Readers voted for their favorite pizza in southwestern Illinois. Here are the results
Thousands of votes have been cast since Jan. 14 when we posted our online poll asking you to vote for your favorite pizza joint in southwestern Illinois.
The poll closed Thursday night, and finally, we are ready to report the results!
But first, another reminder: This poll was just for fun. It’s publicity for some great local restaurants and a bit of entertainment for online readers.
So here we go. Your top three favorite southwestern Illinois pizza places are:
Papa Vito’s – First Place
“Papa Vito’s has a cult following.”
This was the opening line of a December 1997 article that the Belleville News-Democrat ran about the first Papa Vito’s location in Waterloo.
Based on the number of votes that this popular restaurant received in our poll, the cult has grown. A lot.
Owner Gerry Geoppo was thrilled to hear the news.
“That’s terrific … good news to have and will pass it on [to the kids],” said Geoppo.
Papa Vito’s is a family business. While Geoppo handles the Waterloo location, his four children run the others.
Geoppo said his oldest son, Jamie, operates the North Belt West location. His only daughter, Kati, and youngest son, Ryan, are at the downtown Belleville restaurant. Son Kris runs things in Millstadt.
Most of the credit for winning the poll is given to Geoppo’s children, who not only run the restaurants but are also great at spreading the word on social media.
Each location has its own Facebook page, and the poll was shared (more than once) on all of them.
A lot of those posts were shared by their fans, their customers, who Geoppo said are very loyal.
The social media for Papa Vito’s has always been instrumental in keeping their customers in the know about specials, entertainment and other events.
Geoppo also gave credit to neighboring downtown Belleville businesses, which are known to support one another.
He mentioned that Copper Fire shared the poll on its Facebook page and encouraged folks to vote.
“Papa Vito’s Pizza, one of our neighbors, is in the lead! Cast your vote!” exclaimed a Jan. 21 post.
Geoppo thinks the community support and sharing the poll are a big part of why they are successful.
I think “that had a lot to do with people stepping up to the plate,” said Geoppo.
Since opening the Waterloo location in 1991, Papa Vito’s has grown, adding three more locations between January 2011 and August 2016.
The four area Papa Vito’s locations are:
223 W. Mill St., Waterloo. 618-939-5200.
318 E. Washington St., Belleville. 618-277-6200.
4205 North Belt West, Belleville. 618-416-7900.
741 W. Washington St., Millstadt. 618-476-6100.
Hours vary by location.
As far as the menu goes, there’s a lot to choose from.
You’ve got appetizers — including lots of bread, lots of cheese, lots of YUM! — calzones, salads (their house dressing is delish!), sandwiches and … hmmm, what am I forgetting?
Oh, yeah. The pizza.
There are multiple signature pizza options (I’m partial to the Veggie Lover’s) or you can build your own.
For more information, visit mypapavitos.com.
Cutter’s Bar & Grill – Second Place
Since 1983, Cutter’s Bar & Grill has been a place with great food for great prices and greater fun.
(I celebrated my 29th birthday at Cutter’s, and it really was a good time!)
Owner John Brisk doubled the fun when he had an addition built, providing additional seating and a sunken dance floor and band area.
I reached out to Brisk to get his reaction to the pizza poll results but couldn’t reach him.
Among the affordable fare at Cutter’s are pizza, burgers, wings, peel and eat shrimp, sandwiches, nachos, fries and a variety of other sides.
Drop by for some tasty food and Stag Beer.
Cutter’s is located at 239 Carlyle Ave. in Belleville Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. For more info, call 618-235-7642 or visit the Facebook page.
Alfonzo’s Pizzeria – Third Place
Alfonzo’s Pizzeria in Troy opened in 1982 and was founded by Mike Paolucci, a third-generation Italian-American.
Paolucci has “put in his time” in the food service industry, according to the Alfonzo’s website.
He washed dishes as a kid and received food service training in the U.S. Air Force. The website also shows he’s a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has experience with a three-star restaurant and served as a sous chef with Marriott Hotel Corporation.
I spoke briefly to Joe Paolucci, Mike Paolucci’s son, who is working at the restaurant while he pursues his MBA at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
He said that he and the staff are really excited and that it’s been a bit of a shock. At first he didn’t know about the poll (they were a late entry).
Now that he knows they came in third, he’s even more excited.
“That’s fantastic! Thank you,” said Joe Paolucci.
Alfonzo’s also shared the poll on their Facebook page and encouraged people to vote.
“Alfonzo’s customers are the best!! Keep voting us for your favorite pizza in southwestern Illinois,” stated a Jan. 25 post.
Joe Paolucci says that at Alfonzo’s, they really take pride in what they do.
“We just want to make people’s day,” he said, adding that the poll results are a “great reminder that we do.”
“We’re so excited. The staff is just so happy.”
The menu has a lot to offer. The eatery offers up Neapolitan-style pizzas as well as salads, wings, appetizers, pasta and fish dishes, sandwiches and desserts.
The website also lists lunch and weekly specials.
Alfonzo’s is located at 611 Edwardsville Road in Troy. Hours are 4-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Sunday. They are closed on Tuesday.
For information or to place an order, call 618-667-9901 or visit alfonzospizzeria.com.
The other pizza joints in the poll:
Mod Pizza: 2300A Troy Road, Edwardsville. 618-800-1256. facebook.com/modpizzaedwardsvillemarketplace
Peel Wood Fired Pizza: Locations include 921 S. Arbor Vitae, Edwardsville, and 104 S. Cherry St., O’Fallon. peelpizza.com
Bennie’s Pizza Pub: 113 E. Main St., Belleville. 618-416-0019. benniespizzapub.com
Joe’s Pizza & Pasta: Multiple locations including 4628 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights, and 4 Club Centre Court, Edwardsville. orderjoes.com
FlamentCo’s The Place: 711 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon and 813 Seibert Road, Scott AFB. flamentcopizza.com
Imo’s Pizza: imospizza.com
Dewey’s Pizza: Multiple locations including 425 Regency Park, O’Fallon, and 112 E. Vandalia, Edwardsville. deweyspizza.com
Gia’s Pizza: 102 W. State St., O’Fallon. 618-632-8486. mygiaspizza.com
Domino’s: dominos.com
Papa John’s: papajohns.com
Pappo’s Pizzeria & Pub: 15 Ludwig Drive, Fairview Heights. 618-213-6160. pappospizzeria.com
Pantera’s Pizza: 1522 Troy Road, Edwardsville. 618-692-6000. facebook.com/Panteras-Pizza-Edwardsville-129847753724746
Marcos Express: 1401 Lebanon Ave., Belleville. 618-235-5500. marcosexpress.net
Casey’s: caseys.com
Roma’s Pizza: 121 E. Bethalto Drive, Bethalto. 618-337-5800. bethaltoromaspizza.com
Little Augie’s Pizza & Pasta: 620 N. 2nd St., Breese. 618-526-7040. littleaugiespizza.com
Papa Murphy’s: Locations include 1407 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon, and 207 Harvard Drive, Edwardsville. papamurphys.com
Breadeaux Pizza: 105 S. Jefferson St., Millstadt. 618-476-1700. breadeauxpizza.com
Friday’s South Bar & Grill: 624 S. Illinois St., Belleville. 618-233-1724. fridayssouth.com
Tavern on Main: 301 E. Main St., Belleville. 618-233-6246. tavernonmainbelleville.com
Mazzio’s Pizza: 2683 Northtown Way, Highland. 618-654-8636. httfacebook.com/mazzios.highland
Jet’s Pizza: 5200 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights. 618-892-9900. jetspizza.com
Godfather’s Pizza: 4590 N. Illinois St., #1533, Belleville. 618-234-2578. godfathers.com
Little Caesars: littlecaesars.com
Pizza Hut: pizzahut.com
South Gate Saloon: 4350 IL-161, Belleville. 618-566-0265. southgatesaloon.com
Pizza World: Locations include 651 Carlyle Ave. A, Belleville, and 1535 Johnson Road, Granite City. pizzaworldonline.com
TR’s Place: 4901 Concordia Church Road, Belleville. 618-277-7135. facebook.com/TrsPlaceBelleville
I’ll be launching another online reader poll soon. Once I choose a topic, I’ll be asking for nominations, so stay tuned …
This story was originally published January 29, 2022 at 9:00 AM.
