Settling the Pittsburgh Pizza Debate: Crispy or Doughy

Sitting in the same block of Murray Avenue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania lies a pizzeria rivalry unlike any other rivalry. The debate centers around two restaurants: Mineo's Pizza House and Aiello's. The restaurants probably sit less than 100 yards from each other. I had only recently tried Aiello's Pizza, probably about three months ago and just again ate there today (9/18/2023). I want to give my experiences with both to really figure out what pizza is best for who reads this article. I don't know if the audience prefers one style over the other, or one setup over the other, but what I do know is: you can only pay cash in both places, so that is the similarity between the two places. Luckily, with a $2.50-$3.00 surcharge using the ATM in store, you can eat at both places (Having cash beforehand is certainly recommended though).

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Mineo's Pizza House: 2128 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Before I get into the style here: let me give into a quick history of the spot. Mineo's Pizza House established in 1958 by John Mineo, the once vacated facade became a long line of pizza makers. Still family owned to this day, nearly three generations after it was founded. They are open daily from 11am until 11pm, and sometimes depending on crowds, later than 11pm. I know some of my favorite memories have been celebrated at Mineo's long past 11pm.

Style of Pizza: Crispy and thin: I will say that I prefer my pizza doughy in the crust department and most of the pizza I prefer to be doughy, however not everyone agrees with this. My dad, for instance, loves a crispier experience. We order regularly from a local joint called Luciano's and even if I go and pick up the pizza or it is delivered to us, my dad always has to heat the pizza in our oven before he eats it, because when it gets to us, although it's perfect temperature for me, it is not crispy enough for him. This is where Mineo's has the upper hand for someone like my dad. I haven't ever seen my dad in all the times we have gone to Mineo's after a game get anything besides just two slices of pepperoni pizza, two dishes, two sets of silverware, and two cans of coca cola. I say this because from Luciano's he gets sausage, green peppers, and pepperoni on his pie. I don't know if it is the time-taking factor or that when you go to Mineo's, they offer pizza by the slice, but by the time we get there the only two pizzas they have are plain and pepperoni. Typically when we get by the slice pizza, it is not in the whole pizza style that Mineo's offers, which is that they oven bake their pizzas with the toppings under the cheese, when you get pizza by the slice, the topping is on top of the cheese.

Ambiance: Picture this: you're in the 1970s and they have terrible taste of colors that run together, now think of that same taste when you enter into Mineo's. There are probably 12 booths when you enter on the take out side and a bar seating arrangement of about 8 high chaired seats looking at a basic orange table. The booths are made of wood seats and orange tables. The interior of the restaurant is tiled wood on the floor and wood paneling around the rest of the location up until the front of the place where the counter is and the coolers for drinks. Mineo's also has a second dining area that is more of a basic pizza restaurant set up, with a few tables and a bar with about ten stools around it, but actual drink-making capabilities around them. Ambiance personally has never been a problem in Mineo's because my memories of the place are usually what I think they envisioned when they opened: a hometown pizzeria for celebrating big victories. What I mean in this is: it isn't out of the ordinary to see the family who owns the place and their friends who work there, dressed with various Steeler jerseys on or Roberto Clemente shirts while they toss the dough for the pizza. The Steeler post game is usually either on the tv or radio in the kitchen area as well as being broadcast to the restaurant guests.

Memories: I will say that a lot of my favorite sports memories have been celebrated at Mineo's Pizza House: I celebrated here with my dad and his good friend Tom after a couple AFC championship game wins for the Steelers, one in 2007 after the Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens, and one in 2010 after the Steelers beat the New York Jets. I found out I was going to attend a Super Bowl in 2011 after the Steelers beat the Jets, my dad handed me his phone to read an email and I had just assumed that he and his friend Tom were going to another super bowl together, but instead he was taking me. My dad and I celebrated the Pirates winning game 3 of the 2013 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals at Mineo's. It has been a tradition in our family after wins in sporting events, to stop at Mineo's on our way home. I also had surprised a previous girlfriend with a Mineo's Pizza to celebrate her birthday when she returned home from vacation to make her day.

Wrap: I don't really want to do any sort of scoring for this article, but with all that being said Mineo's will always have a special place in my heart. It has been somewhere that I can go with family to celebrate great happenings in the Pittsburgh sports world, it is the right kind of style of pizza for those who enjoy thin and crispy and the family touch to the making of this pizza pie. All my life and memories as a child and into my adult life, after sporting events have been spent at Mineo's Pizza House.

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Aiello's: 2112 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217

History: Separated by less than 100 yards lies another family pizzeria called Aiello's which as I grew up I had to always hear from friends that they preferred Aiello's over Mineo's and it was a sin for me to go anywhere besides Mineo's when with my family. I finally jumped ship by trying out Aiello's a few months ago. Established in 1978, they have been using the same pizza recipe since they opened, a family secret. I have not spent the same amount of time with their recipe as I have spent with Mineo's. Today, (September 18, 2023), I stopped in and ordered three slices of plain pizza and a bottle of Mountain Dew for $9.75, the three slices were $6.75, cash only.

Style of Pizza: Doughy, lots of cheese, and toppings. Pizza is heavier than Mineo's, and less greasy. I have eaten at Aiello's twice. Once for take out, and once for slices of pizza at the restaurant. I read a review prior to writing this as Aiello's, I have not been to a lot in my life, I wanted to see what others said about the style of pizza and their experiences of the place. They do have a 4.5 rating out of 1,225 ratings on Google Maps.

1. Batgirl P shares: "We went to the pizza place next door, but it smelt weird, so we came here. It smelled good, was clean, and bright and the pizza was quite good. I loved the crust. I had the stuffed meat (pizza) and my husband had the stuffed vegetable (pizza). We both really enjoyed it and will come back"

2. Al K shares: "Excellent NY Pizza in Pittsburgh. By the slice or the pie, the only thing that would make it more NY is if it was named Ray's. Must stop in the area".

3. Jess shares: "The best pizza in the east end with reasonably priced slices too. I appreciate that the guys always give me pepperoni for my dog too. Human tested, doggo approved".

4. Jeff D shares: "Could this have been my favorite meal we had in Pittsburgh? The cooks were so cool and down to earth, and the food was made pretty quickly despite it being a busy Saturday night. The hoagies were excellent. Home made meatballs, enough cheese, not greasy. The slice of Margherita pizza is what made it for me. The tomatoes, the dusting on top, the crust, it is on a whole different level of quality and attention to detail. Onion rings were good too. You get so much food for the price! We really loved our stay and who doesn't love hanging out on Squirrel Hill".

Anyways, enough sharing about what other people loved about the spot as I enjoyed my two times ordering from there. As with any place, someone always has to write a bad review and if anyone is curious what others think of the pizza, here is one I found posted by Chris C a week ago "the pizza taste like pepperoni sauce and cheese on cardboard". Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I hope to some day take my dad to Aiello's to try something new, but as I am often reminded, you cannot teach old dogs new tricks.

Ambiance: In the two times I have been inside of Aiello's, the first time it was incredibly busy, it may have been a Friday or Saturday night and the place was packed. I ordered a small pizza to-go and walked in, grabbed my food, and left. It was amazing. My second time, earlier this afternoon, I had walked in to a nearly empty seating area, except for two kids in the back corner, and had sat at a table facing a huge big screen tv on NFL Countdown previewing the night's Steelers vs Browns, MNF matchup. When you walk in to Aiello's the first thing you notice is that they have all of their pizzas that are featured sitting out on trays behind a glass viewing window, and then the ovens are right behind this area. Today when I got my food, there was one guy by the pizza and ovens and he was quick to greet me with a "hey how's it going today", and then I said what I wanted, he quickly shot back with "I have one I just got out of the oven, I can put it back in if you want, or it's pretty hot as it is". I was fine with it, I don't need my pizza burnt to a crisp, and that isn't their style either. There are about four tables in the area next to the big tv and then about five tables in the back next to their wide selection of ales, claws, and noons. As I have realized, it can either be bustling or quiet.

Wrap: I leave this up to the reader of this article on debating what style of pizza is best for their tastes while also reminding you that both Aiello's and Mineo's are both cash only establishments. I also realize I haven't shared memories for Aiello's which is okay considering my circumstances of never eating there until earlier this year (2023) and being a devoted Mineo's customer with my dad and his friend Tom. I hope to go to both of these joints in the future and continue to eat good pizza as both places are spectacular, and in the great Pittsburgh Pizza Debate, I am someone who loves a doughy pizza. Mineo's to me is a place of celebration where Aiello's is comfort food for me. I leave the reader with a choice: have one, have both, or simply have none.