Slice Sundays: Donatos Pizza
Aaaand I’m back for another week of Slice Sundays, with Donatos Pizza!
I’m extra excited to share today for a few reasons:
- We’re exactly 11 days away from Slice of Columbus! Do you have your tickets? Click HERE to order ahead of time (and if you have no idea what Slice of Columbus is, why I’m featuring a pizza shop every Sunday, or think I’m just way too obsessed with pizza this summer, my first post HERE explains most of that for you.)
- I have been avoiding the Short North like the PLAGUE lately. If you live anywhere close to downtown like I do, you know what a mess the construction is. Kudos to anyone who fights it anyway, but I’m more of a drive-where-there-the-orange-cones-aren’t type of person. If that’s a type. Anyway, the reason I’m excited is because I visited the Short North location of the pizza shop (yep-right in the heart of orange cone land) and I realized that there really isn’t a whole lot of construction left! The sidewalks are wider (maybe I’ll be more successful at scooter dodging now) and the outside of the buildings look especially beautiful. My days of avoiding the SN are almost over, and I can finally visit some of my favorite businesses again!
- And the third reason I’m excited: one of the “specialty” pizzas that Donatos let me try out is a banger. (Hint: You can try it now too.) Read on to find out what it is!
Donatos Pizza and Black Brick
A few weeks ago, I hopped over to the Short North Donatos location to check out what they had cookin’ (err, bakin’?) in the ovens for Slice of Columbus this fall. If you’re not quite sure where this location is, the pizza shop has actually been there for awhile! Directly across from Paradise Garage and Northstar Cafe on High Street, Donatos and its recently added boozy counterpart, Black Brick, are waiting to give you an elevated pizza experience. Did you know that Jim Grote, the founder of Donatos, was an Ohio State University student? He bought his first pizza shop in 1963, when he was just a sophomore, for just $1,300 and kept the original name – a play on a Latin phrase that means “to give a good thing.” The Black Brick name comes from the original Donatos location, which was built featuring black brick — a decision made by Jim himself.
I don’t know about you, but I’m all about making things easy on myself. Next time I know I’m gonna want a lil somethin’ after hitting the bars, I’m coming here. Might as well order to-go pizza while you’re sipping your nightcap, right?
On to the Donatos pizza!
I met up with Dave Parsons (PR & Communications Manager at Donatos Pizza) to get the low-down on all things pepperoni, specialty pizzas, and of course.. what we’re going to see at Slice of Columbus. First, the classic pepperoni.
If you know anything about Donatos, it’s pretty likely that you know their claim to fame: the classic edge-to-edge large pizza covered in at LEAST one hundred pieces of pepperoni.
Drool, right?
But let’s hold up for a sec – did you ever think about how long it would take the crew back there to slap 100 pieces of pepperoni on your pizza before sliding it into the oven? Me either, until I actually got to watch them do it. And to my surprise, these guys are FAST.
I had the opportunity to watch Ari, the Donatos Short North Manager, prep a classic pepperoni pizza as she told me about the “Pizza Olympics” certain Donatos team members participate in to show off their prepping skills. When visiting other locations, employees like to challenge each other to a race – a pizza topping race! Who can layer the sauce, cheese, AND all 100 slices of pepperoni the fastest? Game on.
PS, Here’s what you’ve been waiting for: The Short North Donatos location offers a Secret Menu Item. Want to know what it is?
Think double.
At the Short North Donatos location only, you can order the “Pep 200”. Yes, it’s exactly what you think it is. At least two hundred slices of pepperoni all on one large pizza. That’s a LOT of pepperonis.
Can you handle it? Try it, and mention my Instagram handle @crave_columbus when you do!
Okay finally.. the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Donatos’ latest and greatest specialty item (and yes, it’s available at all locations!!)
The Donatos hot chicken pizza.
Honestly, this summer has just been so great in the hot chicken world. First, Fusian and Hot Chicken Takeover collaborate to create the most SATISFYING sushi known to man. Then, I took a trip to Nashville to try the OG hot chicken itself, Hattie B’s (sorry that’s a plus in my hot chicken world, but just thought I’d share). And now, hot chicken on pizza too?? Donatos took it to the next level with their crispy hot chicken, pepper jack cheese, slices of jalapeño peppers, and finished with hella dill pickles and a fancy Ranch drizzle.
Pickles on everything except cake has been my motto lately, and it hasn’t failed me yet.
I also got to check out how this pizza was made.. here’s a few before and after oven shots:
Although the hot chicken pizza was originally created specifically for their Nashville store, the trend swept the east coast and is now available in all 9 states where there are Donatos shops.
Want to know what other fun specialty items you can get at Donatos? Most recently, they released their Salty Caramel Apple Pie. It’s a classic Donatos crust filled with sweetened cinnamon spread, apples, and an oat streusel topping. Drizzle me some of that salty caramel and I’ll take a big ‘ol slice, please. Donatos also hopped on the breakfast pizza bandwagon, but only in their airport locations! I begged Dave to put in a word on getting breakfast pizzas in their Cbus locations too, but we’ll see where that goes. You all know my love for breakfast ‘za 😉
And last but not least, what are we going to see at Slice of Columbus? Guess you’ll just have to come to find out…
A couple other fun facts I learned:
- Donatos also makes Sonoma flatbreads. Never heard of Sonoma? Next time you’re at Big Bird (ehem, Giant Eagle) check out the gluten free freezer section for their flatbreads and pizzas. BEST crispy crust freezer pizza I’ve ever had, hands down. And I can even eat gluten. That’s saying something.
- All Donatos pizza dough is made right here in Ohio, at the Jane’s Dough Foods plant. (And yes, the plant is named after and ran by Jim Grote’s daughter, Jane Grote Abell!)
- The thin crust pizza is the most popular here in Cbus. Why? We love our pepperoni. Only the “Edge-to-Edge” is available on the thin crust pizza!
- To own a Donatos franchise, you only have to drop $30K for a franchise fee and then new store opening expenses. Pocket change, right?
- Donatos fed all 7700 income freshman at this year’s Ohio State Orientation. That’s over 1,000 pizzas. Wowza.
- Did someone say Loyalty Program? The company is planning to launch a loyalty program in the coming days – Donatos Pizza Love Rewards. Starting now, anyone who signs up at donatos.com/rewards to be alerted when it launches will receive an automatic $5 off single-use code. Immediately. No minimum purchase. You just have to redeem it online at donatos.com.
Thanks for sticking with me to the end of another Slice Sunday! The countdown is officially ON to Slice of Columbus. Will I see you there? Let me know! Find me on Instagram and shoot me a DM. You know where I’ll be!
