by Jerry Schutjer
Newnan is known as the City of Homes, apartments, car washes, car lots, and the occasional white supremacist rally (not to be confused with a Pentecostal church service). However, Newnan does have an unsung hero amongst its sometimes questionable community offerings. The great unifier in these divisive times, the pizza. Now, there are many cities who will always trump Newnan as pizza meccas, but there are still a few diamonds to be found in these rough, mean streets of Newnan. After a busy day of avoiding the Bullsboro Brawlers and the Washington Street Wallopers, you may find yourself hungry and in need of some comfort food. Turn to pizza! But, you may say, there are so many choices! How do I decide? And I say, read on, gentle reader, and let me lead you from starvation.
10. Marco’s Pizza- I really wanted to like them more. On the surface, they should be amazing, but for whatever reason, the magic isn’t there. There’s no reheat value and it’s too expensive for the quality of the pizza. The appetizers are nothing special either. That’s not to say this pizza is awful, just the least favorite option of Newnan’s bountiful pizza offerings. As devout Crustians tend to say, “Even the worst pizza is better than the best salad.”
9. Domino’s Pizza- Another corporate chain offering aggressively average pizza. However, the prices are far more reasonable and they’re more creative with their menu. They taste better than Marco’s but there’s still the tell-tale sign of intentional mediocrity as if you could taste their R&D department trying to create a recipe that has the most mass appeal. This pizza isn’t made with love. It’s made with focus group data. And I guess there’s a market for that somewhere.
8. Pizza Hut- The bottom three are all victims of overdevelopment like Poplar Road, am I right? Zing! My disappointment with Pizza Hut stems partly from nostalgia. Gone are the days of napalm-esque Book-It-earned personal pan pizzas with 90s movie tie-ins (remember the Casper marketing?) Even the signature Stuffed Crust Pizza, once innovative, has fallen victim to gradual decreased quality in an effort to produce larger profit margins. However, their breadsticks still slap hard and that marinara sauce is sweet and savory. Unfortunately, the crust on all their pies just taste uniformly cheap. The wings are delicious, super saucy, but overpriced and their hotter sauces will make you sweat, but in a great way.
7. Karvela’s Pizza Company- Relatively new to Newnan, this pizza place has all the potential to produce great pizza! However, I found their pepperoni pie to be lacking compared to many of their competitors. On the flipside, they have the best sausage topping of all the pizza places I have tried locally. That alone has saved them from falling farther on this list. At first glance, the price tag is fairly steep, but the pies are all 16 inches. They offer a pretty wide variety of specialty pizzas which all cost over $20 a pie and just a cheese pizza is $15. I consider this a good “casual date” pizza. I haven’t tried the wings, but I’ve only heard great things about them. Wings might push them higher up on the list even though I wasn’t crazy about their pizza. However, a huge plus for them is their weekday lunchtime “pizza-by-the-slice” deal. I wish there were more “by the slice” options around here!
6. Little Ceasar’s- The little pizza that could! Their signature $5 Hot N’ Ready pepperoni and cheese pizzas are great, cheap party food. Easy to eat and easy to forget, especially when drinking heavily. This is pizza you eat for sustenance, not for substance. However, dive deeper into their menu to find their deep dish and you’ll forget you’re still eating Little Ceasar’s. Maybe. “You get what you pay for” is essentially the motto to remember here and everything is incredibly cheap. It’s far better than it deserves to be and it’s easily the best value on this list. It will never be a fine dining experience, but there’s certainly a time and place for cheap pizza. Little Ceasar’s scratches that particular itch nicely with any of their pizzas. Their Italian Bread is crazy good, but their signature Crazy Bread is crazy not good. It’s often far doughier these days than it used to be. However, be sure to grab some of their Cheezy Jalapeno sauce. You won’t regret it. DISCLAIMER: They do run afoul of the health inspectors rather regularly so time your visit wisely.
5. Papa John’s- My favorite corporate delivery option. The deals are plentiful, the sides are great, and the prices are the best value for the quality. The pepperoni and mushroom is my go-to, but their specialty pizzas are creative and delicious. The garlic butter alone puts them far ahead of the other options, but the garlic knots are something special too. Unfortunately the real “Papa” John is a schmuck. But I don’t always eat “woke”. My stomach wants what it wants even if it’s not morally ethically all the time (suck it, libs). Also, the reheat-ability of this pizza is very high. Did I mention the garlic butter?
4. Johnny’s New York Style Pizza- I really have to be in the mood for Johnny’s, BUT, when I am, they are amazing. Their sides and appetizers are disappointing, but the pizza is delicious. It errs on the side of greasy sometimes, but I like a greasy pizza more often than not. I love their lunch “slice” deals, but it’s their extensive menu that puts them high on this list. The dine-in atmosphere is comfortable enough to bring a family or enjoy the sports games- if you’re into that sort of thing (which I often am).
3. Newk’s- Surprise! They have a pizza option that is incredibly good! Individually sized and moderately priced, it’s a great lunch option. They do third-party delivery so you don’t even have to leave the house, but if you do, their Ashley Park location is easily accessible and great to eat at. Their menu is also fairly extensive as pizza is not their primary entrée. They have a large selection of sandwiches and salads among other things. But I exclusively order their pizza. Pro Tip: If you dine-in, they have roasted garlic at their condiment bar and it’s a great addition to the pizza. Is it bougie? Sure. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Judge me all you want.
2. Fabiano’s/The Alamo- The pizza here is delicious. Like Johnny’s it’s a little on the greasy side, but it adds to the flavor. Unlike a lot of “local” places, they don’t seem to source from the same supplier on their toppings. I could be wrong, but it doesn’t taste that way. The crust is the perfect amount of crispy and doughy and the sauce and cheese are amazingly on point. Outside of pizza, their wings are among the best in town, and their garlic knots are a must-try (especially with cheese. The Alamo and Fabiano’s share a kitchen so whether you’re dining with the family or attending one of the many events The Alamo hosts, your food needs are equally covered.
1. Positano Pizza Napoletana (or Positano’s)- This fancy-named place begs for me to call it pretentious, especially in good ol’ Newnan, Gee-or-JUH, but one bite from their pizza made in their “wood-fired, volcanic stone ovens” (fancy!) justifies all the pretense. Yes, it’s expensive, but the quality makes up for it. The dining situation is unique, as they offer community-style dining. There are no private booths, but long tables that you may end up sharing with strangers. They also don’t offer traditional fountain soft drinks. It can be a bit of a culture shock if you’re not expecting it beforehand. However, the pizza itself is heavenly. Fresh toppings. Fresh dough. You can even see the pizzas being made, so that’s always fun.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Partners II Pizza- I consider Summergrove as an annexation of Peachtree City so I don’t include Partners on this list as I’m focusing on the more blue-collar availability of these other places. However, it’s been delicious the few times I’ve had it and I only hear great things about it. So… if you find yourself in Snobville, check out Partners.
Lepoma’s- I regretfully have never been here, but it’s high on my bucket list. I’ve heard nothing but positive things about this pizza and I look forward to trying it. I also consider this to be located more in Sharpsburg than in Newnan as it’s farther east than Thomas Crossroads.
Matt’s Small Town Pizza- Probably my FAVORITE pizza place that’s within a comfortable driving distance for dinner. Located in Senoia it’s outside the Newnan criteria, but I had to mention it.
In Memorium: Uncle Maddio’s Pizza- R.I.P. This franchise only lasted a few years in Newnan, but their Subway-style of creating your own individual pizzas was delicious and is sorely missed. It was my favorite lunch spot and I’m still in mourning.
Newnan Time with Harold 