In the Ohio Valley, the cheese goes on after the pizza comes out of the oven, and nobody around Steubenville thinks that is strange at all. The crust bakes thin and crispy with sauce on top, then gets a generous handful of shredded cheese and cold toppings right before it lands in your hands, usually cut into neat squares and sold by the slice or by the tray.
Some people call it Ohio Valley style and others call it Steubenville style, but either way it is one of the most talked-about regional pizzas in the state. The six shops below range from the downtown Steubenville counter tied to the style’s roots to a Columbus outpost that stays open late on weekends, so save this list for your next pizza run and share it with the friend who still thinks cheese has to be melted.
1. DiCarlo’s Pizza – Downtown Steubenville, Steubenville, OH
Plenty of Ohio Valley families will tell you the cold-cheese story starts on Adams Street, and that is a fair place to begin this list. DiCarlo’s has been tied to the style for generations, working from a recipe that dates back to 1945, and the family is now on its third generation running the business.
The downtown shop at 318 Adams St keeps things simple. You order at the counter, grab square slices or a full tray, and head out, since there is no table service, no restroom, and no reservations.
What you get is the textbook version of the pie. The crust is thin and crunchy, the sauce is bright, and the cheese is mellow but still full of flavor because it goes on after the bake.
Toppings are added the same way, so pepperoni stays cool and snappy on top.
Fans of white pizza should know it has its own following here. Subs are on the menu too, though the squares are the main reason people line up.
Prices stay in the budget range, usually under $10 per person, which makes it easy to order a few extra slices or a sheet to take home. The store was remodeled in 2023, so the space itself is freshly updated even if the recipe is not.
Plan your timing carefully. The shop is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 7:30 PM and Saturday from 2 to 7:30 PM, and it is closed Sunday and Monday.
2. DiCarlo’s Pizza – Columbus, Columbus, OH
Late-night pizza in Columbus usually means a greasy fold-over slice, so a 2:30 AM order of crispy squares topped with cold cheese catches a lot of people off guard. That is exactly what this DiCarlo’s location offers Thursday through Saturday.
The shop sits at 15 E 2nd Ave, just off High Street, and it brings the same 1945 Ohio Valley recipe to central Ohio. For transplants from the Wheeling and Steubenville area, it is a direct line back home.
For everyone else, a quick explainer helps. The crust and sauce bake together, then the cheese and toppings go on afterward, so the cheese stays semi-melted and the base keeps its crunch.
Eating it right away, fresh from the oven, gives you the best contrast.
Service is at the counter, and while there is some seating and an outdoor area, a lot of orders go out as carryout or delivery. That makes it a handy pick for game nights or a pizza drop at the office.
Parking is the one thing to plan around. Street spots, free and paid, can be hard to find, so walking over or ordering delivery can save some circling.
Hours run 12:30 to 8:30 PM Sunday through Wednesday, then stretch to 2:30 AM from Thursday to Saturday.
3. DiCarlo’s Pizza – St Clairsville, St Clairsville, OH
Road trippers on Interstate 70 have an easy excuse to detour into downtown St. Clairsville, and it comes in a pizza box. This DiCarlo’s sits at 117 W Main St, in a small, walkable downtown that is pleasant for a stroll before or after you eat.
Cold cheese is the whole point here, and the shop does not hold back on it. Slices come piled with mounds of mozzarella over a crispy crust and a thick sauce with a slight hint of vinegar, which gives it a tangy edge that sets it apart.
The menu goes a little wider than the downtown Steubenville counter. Italian subs, salads, and calzones share the spotlight, and a sausage slice is a solid pick if you want something beyond pepperoni.
Unlike some shops on this list, you can actually sit down. Dine-in is available along with takeout and delivery, the space is casual and quiet, and it works well for kids or a solo lunch.
Parking is simple, with a free lot and free street spaces usually open. Friday evening is the busiest stretch, so a weekday visit tends to move faster.
Hours are 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 2 to 9 PM on Sunday.
4. Ray’s Pizza, Wintersville, OH
Stingy toppings are not a problem at Ray’s. The Cheese and Pepperoni pie is the star, and it arrives with a big handful of cold cheese and a pepperoni layer that covers the slice instead of dotting it.
Wintersville sits right next to Steubenville, so this shop at 754 Main St is working in the heart of cold-cheese country. It holds its own by leaning on the sauce.
That sauce is robust and hearty, with a light kick that gives the pizza more personality than a plain tomato base. Underneath, the crust bakes up golden, brown, and consistently crispy, which is exactly what you want when the toppings go on cold.
I would save this one for dinner, since Ray’s opens at 4 PM and runs until 9 PM every day of the week. Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings are the busiest, so calling ahead on those nights is smart.
Delivery, takeout, and dine-in are all on the table. Prices stay in the $1 to $10 per person range, and a free lot plus street parking keeps pickup quick.
Families will find it easygoing and kid-friendly. Just note there is no restroom on site.
5. Paul’s Pizza, Toronto, OH
Here is a small trick of the style that Paul’s has turned into a feature: the cheese goes on cold, and the heat from the fresh crust starts softening it right there in the box. By the time you get home, the top is somewhere between cool and gooey.
Paul’s sits at 224 N 4th St in Toronto, the Ohio River town just north of Steubenville that many locals call T-Town. The shop serves square-cut pizza with cold toppings, and the crust lands somewhere between pan style and thin, with a chewy middle and a crispy bottom.
Calzones are a big deal here, and people get creative with them. Mushrooms, sausage, black olives, banana peppers, and extra cheese all show up on the build-your-own options.
Hoagies and salads round out the menu.
Regulars tend to order several times a month, and the reasonable prices make that easy to do. Leftovers reheat well in a home oven, which is good news if you over-order.
Watch the split schedule. Weekday lunch runs from 11 AM to 1 PM, then the shop reopens from 4 to 9 PM, while Saturday and Sunday are evenings only from 4 to 9 PM.
Dine-in and takeout are available, with free lot and street parking, but there is no restroom.
6. Bruno’s Pizza, Steubenville, OH
Homemade ragu is the detail that makes Bruno’s stand out from the rest of the Steubenville squares. Instead of a basic pizza sauce, the crust gets a richer homemade ragu before it goes into the oven.
After the bake, fresh cheese goes on top, which keeps the thick crust crispy and the cheese cool. Anyone new to the style should know that is the plan, not a mistake.
If you prefer a little more cheese, ordering extra is a popular move.
You can buy by the slice or by the tray, and there is a vegetarian White Pizza for anyone skipping the red sauce. Calzones, including a Philly steak version, and a steak salad are also on the menu.
Bruno’s is set up for takeout and delivery only, with no dining room or restroom. The shop is at 2605 Sunset Blvd, with a free lot and street parking that is usually easy to find.
The owner and staff keep the counter friendly, and prices stay in the $1 to $10 per person range, which helps explain the college crowd.
Hours run 10 AM to 1 PM and 3 to 9 PM Monday through Thursday, with Friday evenings stretching to 10 PM. Saturday is 3 to 10 PM, and Sunday is noon to 8 PM.
Six shops, one stubborn tradition of cold cheese on a hot crust. Start with the classic squares downtown, then work your way around the valley and pick your own favorite.
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