On Pizzabout to Woodward and Fair-Weather Friend
Slices of Detroit, New York City, and Naples emerge on the path to pie-topia
If it’s the 14th of April it must mean it’s time for another installment of Pizzabout. We are two months into finding out where the best pizza in the 405 diningscape lives with pizza’s No. 1 groupie, Rob Crissinger. Our April dispatch reports from Edmond and downtown Oklahoma City with starkly contrasting styles.
My quest to find love in pizza coincides with Rob’s quest to find a human connection as profound as the one he has with pizza. So far, so good. I’ve been working on my flatbread game at home to gain the reps and knowledge needed to arrive at my own pizza dough.
Rob, on the other hand, reported he’s going strong with his monthly fitness challenges (he deftly avoided talking about dating) and is feeling great. He actually ordered a salad with the pizza at our most recent pizzabout visit; if you know Rob, you know that’s a big deal for a guy known for saying “salad is for suckas.”
For this check-in, we stopped in Edmond’s Ice House development for Woodward Pizza, which specializes in Detroit-style pies. Then it was off to Fair-Weather Friend Scratch Pizza and Brewery for a handmade pie that leans more toward Gotham by way of Naples.
A reminder, Rob and I will be giving reports the 14th of each month to build a comprehensive pizza ranking for the 405 diningscape, and who knows, perhaps all of Oklahoma.
Woodward Pizza, Edmond
Dave’s thoughts: Came for the Detroit-style pies, stayed for the Flaming Saganaki! Seriously, you don’t know how delicious a pizza can be until you’ve almost had your face melted off because the appetizer was an actual fireball. Woodward arrived a couple years ago when the Detroit-style pie trend was as hot as the Saganaki they serve. When I first had Detroit-style pizza, I decided it was my new favorite. That opinion has changed, and now the Chicago-style tavern-cut pies have my tiny pizza heart. That said, among Detroit pies in the 405 diningscape, Woodward serves the one I come back for these days.
Rob and I tried the Detroiter Pepperoni and a pie of the month called The Dublin, which has mozzarella, basil pesto and a spicy vodka sauce. On a previous trip, I tried the Buffalo Chicken (chicken, mozzarella, red onion, ranch and Buffalo sauce).
The Saganaki was a true ace in the whole for Woodward, worthy of a trip to along with smoked wings and beer on its own.
The crust was just what I’m looking for in a Detroit pie, crunchy edges and pillowing centers. I actually like The Dublin Pie the most, followed closely by the pepperoni. The Buffalo Pie was a nice contrast, but next time I’ll more likely try the Pickle Bacon Ranch if I’m looking for a change-up.
Besides killer Saganaki, Woodward offers the aforementioned smoked wings and meatballs for before the pie arrives. Pies that can be ordered vegan. After-pie options include cinnamon sticks and cannoli.
Dave’s Score: 8.24
Rob’s Thoughts: Woodward is amazing pizza, in my favorite Detroit style, and shares a shade-kissed courtyard patio with American Solera, my favorite Oklahoma brewery. The Dublin pizza with vodka sauce and pesto absolutely needs to be on the menu all the time. It was better than the pepperoni pizza (that always amazes me) and the fiery melty cheesy appetizer is an experience that feels borderline dangerous for your eyebrows and so delicious.
The crust is light and airy and not too bready, with a perfect crispy-crunch to the edges. The sauce is tangy and bright, the cheese and toppings are super fresh and good quality. Yes to this pizza, it might be my favorite in Oklahoma right now (there’s a close competitor for my current top spot I won’t mention today).
Another thing I like about Woodward is the consistency. I’ve been a handful of times now and it has been exactly the same near perfect experience every time. Amazing for a newish, non-chain establishment. Cheers to the owners for this gift to Edmond and pizza lovers everywhere.
Rob’s Score: 9.40
Composite Score: 8.82
Fair-Weather Friend, downtown
Dave’s Thoughts: Adrienne and Reed Jaskula’s taproom makes plenty of room for quality pie. Yes, this is a microbrewery pushing Reed’s barley-and-hops expressions but the wood-fired oven is real and so are the brawny hybrid pies it spits out. I say hybrid because the pies arrive about the size of a New York pie, but the dough has Neapolitan tendencies.
Amenities are few, but those few crackle with quality starting with the space. Whether you sit inside or out, FWF is a welcoming, comfortable space ideal for groups of any size. Then comes the beer. Jaskula creates lagers, IPA's, fruited sours, barrel-aged stouts, but mostly follows his creative instincts. The lager I had was smooth and sigh-inspiring, but the most delicious thing I drank in was Rob’s reaction to this pizza-and-beer paradise.
Not only was this Rob’s dream setting, the pie delivered. The hot honey pepperoni was a revelation. We also had a white pie with garlic cream sauce, Canadian bacon and dill. Not usually a big white pie guy, but this was good.
FWF pies rely heavily on the distinctive handmade crusts. They’re sized like New York but the texture doesn’t completely align. Rather than a crunchy contrast from the bottom, this crust bites more like flatbread. Plentiful char offers a different kind of crunch that’s no less enjoyable.
FWF offers Cacio e Pepe bread and wood-fired wings pre-pie and Cannoli post-pie.
Dave’s Score: 8.05
Rob’s Thoughts: I’ve wanted to try FWF since it opened because everyone’s photos on Instagram looked so amazing, and it didn’t disappoint! I loved it. This place is pretty no-nonsense, but still feels laid back and homie with the ivy hanging everywhere and the big front yard picnic tables.
I got a Pizza Pilsner, because of its name I was powerless against its dance of seduction. Crisp and light, and the perfect pairing for the pizzas we ordered, which were satisfyingly greasy…in a very good way.
The white pie with dill was nice, but the pepperoni pizza was money, a decadent pizza with the charred bubbles on the crust the way I like it. I’d like to do a head-to-head throwdown with this place, Saucee Sicilian and Pizzeria Gusto; That would be a battle royale and I’d buy tickets.
I need to go back on a concert night at Beer City Music Hall and see if their consistency holds up on a busy night. I feel it’s my duty to you, dear readers, to find out… and let me know what you think (IG: @rcrissinger).
Rob’s Score: 8.30
Composite Score: 8.18
That is one handsome shirt Handsome Rob is sporting.