Shaner's Pizza: Pure Chin Music.
Alright Dave, listen up. If you want real-deal Midwest bar pie that actually travels, you need to get to Shaner's Pizza in the Gulf Gate/Siesta Key area. I'm not talking "Florida good"- I'm talking about authentic Milwaukee/Racine, Wisconsin-style excellence that puts the heavy hitters to shame.
I've had Zaffiro's (8.1) and Wells Brothers (8.2) and honestly? Shaner's takes the title. Here's why:
• The Crust: It's cracker-thin, ultra crispy, and has that signature Racine "snap". It's rolled so thin your body doesn't even realize it's consuming bread, but it holds the weight of the toppings like a pro.
• The pedigree: This isn't some random shop. It's owned by The MLB All-Star, Racine, WI native Shane Rawley. He's a lefty who pitched 12 seasons with the Mariners, Yankees, Phillies and Twins. He brought his hometown dough recipe to Gulf Gate to show Florida how a real bar pie is made.
• The X-Factor: The walls are a shrine to baseball history, but the real show happens at the table. If you're lucky and behave yourself, Shane might blow your mind with a few card tricks.
Dave, you were in Sarasota at Il Panificio (7.4), and you said you were "out of pizzas." You missed the perfect game. This is a no-flop, square-cut masterpiece that deserves the spotlight.Get down to Superior Avenue and see if you can handle the heater this Racine legend is still throwing in the kitchen.
One bite, everybody knows the rules. 8.3
