Louisville's History of Pizza

Who served the 1st pizza in Louisville? Who had the best in early years?

Share some memories or a time line of the best in the past.

Thanks.

My first Louisville pizza memory is Pasquale's on Bardstown Rd, probably 1965? Red checkered tablecloths, wine bottles with candles stuck in them. I thought it was soooo cool...

Jody's Pizza in Hikes Point mid-60s - my memories don't go back any farther. Great toasty thin crust with really fresh tasting cheese. The sauce was on the spicy side as was the ground sausage. We'd get carry out or eat in on occasion. It was directly across the street from the original McDonalds on Hunsinger Lane.

I'm sure my memory has romanticized that pizza over the years and that if I tasted it today I'd be critical; however, it was like nirvana to a 6 year old boy.

For my family in the late fifties THE place for pizza was Calandrino's on Bardstown Road ( It may have been in what is now Za's, or it may have been next to or near Leatherhead). There was a flaming oven and a guy spinning the dough in the window. In those days (I was in my early teens) I could eat a large with sausage, onion, green pepper and mushrooms (my standard order). Nowadays, I couldn't do that!

[Robin Garr]

Who served the 1st pizza in Louisville? Who had the best in early years?

Share some memories or a time line of the best in the past.

Calandrino's on Bardstown Road was the first pizza we ever had, and I must have been about 5. My mother introduced it to us as "a new kind of food called peet-za pie." Highland Italian (which gave way to Lentini's) and Mario's in St. Matthews were also early entries.

[Robin Garr]

For my family in the late fifties THE place for pizza was Calandrino's on Bardstown Road ( It may have been in what is now Za's, or it may have been next to or near Leatherhead).

My first pizza memory too, Ken. To be honest, I wasn't big enough to be fully conscious of where it was, but it was somewhere up the street (toward Bonnycastle) from my grandmother's house, the big yellow-brick house at Bardstown and Ivanhoe Court/Speed.

Late 60's, early 70's there was a place in Middletown Plaza named O'Leary's Pub & Pizza. A great thin pie, crisp crust with the stolen sip of Dad's Falls City to make it even more fun. My Dad and Jack O'Leary were pals and he would regale us with tales of his vacations. Every vacation Jack would go and be an extra on films. He worked his way up and managed to be credited in 47 films and T.V. shows. His most famous role (to me) was as the fat man in Silver Streak that they were always trying to get by in the train corridor. He was famous to me for his great pizza and stories.

The owner of Highland Italian claimed to be the first to serve pizza in Louisville. He was stationed in Italy during WW11 and opened the place after he got out of the service.

I remember Marios' on Huntsinger. It was between the original McDonald's and the Troubador. (No where near the old Sears building). Had to be there in 1961 or 1962. Very thin pizza with finely ground, chopped toppings. Pizza has come a long way in 50 years.

[Robin Garr]

I remember Marios' on Huntsinger. It was between the original McDonald's and the Troubador. (No where near the old Sears building). Had to be there in 1961 or 1962. Very thin pizza with finely ground, chopped toppings. Pizza has come a long way in 50 years.

I THINK there was a Mario's in St. Matthews too, which would have been pretty close to the old Sears building, which at that time would have been the NEW Sears building.

which at that time would have been the NEW Sears building.

My first Louisville pizza memory is Pasquale's on Bardstown Rd, probably 1965? Red checkered tablecloths, wine bottles with candles stuck in them. I thought it was soooo cool...

Definitely Paquale's...we drove in from J-town which in the early '60s was expected since all restaurants with the exception of the Ranch House required some extended drive time to reach from J-town.

Being a child of the '80s, all I remember is Pizza Hut and Gatti's .

Couldn't even tell you, for sure, when I first had "local" pizza. Prob was the place off of Taylorsville and Richland, in Hikes Point. Was that "The Louisville Pizza Company?" Remember going their numerous times in high school, but can't remember the name.

We NEVER had pizza in our home. But, circa 1968, I was working at the A&W Root Beer stand. The owner bought a counter-top pizza oven and I had to learn how to make them. Pre-made crusts, sauce out of a can, grated cheese out of a container. I know they were still "exotic" in my little hometown at that time.

Not that long ago, but Louisville pizza history to me definitely included the BLT pizza that was served by Pasta Pizazz circa early 90's.......currently occupied by La Bamba's. That was one delicious pie!