Pizza the way it oughta be!

Mountain Mike’s Pizza has been dishing out tasty pies since 1978, just not in Colorado. It is a well-known staple in California and other western states, but now that it has opened shop in Parker (the first one in Colorado), many pizza lovers are trying it out. And, word has it: so far, so good. On a recent Friday night visit to the new restaurant, I enjoyed their signature pepperoni pizza myself while chatting with the customers in the booth next to me.

Brooke and David Wood were eating dinner with their son, Ryder. They were doing what their family calls “pizza Fridays.”

Brooke said, “We are originally from California and this was our favorite place back there. When we moved out here seven months ago, we came out opening night, and we keep coming back. It reminds us of home a little bit and we are here quite a bit because of that.”

David added, “We get a pepperoni pizza every single time. What we like about it is that the pepperonis curl up a little bit, old world style. I have not found a place that does it quite like that, yet.”

But it is more than the pizza for the Woods family. “The management is so nice here, they give back to the local schools and community. It seems like they support a lot of local things,” added Brooke.

The Woods family and many customers are pleased with the friendly employees, the service and the restaurant’s casual vibe.
Mountain Mike’s is known for its family-friendly atmosphere. There are video games for the kids to play, televisions for sporting events and an overall relaxed atmosphere whether you sit inside or outside with Fido on the patio.

In the kitchen is where Mountain Mike’s has reached the summit. They make their own pizza sauce; the dough is rolled out fresh and vegetables are sliced every day. They use only 100% whole milk mozzarella cheese – also shredded fresh daily. The consensus is the quality of the food, the generous portions and the curly pepperonis seem to be what keeps customers coming back.

Mountain Mike’s menu offers the traditional pizzas: pepperoni, cheese and create your own. Many of the pies are named for mountain peaks around the world. The pizza crust is not overly thick, and customers say that makes it condusive to more toppings!

For something a little different, The Everest pizza (pictured lower right) is a combination of pepperoni, Italian sausage, salami, linguica, beef, mushrooms, black olives, bell peppers and onions in the classic homemade red sauce. (Linguica is a smoked Portugage sausage made from pork and seasoned with garlic, paprika, onion and other spices.)

For the vegetarian, there is Mt. Veggiemore and for the meatlover, the Pikes Peak pizza. Garlic Not-Knots offer a mouth-watering, pre-dinner treat: garlic, butter and cheese mixed into the homemade dough. For the super hungry, buffalo wings are also on the menu, everything from classic wings to Frank’s Redhot Stinging Honey Garlic Wings.

The price point is in step with other pizzarerias. For the large pepperoni (14 slices), the cost is $24.99 and a six-piece order of wings is $9.99. If a salad is a must for your side with pizza pie, Mountain Mike’s offers a robust salad bar (more than 15 choices) for $8.99 for the first five toppings.

In the mood for a sandwich? The Half Dome is an open-faced pizza sandwich that you can customize to your liking. The Cliff Hanger is a deli sandwich, oven baked, with your choice of ham, salami, hot sausage, veggies and cheese.

Other sides at Mountain Mike’s: the Mountain fries, regular or loaded, are wedges of potatoes with bacon, cheese, green onion and dipping sauces; also on the menu are mozzarella sticks and garlic sticks with cheese.

If you have saved room for dessert, the eight-slice chocolate chip pizza cookie is a best-seller.

For beverages, beer and wine are available as well as Pepsi products. Customers may dine in or carry out, and you can pre-order on their website or app.

A second franchise is opening in Aurora later this year. Mountain Mike’s slogan rings true: “Pizza the way it oughta be.”

For more information or to order online, visit mountainmikespizza.com or call (303) 535-1500.

Mountain Mike’s Pizza
(303) 535-1500
12239 Pine Bluffs Way
Parker, CO 80134
www.mountainmikespizza.com

By Karen Leigh