In the mood for local pizza but not sure where to go? West Lafayette and Lafayette have a plethora of great pizza places, each with its own specialty and dining room atmosphere. Purdue University Student, Katherine Roth, shares a few of her favorites!
Bruno’s Pizza and Big O’s Sports Room
At the bottom of the hill leading up to campus is the small family owned and operated restaurant and pizzeria. Bruno’s Pizza is a campus favorite that opened in 1955, and is best known for its Bruno Dough and hand-tossed pizza. Bruno Dough is their famous pizza dough that is deep-fried, brushed with garlic butter, sprinkled with Parmesan and served with your choice of dipping sauce. Not in the mood for pizza? The menu also features Swiss, German and Italian dishes, as well as a variety of salads and sandwiches with gluten-free options available. There’s something for everyone on the menu.
Bruno's has 3 dining rooms including the Bar, the Swiss Room and Big O's Sports Room. The sports room is covered in old and new Purdue memorabilia, allowing patrons to not only get a good meal but a visual tour of Purdue’s history. There is plenty of room to sit and enjoy a meal with friends and family. When Bruno’s Pizza opened in 1955, it was the only pizzeria in West Lafayette
When we went to the restaurant we ordered a large Bruno’s Meat, covered in sausage, ham, pepperoni, and bacon. There was enough pizza to go around for our group, and with an order of Bruno Dough, no one left hungry!
Professor Joe’s Sports Pub and Pizzeria
In the heart of Lafayette, against the surrounding buildings, Professor Joe’s bright red exterior stands out. If specialty pizza, sandwiches and beer served in a cozy eatery with balcony seating and sports on TV is what you are looking for, then try this pizzeria.
When the restaurant opened in 2013 it was a 21+ bar, but was recently renovated to accommodate all ages. While eating you can enjoy a round or two of pub darts, live trivia, music, and sports on 12 TV’s — a sports fan’s dream location. Professor Joe’s was built on the belief that pizza should be special, and it is something that shows in every pizza they make.
Dining in the interior is cozy with wood booths and tables lining the walls, giving the option for larger groups to put together tables. With plenty of specialty pizzas to choose from, everyone can find something they want on the menu, with gluten-free options available as well.
When we went to Professor Joe’s, our table ordered the “Hoosier,” their take on the all meat pizza. The pizza itself is covered in pepperoni, ham, salami, sausage, ground beef, bacon and extra cheese. The salami and ground beef were two toppings I hadn’t seen on a pizza before and I was intrigued. It turned out to be one of the best pizzas I have ever had.
Midtowne OvenMidtowne Oven offers fresh and inspired flavors centered around Greater Lafayette’s only real wood-fired oven. The restaurant has large windows, perfect to watch the sunset, or to people watch while you eat. Midtowne Oven also offers many vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
The night we went to Midtowne we decided to go with a different style of pizza, the Margherita pizza. With hand squeezed tomatoes and fresh mozzarella on top, and then finished with fresh chiffonade basil and garlic oil drizzle, this pizza was amazing. The wood oven adds a nice smoky taste to the crust and you could taste the freshness of the ingredients. The fresh ingredients are something that Midtowne prides itself in, and it shows.
All in all, each pizzeria had it’s own special qualities, and are excellent places to eat while visiting West Lafayette and Lafayette. For more local eateries check out HomeOfPurdue.com.
At the bottom of the hill leading up to campus is the small family owned and operated restaurant and pizzeria. Bruno’s Pizza is a campus favorite that opened in 1955, and is best known for its Bruno Dough and hand-tossed pizza. Bruno Dough is their famous pizza dough that is deep-fried, brushed with garlic butter, sprinkled with Parmesan and served with your choice of dipping sauce. Not in the mood for pizza? The menu also features Swiss, German and Italian dishes, as well as a variety of salads and sandwiches with gluten-free options available. There’s something for everyone on the menu.
Bruno's has 3 dining rooms including the Bar, the Swiss Room and Big O's Sports Room. The sports room is covered in old and new Purdue memorabilia, allowing patrons to not only get a good meal but a visual tour of Purdue’s history. There is plenty of room to sit and enjoy a meal with friends and family. When Bruno’s Pizza opened in 1955, it was the only pizzeria in West Lafayette
When we went to the restaurant we ordered a large Bruno’s Meat, covered in sausage, ham, pepperoni, and bacon. There was enough pizza to go around for our group, and with an order of Bruno Dough, no one left hungry!
Professor Joe’s Sports Pub and Pizzeria
In the heart of Lafayette, against the surrounding buildings, Professor Joe’s bright red exterior stands out. If specialty pizza, sandwiches and beer served in a cozy eatery with balcony seating and sports on TV is what you are looking for, then try this pizzeria.
When the restaurant opened in 2013 it was a 21+ bar, but was recently renovated to accommodate all ages. While eating you can enjoy a round or two of pub darts, live trivia, music, and sports on 12 TV’s — a sports fan’s dream location. Professor Joe’s was built on the belief that pizza should be special, and it is something that shows in every pizza they make.
Dining in the interior is cozy with wood booths and tables lining the walls, giving the option for larger groups to put together tables. With plenty of specialty pizzas to choose from, everyone can find something they want on the menu, with gluten-free options available as well.
When we went to Professor Joe’s, our table ordered the “Hoosier,” their take on the all meat pizza. The pizza itself is covered in pepperoni, ham, salami, sausage, ground beef, bacon and extra cheese. The salami and ground beef were two toppings I hadn’t seen on a pizza before and I was intrigued. It turned out to be one of the best pizzas I have ever had.
Midtowne Oven
Midtowne Oven offers fresh and inspired flavors centered around Greater Lafayette’s only real wood-fired oven. The restaurant has large windows, perfect to watch the sunset, or to people watch while you eat. Midtowne Oven also offers many vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
The night we went to Midtowne we decided to go with a different style of pizza, the Margherita pizza. With hand squeezed tomatoes and fresh mozzarella on top, and then finished with fresh chiffonade basil and garlic oil drizzle, this pizza was amazing. The wood oven adds a nice smoky taste to the crust and you could taste the freshness of the ingredients. The fresh ingredients are something that Midtowne prides itself in, and it shows.
All in all, each pizzeria had it’s own special qualities, and are excellent places to eat while visiting West Lafayette and Lafayette. For more local eateries check out HomeOfPurdue.com.
