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In an effort to better serve you, the ever-dedicated Fayetteville Flyer patrons, we’ve started a new column, “Fayetteville’s Bestest.” By using the powerful combination of opinion and mathematics, “Fayetteville’s Bestest” will fill you in on what’s awesome in the Fayetteville area. Our entire writing staff is given a subject (best place in F-Ville for sushi, to get your car repaired or to buy books. Anything) and then told to pick their top three favorites. The subsequent list of favorites is then compiled into one “super list,” stamped by a public notary, baptized, wined and dined and then presented to you, our faithful readers.
Right now I image you’re asking yourself, “Jeff (ignore that part if your name is not Jeff), what could possibly inspire such an audacious undertaking?” Well, Jeff, I’ll tell you: Pizza.
That’s right, Pizza. In our ongoing quest to deliver only the highest-quality content, we’re going to let you know just where you can nosh on the best pizza Fayetteville has to deliver. Don’t act like you’re not amped. I can see it in your eyes.
Without further ado, here it is – Fayetteville’s Bestest Pizza according to the Fayetteville Flyer:
#1 - Hogwild Pizza
With their killer pizza and excellent atmosphere, Hogwild Pizza is the uncontested best pizza place in town. If you haven’t had the pleasure of eating a pie from Hogwild, you should probably do yourself a favor and check it out.
#2 - Tim’s on College
Coming in a very close second is Tim’s on College. This place is a mainstay for good pizza in Fayetteville. Consistently delicious pizzas (w/ awesome toppings) and fantastic salads made this place a serious first place contender. Always a good place to eat some pizza.
#3 Tim’s on the Square
While not quite as good as its counterpart on College Avenue, Tim’s on the Square placed third for a reason; It’s really, really good. The pizza here is baked as well as the majority of the wait staff. But don’t let your aversion to stoners keep you from rocking this place when you’re Jonesin for some pizza. It’s worth it. Good pizza and great beer deals are reason enough to stop by for a hearty pizza meal.
Others: (4)US Pizza, (5), Cable Car Pizza (5), Jim’s Razorback Pizza (5) Eureka Pizza (6) Mordour’s Pizza
Points Breakdown
17 - Hogwild
16 - Tim’s on College
9 - Tim’s on the Square
7 - US Pizza
3 - Eureka Pizza
3 - Cable Car Pizza
3 - Jim’s Razorback Pizza
1 - Mordour’s Pizza
How it’s scored: Each writer gets three votes. First place earns 3 points, second earns 2 and thirds brings in 1. The totals are calculated and the winner of the most points takes first place. Easy as pie… Pizza pie.
If you’re curious on how our writers voted and why, keep on reading.
JTrain:
1) Tim’s on College: Tim’s on college has been around for a long time and there’s a good reason for that. Their pizza is consistently delicious, their salads are always killer and the employees are super friendly. Two cheese-covered thumbs up.
2) US Pizza: While the pizza’s are pretty good, eating them out on the deck while enjoying a cold brew is even better. I don’t think they have the best pizza in town, but their deck makes it, arguably, one of the best places to eat it.
3) Mordour’s Pizza: Surprisingly good pizza made by Lord of the Rings nerds. Plus they deliver ‘til 5am. Doesn’t get much better than that, my friends.
Jarsh:
1) Hogwild: Besides having bizarre names for the pizzas (Who’s Umami?), to me, there is not a better pie in town. The ingredients are fresh and the pizza is always hot. The atmosphere is really relaxed and so are the employees. I’ve been rooting for this place to be successful since it opened and so far they seem to be doing just fine.
2) Jim’s Razorback
3) Tim’s on College
TomForth:
1) Tim’s on the Square (but only on the side where the West Mountain Brewing Company used to be… the other side is weird.): Fayetteville is, sadly, a black hole for pizza. As a man who loves pizza more than my mother (sorry mom), this is a sad fact–all the Pizza places in town kinda suck. That having been said, Tim’s on the square sucks the least. Their pizza is, at best, gooey processed cheese slathered on soggy saltines, and the service is–to put it kindly–disinterested. But you can’t discount the effects of atmosphere, and whatever Tim’s lacks in the pizza department, it more than makes up for in ambiance. A lot of the ambiance comes from the old brick walls and the slick wooden bar in the West Mountain Brewing Company building, but an often under-appreciated facet of Tim’s allure is due to the fact that 50% of the employees are taking bong rips at any given time. It’s no surprise then, that your pizza will more often than not arrive at your table with the wrong toppings or an accidental sprinkling of stems and seeds. But it could be worse. At least you’re not eating at Pizza Hut.
2) US Pizza: Everyone here is also high all the time. Their pizzas are more delicious than Tim’s, but they’re way too goddamned small, and they cost way the fuck too much.
3) Eureka Pizza: I mean, 3 pizzas for the price of one? Can’t rule that shit out.
SG:
1) Hog Wild Pizza: Fantastic crust, wonderful toppings, great specialty pizzas, live hop-hip and a giant chair to make you feel like a kid. This place gots it all.
2) Tim’s on College
3) US Pizza
Dern:
1) Hog Wild Pizza: Most creative, best proportion of toppings (they don’t kill you with cheese). They also have andoulie sausage as a topping. Shit’s real.
2) Tim’s on College: That’s not just Tim’s, I’m talking the Tim’s on College.
3) Eureka Pizza: No joking. The stuff from the “Gourmet” menu is good.
Farrah:
1) Tim’s Pizza on College. This place rules it. Freshly made jumbo salads with real (non-bacos) bits. Open ‘til 11. Pitchers of beer and cheese sticks. Friendly service and turbo carry-out.
2) Cable Car Pizza
3) Tim’s on the Square
Squidge:
1) Hogwild Pizza: Although the service might be worse than Gaylord’s on a Sunday morning, Hogwild Pizzeria has the dopest pies in town. The crust is crispy and perfectly thin, and the ingredients are the freshest you can find. If you have the cajonés, you have to try the buffalo chicken pizza. So tasty!
2) Tim’s on College
3) Eureka Pizza
The Steve:
1) Tim’s on College: Why? Two words; toppings, baby. They put some shit on their pizza, and when I say shit I mean pepperoni’s. Or meats. Or veggies. Because let’s face it. It’s the toppings that make the pizza delicious. The Tim’s on college edges out the one on the square because the service is infinitely better. The service at Tim’s on the square sucks.
2) Hogwild Pizza
3) Jim’s Razorback Pizza
Strokitecture:
1) Tim’s on the square: Despite the sometimes less than adequate service, you gotta love the pie and the ingredients. and most importantly you gotta support the pizza joint that is actually keeping the square alive for booze and foods, and hey the bar has decent drink specials and lots of seating.
2) US Pizza: Patio, American style, with a giant fan to blow the flies off your pies. Again, only decent service.
3) Cable Car Pizza: Holy shit IF you get the pizza, it is tasty…but they are so god damn unreliable.
Trisarahtops:
1) Hogwild Pizza - Their ingredient list is wonderfully exhaustive. Tons of vegetables– I like the Primavera pizza (alfredo sauce with squash, broccoli, zucchini, eggplant and spinach)–and also tons of spicy stuff. One of my friends actually ate an entire Who Killed Kenny, which has about every variant of hot in the world. Also, the salads are above-average quality for a pizza place. The only things that keep me away from Hogwild are their lack of beer specials (sort of countered by a happy hour that extends until 7PM) and the abominable decor and layout. There is really no great place to sit, in part because the physical set up of the restaurant is senseless. There are three main channels of seating, with no half-walls to separate anything. It’s way too open, way too loud, and way too physically disquieting to create a comfortable atmosphere. Also, besides your food, there’s nothing wholly pleasing to look at inside Hogwild. The art is bad, the giant TV is distracting, and the colors inside make me feel like I’m in a fast food restaurant that wants me to leave the second I get my food. But yeah. Good food.
2) Tim’s on the Square - The pizza at Tim’s is not as good as Hogwild’s. Not as many ingredients, not as interesting pies, not as consistent quality. (Incidentally, a former Tim’s employee defected to start up Hogwild.) Tim’s balances the score with Hogwild, though, because Tim’s boasts the quintessential pizza joint atmosphere–on the West Mountain side anyway. Over there, it’s dark and cozy, with brick and wood in every sightline. Also, most of the bartenders play inoffensive music. Most of the bartenders are also really likable. However, the bartender most likely to bark at you and not look you in the eye has Lilith Fair ‘98 artists on repeat, and if you see him behind the bar, don’t think twice about not sitting at the bar, because he’ll try to scare you off eventually anyway. The beer selection’s pretty great, too. There’s always a $2 a glass sale beer, and their happy hour prices are impressive. It’s just too bad their pizza’s not more interesting. Oh. And they serve everything on STYROFOAM PLATES, which, for a restaurant which supports ultimate frisbee tournaments and a dedicated crew of conspiracy-theorist bar-flies, is a completely hypocritical and egregious insult to the environment.
3) I don’t eat pizza anywhere else. US Pizza blows. Cable Car has good pizza, but I can’t figure out where it is anymore and I’ve only eaten it when someone picked up and brought it to their house.
Cowboys + Jones = True Love Forever
Mar 3rd, 2008
No mention of Guido’s out on Wedington? Great pizza, and they really layer on the toppings instead of the sprinkles you get at other places.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Guido’s is good. There’s no doubt about that. But for some reason it didn’t grace anyones top 3. What would your top 3 be?
Mar 3rd, 2008
I’m surprised that Mordour’s only got one vote. My top three would be Tims on the Square, Mordours, and Tims on college. Tims on the square is just a tradition for me. If they were ever to close down, a bit of Fayetteville would die inside me.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Re Tims on the Square: just remember to ask for a seat NOT under any of the many waterfalls coming thru the ceiling. Ditto on the stoner care less wait staff duh did you order already yes an hour ago duh i’ll check, etc…
Mar 3rd, 2008
I’ve never been a huge Tim’s fan. Maybe I need to give ‘em another shot. When Cable Car was on Dickson it was by far the best pizza in town. I hear it still exists, but have no idea where. I guess my list would go:
1. Jim’s Razorback on Hwy 62 - Go get a Razorback Supreme on whole wheat crust at the original location. Then come back and fix your list. Some of the spin-off stores are shitty and give them an overall bad rap.
2. HogWild Pizza
3. US Pizza
Bonus Entry: If you’re willing to make the drive or are just in the neighborhood…Sonny’s Pizzeria in Eureka Springs is bad ass! Big, old-school pizza oven…great sandwiches & salads…neat atmosphere. Damn, they should pay me for this plug.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Mordour’s not being higher is a shame.
They provide a truly unique pizza experience in a town that has basically converted to the Tim’s style of pizza-making.
Nice crust, wonderful sauce, and a truly helpful, quirky, and interesting wait staff. Also, open till five? Awesomeness.
Mordour’s is a slow builder, I think. People are starting to come around to it. It definitely started with the high school students, and it’s moving into the college scene.
There’s a lot of good pizza in Fayetteville, though. I can’t really say that there’s any truly bad pizza that isn’t from a national chain.
My top three: probably Mordour’s, Tim’s on the square, and Cable Car.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Corey & Jon: Mordour’s does rock. I haven’t been inside since they changed locations, but hopefully the atmosphere at the new store far exceeds it at its previous location. If I go in and they’re rocking a sweet fantasy (LOTR) theme throughout the store, it may just move up to my #2 spot… but it’ll never take out Tim’s on College in my book. Are they rocking a sweet LOTR theme inside? Say yes and I’ll be there tonight.
George: Cable Car is over in the Wal-Mart neighborhood market shopping center now. I can say without any hesitation that I’ve never had a really tasty Jim’s pizza from any of their locations. Hopefully the one on 62 will change that.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Cable Car makes okay pizza, but it’s not worth the hour-long wait to get it.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Cable Car has to be the worst pizza I’d had in a while. There was absolutely nothing special about it, from the pizza to the horrible atmosphere of the inside. I was really dissapointed because I had heard such good things about it. It could have just been an isolated bad experience, but I won’t go back.
Mordours is pretty good, but I have to agree that the dudes running it are not taking full advantage of the LOTR theme. If they started delivering pizza in chain-mail, I predict their buisness would increase 7%.
Also surprized Guido’s didn’t get more love. It is pretty good. It is way out of the way for Fayetteville people, so that probably has something to do with it.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Jones - Good call on the chain-mail delivery. Not only would it follow the theme of the restaurant, but it would also protect them in the event of a broadsword attack. Win-Win.
I haven’t had cable car in years. I’ve heard mixed reviews from several folks. The one thing that I’m consistently told is that they are very slow. I’ll have to give it a go when I’m in the mood to wait around for a long time go get some pizza.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Where’s Mordour’s? What’s the pizza like?
You should all check out the revived Ye Olde King Pizza out on US 62 just short of the Farmington city limits, across from the smokehouse. It’s exactly the same as when it was the best pizza on Dickson St. back in the 1970s. Thick but light and airy crust, cut in squares. Puffy pillows of pizza. Great toppings and no need to ask for extra cheese.
For thin crust, believe it or not, the gourmet menu at Eureka is delicious.
Cable car is alright except there is only a silver dollar sized circle in the middle with any toppings. The huge outer ring is nothing but crust.
Mar 3rd, 2008
No one has been to Hawgtown Pizza by the Hog baseball field? You probably should check it out. I think it’s better than all the places you guys named but maybe Cable Car. Also if you and a friend can eat an entire 28 inch pizza (the boss) in thirty minutes, you get it for free. I know everybody enjoys an eating challenge. Do it!!!!
Mar 3rd, 2008
To get to Mordour’s, take a left off of North St. onto College Ave., cross the plains of Gondor, bare east through the peaks of Minis Tirith making sure to avoid the speed trap at Mt. Doom. If you get to Barad-Dur you’ve gone too far.
Mar 3rd, 2008
chris-os - I’ve heard some not-so-good things about Hawgtown. Perhaps eating 28 inches of pizza caused some chemical imbalance in your brain making you think that it was good when in actuality it was not? Then again, a 28-inch pizza challenge sounds awesome.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Sardon - Either A) Follow Kornedog’s directions precisely or B) Click here for directions.
But seriously, the speed trap at Mt. Doom is dangerous, the wolves of Isengard just sit around waiting for dudes to speed through.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Hey, uh, Mordour’s is sick. Their pizza is a reinvention of the not-entirely cooked square-slice that you got in the school cafeteria. The crust isn’t cooked, the cheese isn’t cooked, and yeah, the people there are nice, but that doesn’t make up for the delivery waits. Sure, they’re open until 5am, and guess what. That’s when your pizza–the one you ordered at 2:03–is gonna come to your front door.
The only reason y’all are showing love for Mordour’s is because you’re jealous of everyone at Tim’s getting hourly wage while totally high. Also jealous: me.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Trisarahtops, it’s gotta be due to just one bad, late night experience at Mordours, right?. My pizza has always been top notch. Have you gone there anytime before say, midnight, when the demand isn’t so high? When you’re in a cruch to make pizzas (or anyting else for that matter), the quality, unfortunately, is going to suffer. I feel you on the long delivery issue, though. Remember ordering from Casa Taco? Took forever.
Mar 3rd, 2008
@JTrain:
My top three would be:
Guido’s
Hogwild
Jim’s
If we include all of NWA, I’d put Pizza Parlour of Springdale at #2. Hogwild is a bit expensive but the their pizza crust is A+, very crackery.
Jim’s I like because it’s good pizza and they deliver in a town where delivery generally indicates shitty pizza.
I’ve only had Mordours once and I didn’t like it–seemed doughy and underdone.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Jtrain- nice fucking pie chart by the way. The Fayetteville Flyer just got for serious. We have pie charts.
Mar 3rd, 2008
1. Bagel Bites: ummm excuse me but am I the only person that had their mind blown when they first saw this ingenious fusion? Also, they are really small–like way smaller than regular bagels–which is cool because it’s like having a model of an edible miniature city, and you’re the mayor.
2. Chuck E. Cheese: I like to be entertained by singing animatronics while I eat my pies.
3. CiCi’s: If you think this place is for only for low-income families with lots of obese kids to feed, you are terribly mistaken. Two words: consumer surplus. Also, everyone knows that any respectable pizza joint has an iceberg lettuce salad bar and desert pizzas. (Tip: get a table close to the cinnamon roll pizzas, but be ready to throw some ‘bows against that hungry youth soccer team if you wanna come down with a slice).
4. Pizza Hut/Mikey D’s combo at the airport: $8 might seem high for a 4-inch personal-pan pizza, but that’s only like $0.50 cents in airport dollars. Plus, can I get some fries with that? Why, yes, yes you can.
5. Root Elemenary Cafeteria: some kids brought their lunch to school, but no one brought their lunch on pizza day. Nostalgia tastes good.
Mar 3rd, 2008
The way to do this right is to announce that your staff will be making surprise visits to all area pizza joints during the next two weeks and publishing the rankings based on generous toppings or whatever. That way, your readers get two weeks of good eats by those businesses busting their butts for honorable mention.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Jonah, that’s the bestest idea yet.
Mar 3rd, 2008
mordour’s gourmet coffee and pizza: we don’t bake pizzas in the fires of mount doom, nor do we actually serve coffee.
what teases. delicious, delicious teases.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Mordours totally has coffee. Last time I checked, they delivered said coffee, too.
Mar 4th, 2008
for realz? the last time i called, about two weeks ago, they said no to both queries.
Mar 4th, 2008
Ryan - Where exactly is the Pizza Parlour? The name alone makes it sound rad.
Tanner - I’ll back you up on the Root Elemenary Cafeteria and Bagel Bites. That shit’s for real. Cici’s, though… afraid I’m not with you there, dude.
Jonah - You’ve done it. Next time we do one of these, we just might have to make it happen like that. Maybe we’ll do a cross-blog partnership on the next “Fayetteville’s Bestest” award? What do you think?
Mar 4th, 2008
My boyfriend is a huge fan of H-Weezy, so I’m sure this will make him feel justified. Although they have an impressive array of toppings, I personally get a little burnt out over the same thin crust (and am I imagining the similarity between it and US Pizza? Maybe I’m trippin’). Also, Dear Hogwild, plz invest in a more efficient exhaust hood, kthx. My man always brings home the smell of the place, and it will not quit.
And, nice…”pie”…chart.
Mar 4th, 2008
1) Thank you Tanner! And I still eat those school pizza rectangles on occasion. They are just as yummy as they ever were. 2) That’s a great idea Jonah! Those are the type of activities that us Flyer-ites love!
Mar 4th, 2008
b33nz - Thanks. Glad you like the Pizza Pie Chart!
Mar 4th, 2008
While I love Cable Car, I also have to put in a plug for Ye Olde King Pizza out on West Sixth Street, just before you get to Farmington. It’s out of the way, but tasty.
Mar 4th, 2008
I think we should advertise our “surprise visits from local critics” as “third grade class field trip.” That way we get free hats and stuff. And, it’d be more accurate.
Mar 5th, 2008
@JTrain:
It’s on Sunset near Sunset & Thompson. North side of the street.
If you like it the ones in Alma and Fort Smith are even better.
Mar 5th, 2008
Hey Jarsh, just so’s you know, Umami is the name given to the 5th taste receptor on the tongue that’s keyed for MSG. I’ll have to check out Hogwild to hone my super nerd skills.
Mar 5th, 2008
Thanks, el sabio. The pizza is actually called “Who’s Umami?” and it’s my favorite. I’ve always wondered what that meant.
Mar 6th, 2008
Is pizza the hottest topic to EVER hit the Flyer?
The local parlors should send you folks lots and lots of coupons!
Maybe you could become the coupon clearing house for the top spots.
Not for free, of course.
Seems everybody is checking in for this one!
You know what…I’m having pizza at Savastono’s tonight.
Mar 7th, 2008
JTrain, thanks for the Google link to Mourdor’s. I’ll try it.
crasydad, what’s Savastono’s?
I’m glad to hear there is Pizza Parlour in Springdale. I worked at the ones in Van Buren and Ft. Smith when I was a yoot.
Pizza is life.
Mar 7th, 2008
Ryan - Thanks, dude!
Sardon - No problem. After you rock some Mordour’s pizza, let us know what you thought.
Mar 7th, 2008
My top 3 pizza places living or dead:
1. Tim’s on College
2. Guido’s
3. Jr’s…R.I.P.
Mar 7th, 2008
JR’s pizza. That was some good stuff, Bryce. It would have probably been on a lot of our lists were it still around.
May 12th, 2008
As a former Tim’s employee from the mid-’80s (both College and Square had same ownership then, and employees covered both stores, not sure if that’s the case now), I’m pleased to see some things never change… i.e. good pizza, friendly service, and staff pulling bong hits by the dish sink. After-shift-wasted card games at College were the norm also. Couldn’t pull that off at the Square because of high visibility from the street :)
Jun 25th, 2008
I’ve had pizza from DC to SF Cal and dozens of points between. Fayetteville’s best pizzeria pizza is Jim’s. Cavanaugh’s Pizza Parlour in Springdale is second in the area. If you are not a thin fan…Hogwild has the best creative pies; their crust needs a tiny little 1/2 ounce of boost…
Jun 25th, 2008
Pizza and Beer, Pizza and Beer…
Pizza and Beer, Pizza and Beer…
Pizza and Beer, Pizza and Beer, its REAL good.
Pizza and Beer, Pizza and Beer…
Pizza and Beer, Pizza and Beer…
Its real good, but not half-as good as your Hair Pie….