In college you have to make a lot of important decisions, one of them being what food to eat for dinner. In Cape, we’re fortunate to have an array of food options, especially when it comes to pizza.
And, as luck would have it, all the best pizza places just happen to be located on Broadway and within walking distance from campus. So, if you’re looking for a unique pizza that’s close to campus – here are your best options.
BEST SPECIALTY PIZZA / MINGLEWOOD
121 Broadway, Cape Girardeau / 573.803.0524
You might not look at this place and instantly think “pizza,” but think again. If you’re ready to move past the classic pizzas and try a specialty pizza, this is your place. They offer BBQ, Sausage Goat Cheese, Chicken Garlic Alfredo, Philly Cheesesteak and Taco pizzas… just to name a few.
For this bit of research, we tried the BBQ pizza. While you may not consider BBQ pizza a “specialty” pizza, at Minglewood, it sure is. It’s not your typical BBQ chicken pizza; in fact, chicken is about the only thing not on it. Their BBQ pizza features hardwood smoked bacon, applewood hickory smoked shredded pork, diced ham, beef crumbles and BBQ with a five cheese blend. I was a little apprehensive at first about shredded pork on a pizza, but it was great!
All of Minglewood’s pizzas are “individually” sized, 10” pizzas, so you don’t have to debate with your friends over which toppings to get. Their specialty pizzas start at around $12 but if you’re looking for a less expensive option, they do offer a “build your own” pizza starting at $7 plus toppings.
BEST CHAIN PIZZA PLACE / IMO’S PIZZA
1201 Broadway, Cape Girardeau / 573.334.3993
While IMO’s is technically a “chain” pizza place, it sure tops out above the other chains. If you’re from St. Louis, then you probably already know about them. Maybe having an Imo’s Pizza across the street from campus will help you feel a little closer to home while you’re here!
Famous for their St. Louis style square-cut pizza, IMO’S thin, crispy crust pizza has a homemade sauce, Provel cheese and fresh toppings. Their 14” large pizza starts out at $13.50 but they offer awesome lunch specials during the week, so you can get a small or individual size pizza for much less.
BEST ALL-AROUND PIZZA & THE LOCALS’ FAVORITE / PAGLIAI’S PIZZA
1129 Broadway, Cape Girardeau / 573.335.0366
As indicated by the photo below, Pagliai’s Pizza is so good you’ll probably dig right in and forget to take a photo for your Instagram until it’s a bit too late…
Established in 1968, Pagliai’s Pizza has been a favorite among locals for quite some time. Their hand-crafted pizzas come in a variety of crust options including their classic signature thin crust as well as offering thick, wheat and gluten-free options! Whether you opt for a classic pizza or decide to try the Pagliai’s Special, you really can’t go wrong here!
A single topping large (14”) pizza starts out at $13. Or, opt for a mini (8”) single-topping for just $5.35! Unfortunately, Pagliai’s is no longer open at lunch, so plan on here for dinner only!
PIZZA ON YOUR MEAL PLAN
Of course, if you’re looking to cash in on your meal plan, there are plenty of options for on-campus pizza.
Enjoy flatbread pizzas at Houck’s Place, grab something to go from Rowdy’s or Build (in Redhawks Market at the UC).