Buddy's Pizza

🟥CLASSIC DETROIT STYLE ALERT🟥 Founded by Gus Guerra in 1946, the original Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria on Six Mile is credited as the birthplace of Detroit style square pizza after using forged-steel pans borrowed from local automotive plants to make the first Sicilian-inspired Detroit square pie. Since then, the Buddy’s franchise has expanded to 16 full service pizzerias & 7 carry-out joints throughout Michigan, including this downtown Detroit spot. In typical Detroit style fashion, there is no crust like you would find on a Sicilian pie; rather the cheese caramelizes on the sides of the pan creating a crispy, buttery & crunchy pseudo-crust. Their double proofed dough fits perfectly in the square pan, rises & then is stretched twice, producing a light & airy texture that’s also soft & fluffy, while maintaining a substantial level of crisp & crunch. The undercarriage is firm & crisped; and while the pie looks heavy, it’s actually delightfully light & pillowy with beautifully charred edges. They also use a unique Wisconsin brick cheese blend sprinkled across the dough, hugging it tightly when melted in upside-down pie fashion. A bit of an acquired taste, the cheese is uniquely delicious with more bite & sharpness than standard shredded mozzarella pizza cheese blends. Mostly rigid with golden brown char, the cheese is tight except for the more creamy sections blanketed by the sauce, which is laced atop the cheese in a somewhat haphazard manner, causing uneven distribution on the surface. Despite the unbalanced composition, the sauce is deliciously distinguished, terrifically tangy & zesty with zip & zing, modestly sweet & flavorful. The sparse areas of the pie could use another ladle of sauce to help balance the taste. Overall, this is a wonderful combination of tremendous texture & fantastic flavor, just slightly undersauced. As far as taste goes, the dough, cheese & sauce are all on-point, making for a truly solid classic Detroit style pizza. I can’t speak for all of the Buddy’s franchises but this downtown spot is definitely travel-worthy, as this style of pizza has spread well beyond Detroit, becoming very popular in New York & New Jersey as well. I highly recommend coming to pay homage to the innovator of Detroit style pizza at this location or the original spot on Six Mile.