One Detroit takes a look at the history of Buddy's square Detroit-style pizza, which is starting to show up on menus around the country. Episode 210/Segment 2
Ahh the memories. I worked at the original Buddy's back in the day for a summer. I remember Frank and the other old timers during the day, all those ladies in the kitchen, Wes, Skip, Pat, Shirley and Bob. A lot of nights the doors never closed, people were lining up out the door. Tons of beer. That was back in the 70's. We sat around after closing drinking free beer.
My very first pizza. 3 guys, maybe 11 years old, we ride our bikes to Buddy’s on 6 mile. We had about a buck between us. We got a 4 piece pizza and a drink each which cleaned us out. Never had anything that good before or since. That was 1958 or thereabouts. Life is funny. I was an impoverished kid at the time. I ended up an American diplomat and travelled the world for just short of 30 years. I’ve never had better pizza than Buddy’s. When I would get back to the States we would make a point of going to Buddy’s. Now retired, I’m about to make a return visit. Some things you don’t forget. Al Kaline, Gordy Howe, Briggs Stadium, Sonny Elliot, the Detroit Zoo, Bob-lo, Edgewater Park and Buddy’s. Buddy’s is a foremost memory. And I’m about to go and get that memory refreshed. Thanks Buddy’s for the memories and maybe the best pizza on the planet.
Oh, my. I LOVED Edgewater Park when I was a kid. Still remember the Bob-lo boat (and Island) and even going to Boofland. Life was good then. Still haven't been to Buddy's though, although I make it a point to hit Cloverleaf on a regular basis (it's
@@HotVoodooWitch Wwhhhaaatt? Whhaatt? You haven’t been to Buddy’s? They used to be around 6 mile and Conant. Now they have other locations around the suburbs. Don’t forget the antipasto salad. It’s likely as good as you will ever find. You need to go and enjoy this great food. Did you ever get to Walled Lake Amusement Park? That was also a fun time. Never heard of Boofland or Cloverleaf.
@@rascal0175 I tried the one in Grosse Pointe Woods; it sucked. Cloverleaf is closer and the neighborhood (I was a kid nearby) isn't as funky as Six Mile & Conant. Still, I really should try it just once (at the original location).
@@HotVoodooWitch Sorry to hear that. I wondered how the suburban stores would work out. The original was Detroit magic. Times change though and 6 and Conant may no longer be an option. I have been to Buddy’s on Van Dyke (around 12 Mile) a few times and it was pretty good. How good? It was like a time travel using food as the vehicle to go back to the days of Belle Isle, Bob-Lo, the State Fair, Edgewater Park, Hudson’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Milky, the Twin Pines clown. Or put another way, riding double on a bicycle.
Should do a special on Scotty’s fish and chips in the old university district. Everyone from UAD and Saint Gregory loved eating Scotty’s fish and chips. Finkel and Livernois was the place to eat before it became the ghetto.
Little Caesar's SUCKS. It was SUCH a relief, when I moved to NYC, to find good pizza. Hell, even kosher pizza is better than LIttle Caesar's. When I had to come back to Detroit, I started buying my dad's pizza at Bommarito's--he wouldn't touch Little Caesar's after that, plus it's cheap. I moved back and hit Bommarito's (
Little Caesar's is swill. And Detroit-style pizza is a local take on sfincione, which you can still get at Bommarito's in St. Clair Shores--either by the slice or by the pan or half pan. I love it. Very simple--fluffy, thick crust, sauce, pecorino, onions, and bread crumbs. Even though anchovies are traditional, their default is without, although you can request them (I'm vegetarian, so don't). If you come to Detroit, try Buddy's, Cloverleaf (my go-to), Loui's, and Bommarito's (they fill their cannoli to order).
Love Buddy's Pizza and the original bar and restaurant at 6 mile and Conant! Been going there for 55 years!! There are closer locations now in the suburbs but they do not have the nostalgia and I don't know.... the pizza just tastes better at the original location! 🙂🙂👍👍
I'd like to hit Buddy's for the atmosphere and just to say I've been. I'm a Cloverleaf patron--it's a short drive to a reasonably safe neighborhood and it's the original recipe, still owned by the Guerra family, so I doubt I'm missing much not going to Buddy's.