Massey's Pizza Sports Bar & Wings Graceland

Hype: It's a been a while since we've done a pizza and this is a pretty new Massey's location.  We wanted a good solid pie with access to beer and many, many televisions to watch basketball.  This seems to be the place.

Scene: There must have been a hundred TV's on the wall.  Lots of sports, lots of good beer options, and a mix of high top tables and booths.  Even the menus were displayed on TV's by the front.  Big patio space for warmer weather.  "They got KENO in this motherfucker?" Unfortunately, no, but they do open at 11am on Sundays and boast several toddler chairs so you can bring whole family.  Almost all of our evolving needs were met here.

The Pie:
Crust- Really nice, thin, burnt-edge crust sitting on some cornmeal.  Sliced into party squares I could eat by the hundred.
Sauce- Sweet and generously applied, not too much though.
Cheese- Understated pizza cheese.  Not rubbery at all.
Peps- Certainly the marquee topping on this pie.  Salty, slightly cupped and well-spiced.  Good work.
Overall- This is a classic Columbus thin crust.  Solid pie served up with 23oz drafts and more sports watching options than you can shake a stick at.  4/5 pies!  It's good to be back.

Meisters' Pizza, Chambers Road, Columbus, OH

Hype: We hadn't been out to do a new pizza in quite a while so we really wanted to get this one right.  Meister's has been on our radar since Dave and Jeff went for it last year and said good things.

Scene: It's in a bar in Grandview by a bunch of apartments.  We typically aren't big fans of anything Grandview, but occasionally good things happen there.  I liked the bar: pool tables, dart boards and a pizza shop.  They did have soccer on the television while perfectly good basketball was on another channel though.

The Pie
Crust- while it is cut in to party slices, and we elected to have the "traditional" crust instead of deep dish (not our focus here), it was pretty thick and airy.  Typically, thicker crusts lack crisps but Meister's still had it.  Crunchy bottom yet thick.  Nicely done.
Sauce- very sweet.  Lots of oregano and garlic.  I liked it a little better with a touch of crushed red pepper.  Dave liked it straight, I think.  Either way it was good.
Cheese- liberally applied and pretty solid.  More in the middle than towards the edges.
Peps- Good.  A little pooling, not super spicy or too abundant, but very solid.
Overall- it grew on us the more we ate.  I was the most skeptical of the group, but quickly warmed up to it.  It is a very good place to hang out and the pizza is competitive with its neighbors.  Chambers and NW Blvd has two other great pizza shops so congrats to all of the people over there. Solid 4/5 pies!!!

Grandad's Pizza in Byrne's Pub (1254 West 3rd Avenue, Columbus, OH) Grandview

Hype: I've seen coupons here and there but there wasn't really any.  We knew they served pizza in a bar, which is tough to mess up, so it sounded like a surefire way to eat a good pie and and have some refreshments before the BIG GAME!!!

Scene: Gee, it's a good thing we weren't there at night.  It looks to be an Irish Rock bar.  Beyond the possibility of hearing Irish music this is a nice place.  Wide selection at the bar, ample seating with an excellent patio. They serve good pizza too.  Oh yeah, affordable Great Lakes pitchers and TV screens helped us root for an undefeated Northwestern Football Squad.

The Pie:
Crust- thin to win.  stood up to plenty of sauce while maintaing it's COLUMBUS EDGE.  Take a look at that.
Sauce- not too flavorful, but that was ok.  It was kinda sweet with hints of tomatoieness.
Cheese- mild, evenly applied.
Peps- very nicely cupped, with some greasiness.  Very spicy.  Very delightful.

Overall: Nice place.  This pizza was not mind-blowing but it is an excellent Columbus-style pizza.  It fits in perfectly as a thin, spicy pepped, Grandview/Arlington Style pie.  The fact that you can eat it in Byrnes makes it a no brainer.  If I lived in Grandview (and I would never consider it) I would do Grandads all the time. 4--5 pies!!!!!!!!!!

Little Palace (240 S. 4th St. Columbus, OH)

Hype: It's been forever since we've done a new pie so we wanted to get something good.  I'll be honest; we drove past two that were closed, then drove from King Ave down High St. looking for pizza shops.  We decided not to do Fabian's (because it sucks) and that landed us all the way downtown.  I was pissed.  After quite a drive Dave remembered this place served pizza.  Good.  I was STARVING!

Scene: Kool looking downtown bar/restaurant, like Press Grill but not so creepy.  It was what it should be. Nice draft beer spread, TV's with sports and fairly good looking people seated throughout kinda made me want something other than pizza, but Dave helped me focus on business.  We did have to figure out what was the peperoni pizza-like item on the menu.  If you go, you'll catch on.

The Pie:
Crust- Hand tossed, chewy and airy.  Very nice with just a touch of toast where appropriate.
Sauce- Spicy with tomato seeds and all.
Cheese- Not liberally applied, but this did not detract from the experience.  It may have drowned out the sauce and not-peperoni.
Peps- They had some other name for them.  They were spicy, interesting, and well applied.  This was a hit.  One minor detail--they added a few jalapeno peppers for heat.  I was on the fence but Dave likes it Hot!
Overall: I like this joint.  I guess they serve other stuff too, but the pizza oven is the real deal.  Take a lady because it is a nice spot with quality pies.  4--5.