Some pizza is built to fold, and some is built to snap. Bar pie belongs to the second group, with a crust so thin you can hear it when you bite in.
The style grew up in Northeast and Midwest taverns, where a 10- or 12-inch pie came out on a metal pan and got cut for sharing. Florida has quietly picked up the habit, thanks to transplants from Connecticut, New Jersey, Boston, and Chicago who missed the pizza they grew up on.
The seven spots below range from a downtown Orlando tavern to a pizza counter inside an American Legion post in Hollywood. Some serve almost nothing but bar pie, while others add Italian beef or stuffed quahogs to the mix.
If you like a crust that stays crisp all the way to the center, this list is for you. Save it for your next road trip or game day.
1. Nuri’s Pizza Tavern, Orlando, FL
Downtown Orlando has no shortage of late-night food, but very few spots build a whole identity around a crust this thin. Nuri’s Pizza Tavern sits at 63 E Pine St, a short walk from the heart of the city’s nightlife blocks.
The pies here are tavern-style, which means an ultra-thin, crunchy base with cheese and sauce layered right on top. The result is crisp without being greasy, and it holds up whether you are eating solo at lunch or splitting a few pies with friends.
Wings round out the menu, and there is a full vegetarian menu for anyone skipping meat. A private dining room makes it a handy pick for groups, birthdays, or office outings.
Hours run late, with the kitchen open until 11 PM most weeknights and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons tend to fill up.
Parking can be tricky downtown, so plan on a paid lot or a bit of circling for street spots. Delivery and takeout are also available if you would rather enjoy that crunch from your couch.
2. Colony Grill – Tampa Midtown, Tampa, FL
Hot oil is the calling card here, and it changes everything about a thin pizza. Colony Grill brought its Connecticut-style bar pie to Tampa’s Midtown development, and the menu stays almost entirely focused on that one style.
The pies are very thin, with a signature hot oil topping and add-ons like stingers, which are hot cherry peppers. Pizza fans who grew up with South Shore or Connecticut bar pizza tend to recognize it right away.
The room is built for watching games, with TVs, a bar, and outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. High chairs are on hand, so it works for a family dinner as easily as a night out.
Expect to spend roughly $10 to $20 per person. Reservations are accepted, which is a smart move on Friday afternoons and evenings when things get busiest.
Parking is usually easy thanks to the free lot and street options in Midtown. Late hours on Friday and Saturday, until 12:30 AM, make it a solid after-movie stop too.
3. Colony Grill – St Petersburg, St. Petersburg, FL
Central Avenue is one of the busiest strolling streets in St. Pete, and Colony Grill’s location at 670 Central Ave fits right into that walkable downtown stretch.
All they do is pizza. The menu sticks to thin, crispy 12-inch bar pies, and ordering yours with extra sauce is a popular move.
The space reads like a clean local hangout bar, with TVs for game days and a lineup of draft beers and cocktails. One standout for pet owners: dogs are allowed both inside and outside.
The Signature Salad Pizza is a vegetarian option worth knowing about, and the full vegan and vegetarian menus give everyone at the table something to order.
Saturday evenings draw the biggest crowds, so a reservation helps. Parking downtown can take some patience, so give yourself a few extra minutes before your table time.
4. Mad pizza, Hollywood, FL
Few people expect to find one of South Florida’s best thin crusts inside an American Legion post. Mad Pizza operates from 211 N 21st Ave in Hollywood, and the bar setting makes it easy to grab a stool and chat with neighbors.
The style is Chicago tavern, and it shows. The crust is cracker-thin and crisp, cut into small squares, with a tangy sauce and toppings that reach right to the edge.
Even with all that crunch, the center keeps a slight chew, which gives each square a nice balance. It is the kind of pie you can keep reaching for without feeling weighed down.
Families get plenty of support here, including a kids’ menu, high chairs, and changing tables. Full vegan and vegetarian menus are available, and live music shows up on the calendar too.
Timing matters. Weekdays open at 4 PM, while weekends start at 11 AM, and the kitchen closes at 9:50 PM daily.
Curbside pickup is offered if you want takeout without the wait.
5. Windy City Pizza, Delray Beach, FL
Hand-rolled sausage is a small detail that says a lot about a pizza kitchen. At Windy City Pizza on W Atlantic Ave in Delray Beach, it lands on a thin, crispy Chicago-style crust with generous cheese and a tangy sauce.
Even diners who usually lean toward thicker dough find the tavern-style pie hard to resist. The Papa Pepperoni Pizza is a menu highlight for anyone who wants a classic.
The menu stretches beyond pizza with wings, Italian beef, and mozzarella sticks. That makes it a strong choice when not everyone in the group is set on a pie.
This is a small, family-run spot with a cozy room, outdoor seating, and TVs for sports. Prices stay around $10 to $20 per person.
Plan around the schedule, since it is closed on Mondays. Tuesday through Sunday it runs 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, and parking is generally easy to find.
6. Paul’s Chicago Pizza, Clearwater, FL
Illinois transplants searching Pinellas County for a true tavern pie can stop looking at 1500 North McMullen Booth Rd. Paul’s Chicago Pizza serves authentic Chicago tavern-style pizza with a crispy, thin base and a blend of cheeses.
Toppings go on generously, and the Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a popular change of pace from the usual sausage.
What sets Paul’s apart is choice. Alongside the thin crust, the kitchen turns out stuffed pies, including a Stuffed Meat Pizza, plus Italian beef sandwiches for a full Chicago lineup.
The room has a laid-back, sporty feel with a bar and TVs. Counter service keeps things quick, and a kids’ menu makes it easy for families.
Reservations are not accepted, so arrive early on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evenings. It is closed Mondays and opens at 3 PM on Sundays, with a free lot for parking.
7. Blue Heron Pizza Pub, Port Charlotte, FL
A taste of New England is waiting on the Tamiami Trail. Blue Heron Pizza Pub in Port Charlotte is a casual sports pub that builds its menu around signature bar pizza.
These pies follow the Northeastern tradition. They are pan-baked and wafer-thin, with crunchy edges that give the style its name recognition among Boston-area transplants.
The seafood side of the menu adds a coastal twist, with stuffed quahogs among the highlights. That pairing of bar pie and New England seafood makes Blue Heron a different stop from the other spots on this list.
Food is served at the bar, and the pub is set up for game days. Friday evenings are the busiest stretch, so a reservation is a good idea.
Hours run 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and until 8 PM on Sunday. Free parking makes it an easy pull-off for a Southwest Florida road trip.
From Orlando to Port Charlotte, these seven taverns prove Florida takes thin crust seriously. Pick the style that matches your roots, and see which crunch wins you over.
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