu includes a selection of red and white-sauce options. Where: 314 N Klein Ave. Contact: 405-215-9081, fwfbeer.com/.

A specialty slice from Rendezvous Pizza in downtown Oklahoma City.
A specialty slice from Rendezvous Pizza in downtown Oklahoma City.

Rendezvous Pizza: Whether you are a fan of Detroit-style or New York-style pizza, Rendezvous has you covered with signature pies in the styles of both the Motor City and the Big Apple. Plus, both styles can be purchased by the pie or the slice with a rotating menu of daily slices. Where: 27 E Sheridan Ave. Contact: 405-724-9439, rendezvouspizza.com/.

The Hall's Pizza Kitchen vs Falcone's Pizza

The Hall's Pizza Kitchen: What began as a food truck in 2013 has grown to a Midtown fixture still serving up wood-fired pies. Order up a whole pie or check out the slices available daily. Where: 1004 N Hudson Ave. Suite 106. Contact: 405-600-1991, thehallskitchen.com/.

An Italian sausage and pepperoni pizza at Falcone's Pizzeria and Deli in Oklahoma City.
An Italian sausage and pepperoni pizza at Falcone's Pizzeria and Deli in Oklahoma City.

Falcone's Pizza: Falcone's has locations in OKC, Edmond, on Tinker Air Force Base and a food truck all ready to serve New York-style pizza by the pie or the slice. Where: 6705 N May Ave. Contact: 405-242-2222 falconespizza.com/.

Eastside Pizza House vs. Dado's Pizza

The pies at East Side Pizza House are highlighted by signature black crust.
The pies at East Side Pizza House are highlighted by signature black crust.

Eastside Pizza House: Having just celebrated two-years in business the pies at Eastside Pizza are known for having a signature black crust and names that acknowledge historic Black figures and neighborhoods throughout OKC. Pies can be purchased in traditional or solo-dolo (individual) sizes. Where: 1734 NE 23 Street. Contact: 405-900-6767, eastsidepizzahouse.com/.

A look inside Dado's Pizza.
A look inside Dado's Pizza.

Dado's Pizza: New York-style slices and pies are on the menu at Dado's and this local spot is not afraid to step outside the box with toppings, offering up unique monthly special. Where: 10942 N May Ave. Contact: 405-367-8707, dadospizzaokc.com/.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who has the best pizza in Oklahoma? Vote in Round 1 of our showdown