Mesa Pizza

1323 4th St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-436-3006
www.mesapizzamn.com


A few weeks ago, I attended a friend’s wedding reception at the Varsity Club in Dinkytown. As their late night snack they served pizza; the ultimate indulgence for drunk party-goers. There was the safe, but boring pepperoni pizza to please the masses. Also in the line-up: margarita and Hawaiian pies, but the show stopper consisted of 20” of hand-tossed dough piled with elbow macaroni oozing with a blend of cream cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar. That’s right, you heard me correctly folks – mac-n-cheese pizza! Albeit corny, just like my friends who tied the knot, the coupling of pizza and mac-n-cheese are a match made in heaven. Something like the Midwest's answer to soul food, this simplistic combination conjoins decadence and down-home nosh with its mix of chewy, comforting carbs smothered in gooey, cheesy goodness. Before leaving the reception, I hunted down the groom to ask where this edible incredible came from. Conveniently, the restaurant’s located directly across the street and goes by the name Mesa Pizza.

A few weeks later, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to indulge in another piece (or three) of Mesa Pizza’s mac-n-cheese masterpiece. Come to find out, the mac-n-cheese pie is one of their least unusual concoctions. I’m most intrigued by their BBQ Steak and Fries pizza (just like it sounds), as well as the Southern Gentleman (Cajun chicken, mashed potatoes, bacon, and cheddar cheese). And if that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, they have approximately 40 other traditional and bizarre combinations from which to choose.


As Mesa Pizza caters to college students, the prices are reasonable and all of their pies are sold by the slice; a definite advantage if you’re too scared to order a whole Guacamole Burrito or Chicken Cordon Bleu pizza. If you have the cojones to order an entire pie, I should mention they only come in BIG; no smalls or mediums. A 20” cheese and pepperoni will set you back $13, while specialty pizzas are priced at $22.

As for ambiance, there isn’t any. It’s fine for those grabbing a quick slice for lunch, but otherwise I’d suggest savoring this doughy delight while in your PJ's watching reruns of “Little House on the Prairie” or “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (or whatever guilty pleasure you turn to while in the throes of gluttony). Depending on your location, Mesa Pizza may be able to deliver. They’re open from 11am to bar close Monday-Saturday, and 11am to midnight on Sunday. With Mesa Pizza’s wide range of hours and menu options, there’s no excuse not to try something new one of these days. Goodbye pepperoni and sausage pizza; hello tortellini pesto and spicy chicken quesadilla pizza!

Mindy's Rating: 7/10 Sporks