Gold Tooth Tony’s is turning out some excellent Detroit-style pizza without forgetting to have a little fun. The compact, counter-service joint is dishing out heavy-hitter pies. Each slice, made of fluffy, buttered dough smothered in glistening cheese with edges crisper than a fresh line-up, could easily be a meal on their own. There are classic options like cheese and margherita, but we like the more over-the-top varieties, like “The Griz,” which is more like a buffalo-chicken-bacon explosion.

It’s a bummer that Ostia only serves its excellent Neapolitan pies for lunch and Sunday brunch, but at least the pizza is a great excuse to sneak away from the office or change out of work-from-home pajamas. The soft, slightly charred crust with speck pepperoni or confit garlic and taleggio is what pizza dreams are made of. Why Ostia decides we only deserve this for lunch we’ll never understand, but there is something to be said about getting to have a slice on the sun-drenched patio.

Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana II in Montrose makes Neapolitan, Detroit, and New York-style pizza with imported Italian ingredients. So it’s best used as a takeout powerhouse for your at-home pizza needs. All of the pizza here is good, but the Neapolitan pizza is excellent. Baked for under two minutes in Pizaro’s giant wood-burning ovens, the pies are bubbly, soft, and slightly chewy. Grab a classic margherita red pie or an arugula white pie (add prosciutto).

This EaDo spot keeps the pizza simple and a little snazzy—it’s like the restaurant threw a blazer over a graphic tee before heading out of the door. The compact dining room is full of mismatch chandeliers fit for a sophisticated fairy dinner party with dainty slices of pizza. Thin slices of ricotta pizza are topped with delightfully charred kale greens and a crispy crust that is just soft enough for the slice to fold over with ease.

Romano’s Pizza near the edge of Montrose and River Oaks resembles the set of a sitcom. No one would bat an eye if a teenager got drenched with an orange soda and then a laugh track piped in through the speakers. Romano’s does pizza New York-style, which feels obvious alongside the classic pizza parlor aesthetic: semi-homespun framed prints of tomatoes, faux-brick facades, scrappy laminate tables. The pizza hits the exact right spot when you want a greasy, no-fuss pie.

Cobbled together from equal parts pizza parlor nostalgia and arcade games, Nonno’s Family Pizza Tavern in Montrose, serves thin crust, or “tavern style” pies, and a fun menu of other Italian-American comfort foods. Try extra stretchy hand-breaded mozzarella sticks, pies like the Wise Guy piled high with giardiniera, or a Maui Wowie with pineapple and spam. We like to throw on a frozen drink or a couple shots of Malört to round out a meal, and a couple rounds of pinball.

While Coastline Artisan Pizzeria may not be actually coastal—no beachfront properties yet exist in the First Ward as far as we know—it does make excellent Neapolitan-style and grilled flatbread pizzas. The corner spot boasts a full bar, a giant wood-fired oven, and excellent hand-tossed pizzas as simple as margherita to more elaborate ones with barbecue brisket. Walk in here solo and chat up the bartenders, or split a soft, pillowy, slightly tangy Napoletana pizza with a date.

Deep dish is the overlord at Star Pizza in Montrose. And whether you order a 10, 12, or 14-inch pie, the hefty silver pan that arrives at your table somehow always looks bigger than you expected. The crust is golden, extra thick, and supports a mini-bathtub’s worth of red sauce. Freestyle the toppings with a laundry list of ingredients ranging from gorgonzola cheese to roasted poblano peppers. Or let Star do the hard work for you and get one of the specialty pizzas.

Enoteca Rossa in Bellaire feels equal parts romantic and casual, as though it’s the only Italian spot in a small town. The place also serves pretty good hand-tossed al forno-style pizza. Comfortable for any and every occasion, Enoteca Rossa is great for a first date, celebrating an anniversary, or meeting co-workers for a quick bite. We like the funghi with charred mushrooms and earthy truffle cream. Always add extra arugula.

Rosie Cannonball is an Italian-ish place where you go with friends to primarily feel bougie and drink wine and cocktails. The restaurant also has pretty great pizza, like the cacio e pepe pie. A fantastic crispy crust supports a blend of nutty pecorino, fresh black pepper, and creamy sauce—something to order over and over again. Have a pizza or two with a couple bottles of lambrusco in Rosie’s amber-hued dining room, where everything look absolutely stunning.