Mootz: The Best Pizza In Downtown Detroit According To A New Yorker – Gallivant Style

Mootz: The Best Pizza In Downtown Detroit According To A New Yorker

 A few months ago, right before Michigan's "3 Week Pause" on indoor dining, AJ from DAJS Visuals came into town to do a  photoshoot for Gallivant Style. He had never been to Detroit so I promised that after our shoot I would take him out so he could experience it a little bit. We went downtown and I had hopes of taking him to The Skip which has become one of my favorite bars in Downtown Detroit. However, when we got there, to my surprise it was closed as it was a Wednesday night. I was initially disappointed but we decided to go to Mootz which was right across from The Skip. I’m so glad that we did because it was such a great experience. Michigan's dining ban began just a few days after our visit to Mootz.

One of the looks from our photoshoot featuring our "Comfortably Chic" set in the color red.

One of the looks from our photoshoot featuring our "Comfortably Chic" set in the color red

Michigan resumed indoor dining on February 1, 2021. The new restrictions allow for 25 percent capacity with a limit of 100 people. Restaurants will be required to close their doors 10 p.m. Now that Michigan has finally resumed indoor dining and Mootz has reopened under these new guidelines, I am delighted to finally bring you this blog post.


That day AJ had asked me what Detroit is known for food wise and I kept telling him I didn't know. I had been living in the Detroit Metro Area for almost a year but I travel so much for work and leisure and at least 8 months of that time was during the pandemic. I did tell him that Detroit has their own style of pizza but that I wasn’t a fan of it as a New Yorker where we have the best pizza in the world. (Debate me if you want to 😂). So when we saw Mootz I didn’t have high expectations and neither did he.

Mootz Pizzeria + Bar is located in the heart of downtown Detroit, and features a menu created by famed six-time World Pizza Games champion, Bruno DiFabio. According to the website "it’s not New York style pizza - it’s authentic New York pizza". They also offer a selection of starters, salads, classic features and old-school New York favorites alongside a full beer, wine and cocktail offering.

When we walked in, the hostess was very pleasant. There were no tables available at the moment due to the restaurant following social distancing guidelines but she offered us a seat at the bar while we waited for a table. The bar was aesthetically pleasing and well organized. The seats were comfortable, my only complaint was that there were no hooks for me to put my purse on.

The bartender was very friendly and knowledgeably answered my questions about their craft cocktails. I decided to go with the Stugotz which contained tequila, and jalapeño syrup making it similar to a spicy margarita but with ginger beer. I liked it but it was more spicy and strong due to the ginger beer, than spicy and sweet which is how I prefer my spicy margaritas.

While the bartender was making the Stugotz, he was making another cocktail that caught my attention. It was still fall when we visited Mootz and the drink was their seasonal Harvest Apple Cider Margarita. It looked delicious and I decided to go with it for the second round of drinks. It was on the sweeter side, which I like, but perfectly balanced. I really enjoyed it and the lightly salted cinnamon sugar rim made it that much better. AJ had the Scotty Karate Scotch Ale which he compared to Guinness but a little bit lighter.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza and the Philly Cheese Steak Pie
Buffalo Chicken Pizza and the Philly Cheese Steak Pie

Now let’s get to the pizza! We decided to split two personal pies. We went with the Buffalo Chicken Pizza and the Philly Cheese Steak Pie. My eyes were happy when they both came out as the presentation was beautiful and the aroma was delightful.

The first one I took a bite of was the Buffalo Chicken Pizza which has buffalo marinated chicken, blue cheese crumbles, "mootzarella", ranch, hot sauce, and chopped celery. It was good but in my opinion needed some more hot sauce. Next time I visit, I will definitely ask for extra on the side. I liked that the celery was not overpowering and added just the right amount of crunch.

What really took the pie for both of us was the Philly Cheese Steak Pie. At first bite we simultaneously uttered “Oh my God”. It was literally perfection. The sliced rib-eye, caramelized onion, mushrooms, "mootzarella", and perfectly melted yellow American cheese came together in savory harmony. AJ said it was the best pizza he ever had. I questioned him and he obliged ok maybe top 3. I can agree with top 3 and that is a very big statement coming from two New Yorkers.

I have definitely added Mootz to my list of favorite places in Downtown Detroit. I really wanted to try their Tiramisu but I was super full. I will have to try it next time along with the fig pizza.

If you are wondering how well their pizza reheats, I had a slice of the Buffalo Chicken Pizza left over and it reheated nicely the next day. I just placed it in a warmed skillet with the lid on for about 5 minutes and it tasted fresh out of the oven.

While a lot may have changed since we went to Mootz, I'm confident that the quality of their pizza has remained the same. If you are ever visiting Downtown Detroit, you should definitely give Mootz a try. Mootz is the perfect date night restaurant and a great place to take that someone special this Valentine's Day.

 

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