Fricano's Pizza Tavern

2025 update: I felt pretty ignored on this visit and even had to get up and ask the bartender for water. My sausage & pepperoni pizza came out kinda limp, still thin. Anyway, it just wasn't as impressive as that 1st visit I had here 2 years ago. 2023: As the menu says, it's "the most original" tasting Pizza I've had in quite a while, it's a super thin crust pizza but not crispy except for the edges which have a magnificent caramelized crust edge all the way around. They only serve one thing: 12" pizzas! The ingredient toppings offered are sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, green pepper & anchovy, that's it!! So deal with it! The wine list is good and not too expensive , actually neither is the pizza. Well worth the visit, friendly service in an old school pizza house setting! Definitely one of best pizzas I've had in Michigan!!

I ordered 10 pizzas and even had the person who was taking my order repeat the order back to me, confirming it was 10 pizzas. They said yes. When my husband got there, they said I only ordered 9 pizzas, which was not true. I called back and when I asked to talk the Manager, they said they were too busy to talk to me to try to rectify the situation. When I asked if they could find my original ticket and repeat my order to me, they said they were also too busy to do that. I get they were busy (lots of restaurants are)! However, there needs to be better organization and better customer service. They did say they could make me another pizza, but I wasn’t happy to drive 30 minutes to go get it after I was just there and it was their mistake. We’ve ordered Fricanos for a very long time, however I’ll stick to the Alpine Avenue location where they are always friendly and Doug cares about his customers. Do better…!

Food was good. Very busy for a Tuesday night, and ended up walking in with a lady who had a group of 8 that hadn't all showed up. I had a group of only 2. After waiting for about 10min and noticing a table open the entire time, I talked to the cashier and politely mentioned that I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't mistakenly included in the group of 8 and it was just me and my daughter. We waited for another 5+ min to be seated at the table which was available the entire time. This was a bit frustrating but being that it was as busy as it was, it was understandable. After this minor inconvenience the rest of the meal and service was very good. This was our first time at Fricanos so I didn't really know that there was only 1 option of pizza with 5 toppings available, Plain cheese, sausage, pepperoni, green pepper, mushrooms, and anchovies, or of course any one combination of these toppings. I was very surprised there weren't any other options, no bread sticks, appetizers, salads, just pizza and drinks. It was at least another 20min wait for the pizza which was okay because I was in good company. Pizza came hot! We ordered sausage and mushroom. Unfortunately mushrooms are from a can, but at this point I was so hungry and the waitress was so busy I didn't even bother asking questions. The sausage was top notch, and I would definitely recommend it. I wouldn't so much request the mushrooms again. Pizza was delicious and could've easily put down another one, but it was a good size portion for my daughter and I. Prices were good, and I will be back but next time I'm the off season.

My wife and daughter were gone so I decided to order some Fricano’s pizza for my boys and me; I ordered an EBA well done which was very good and I ordered a cheese for my boys. I ordered it to go so didn’t really experience the service but the person who rung me up was friendly. The atmosphere is still the same old school that it was 40 years ago when I was a kid. Fricano’s can sometimes be classified as “either you like it or you don’t” so if you haven’t tried it, check it out. Thin crust, usually on the “greasy” side so I order my well done. My in-laws are from Illinois and they aren’t a fan of it but I grew up with it so I’m a fan. Reasonably priced too.

Thinnest pizza crust I’ve ever had!! And ohhhh soooo good!! Only certain toppings are available and only one size, but that’s what makes it such a special and unique place. I hope it never changes!

Wow!!! Pizza was amazing!!! You can tell they use quality ingredients. This was our first time and definitely won’t be our last if we’re in the area! I will say just a heads up for anyone looking at reviews for this place be aware that they don’t serve anything other than drinks and thin crust pizza. We were hoping for breadsticks or a salad, but the pizza was very filling, even when it was thin crust!

Yum! I love a thin crispy crust that is loaded with toppings! You cannot beat the price here either for Pizza & drinks. Everything served hot, fresh & fast. Tons of seats & large parking lot too. Our waiter was also great very friendly!!!

Wanted pizza and not a chain restaurant in town. This place has been here a long time and for good reasons. I have never seen such a limited menu but that was perfectly fine! Love the old atmosphere and service was great and the pizzas arrived at our table quick. Highly recommend if all you want is pizza.

First time at the Grand Haven location. They only serve pizza here, but it is the classic, gooey, greasy thin crust pizza that Fricanos is famous for. They were busy but our server was quick and got our food out to us in a jiffy. The restaurant is basically an old house, it's been open since the 1940's. It gives it a homey and quaint feel. Highly recommend any of the Fricanos locations!

Sometimes you just need to go back to the basics. Fricanos has the unique ability of being both wonderfully nostalgic and wonderfully delicious. The menu is simple. It's pizza. If you want an appetizer, you can grab some chips off the wall. They have a full bar and you can still get a cocktail for under $10 which is virtually unheard of. There's wine and beer available too and if and if you're feeling fancy they'll even bring you a glass. This place is an institution. A common thread that weaves together so many collective memories of good pizza and cherished time spent with those enjoying it..

Lack of additional toppings such as onion, bacon, mushrooms and others. Pizzas should be customizable.

Umm, it's Fricano's. If you have gone, go! Cheesy, crispy crust while softer on the inside. I've been to the Grand Haven and Holland locations, and they are consistent, however I live in Grand Haven so they get the edge . That's just the pizza. The ambiance is very homey and laid back. 70's-early 80's vibe. Enjoy!

We called in an order for 3 pizzas on a Friday night at 6:40 and were told the wait would be 45 minutes. We showed up 45 minutes later to be told that our order was lost. We waited another 25 minutes while our order was rushed. We got one pizza free but are disappointed with our first visit here. The pizza was just ok.

Best pizza in Michigan, best pizza ever in my honest opinion. Have to get the "EBA" can't beat it. Service always great and friendly. It's a home feeling and the building hasn't changed which makes it amazing

We wanted to revisit Fricano's after a number of years has gone by. As usual Fricano's has not lost its Pizza making ability. It is a no frills, no nonsense restaurant. The pizza has not changed since they opened in 1949! Thin crust pizza pie made your way. On the menu are pizza one size and cocktails, beer, sodas and water. Such a simple concept and it works, drawing customers from all over Western Michigan. Open 4:30-9:00 Monday -Saturday, plenty of parking

Cute place. Pizza was just gross. Left me with an after taste reminiscent of soap. It's a shame they won't use better quality ingredients and cook it properly.

We order from fricanos every time we come to GH! It is very well priced and delicious! I would recommend to anyone visiting GH!

Sometime's I'll think to myself "hmm, haven't had a s**t yet today, maybe I should go to Fricano's and clear the ol' bowels out"

No nonsense pizza perfection Simple menu .. we make pizza . Attentive , polite staff who serve with a smile Thin crispy crust. I had the sausage pepperoni pizza

Best pizza I've ever had. We live in Boise, Idaho. We traveled to my home town of Allegan summer before last and stopped in to have pizza. First time we'd been since the 1970s. It was exactly the same. The food, the atmosphere, the crowd waiting to get in. It was like taking a step back in time!

Absolutely. Amazing. I love everything about this restaurant. It looks like a house, and is so cute and quaint inside. The only thing on the menu is PIZZA (and drinks). The pizza was so good...thin crust with whatever toppings you want. Wine pours are insane. The simplicity of this restaurant is money. No sides, appetizers, salads, ranch, etc. Just good pizza.

Pizza tasted gross cheese was hard and rubbery was chewy and cheese blend is for a slim few

Yummy pizza at this local place. Cute, homey feel. The pizza was good, but very thin crust.

A long standing institution here in the Grand Haven area. We were able to introduce a new cousin to the Fricano's pizza. It did not disappoint. The server was friendly, and the pizza was excellent. Thanks very much for being open for so many years and for being consistient in your pizza quality and service.

When you do something soooo we'll- why focus on anything else? This pizza was beyond amazing! Italian Sausage is a house mix - the crust will blow your mind! It is a big old house, there are some difficult looking stairs. The restrooms were not easily accessible, down a couple flights of steep stairs.

This place has been around since 1949 and clearly has a loyal following. I believe they've won some "Best Of" awards around the state of Michigan, so something's gotta be up. They sell nothing but pizza...not sides, not salad, not garlic knots...just 13" pies. And there are only a handful of toppings to choose from. But the pizzas are pretty decent! We ordered their pepperoni, sausage and mushroom pizza for take-out. It was wafer thin and had a slightly sweet sauce and plenty of gooey cheese. One pie is easily shareable between two people. Best ever? Don't think so, but I'm glad we sampled this Grand Haven institution.

The best pizza in the state of Michigan. Keep it simple - 1 size of pizza, your choice of 5 wonderful toppings, No chicken wing and breadsticks - just the best pizza around. Cash only - no cards.

Yuck! I rarely ever give bad reviews, but this pizza is no good. The mushrooms tasted like they came from a can. Greasy, soft crust. Even my hungry teens refused to finish their shared pizza.

Pizza was good but not anywhere near the top of my list. Inside was a trip to 1970 - old and dark. Service was good but not what I would call friendly. Menu only has pizza and only One size. It feeds two or one if hungry.

Love this pizza place !! It looks like it has for years and years !! Since pizzas aren't huge I always order my own pizza pie !! Highly recommend this place !!

OMG! This was the best pizza I've ever had!!! It's so simple, yet so delicious!! I don't live in Michigan and I know I'm going to crave this when I leave!

The original fricanos simply can't be beat. Been eating here since I was little and had the pleasure of having takeout last night for a large group. The pizzas are extremely unique and the thin crust is unlike any other. The toppings are limited but well worth it. Don't skip this place when you're in Grand Haven. Easily the best/most iconic pizza location in town.

I have been coming here since the early 80's as a kid and has always been my favorite pizza. Just came back over the weekend for the first time in 10 years and it was just like I remember. The pizza truly is the best pizza and the atmosphere of the place still has the original feel for when I was a kid. Erin was our server who has been working their for quite some time and she was great. This will always be my favorite pizza place and don't pay attention to those people that write bad reviews because obviously they don't know what their talking about. If you are in Grand Haven this is a must stop!

Given what the other reviews say, we were lucky - really good, traditional thin crust pizza (true traditional Italian style), which our whole family enjoyed. It was crispy for us, so it was perfect. Just be forewarned (as we were not): cash only, so you could did yourself scrambling if you planned on paying with credit card. Also, not many toppings here, so scale your expectations. What they do have, in our experience, is really good.

Undercooked, no flavor, and overpriced. Not sure why this is regarded as a "good" pizza place. I'd rate a Jack's pizza higher than this and it costs a quarter of the price of fircanos.

I've been a lifelong fan. They've had some inconsistency in the past but last evening's pie was definitely on target. I really prefer it well done and they did a great job! They're not the only pizza in town but can be one of the best when you get it right. We notice, Fricano's. Keep up the good work!

Drinks are good, food is delicious, place is clean, employee's are prompt and attentive. What more can you ask for. The best part is that no one recognizes me. No autographs.. Haha

Fabulous and fare priced, nostalgia of old. One place you will be glad has stayed the same for generations.

Cute place, reminds me of restaurants when I was a kid. Absolutely only 1 thing on the menu. Pizza. And about 5 toppings, that's it. The seasoning and toppings were very good. Our friends ordered extra cheese and that was really good too. Crust was super thin and just ok. Tasted a little bland. We felt like there could have been a little more sauce on the pizza, but order it when you order because they cannot bring an extra side of sauce. When I say only 1 thing, I mean it. Of course there are drinks. Wine and beer also. Our service was excellent and pizza was ready in 15 minutes. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It was great with kids. Almost everyone ate a whole pizza by themselves.

Best thin crust Italian pizza around! I am partial to everything but anchovies or plain with double cheese and double crust. Cold beer, too. Eat in or carry out. It is always good, hot, pizza!

I've been to the Fricano's in GH more than once, and all three times, the pizza was no better than just plain NASTY. I've never figured out why people like it. It's a pizza that you either love or really can't stand - now there's one 0.7 miles from my house, yet I'll never drive, bicycle, nor walk to it to dine there - yuk. And they don't take credit cards? Good Lord, get with it. Is it a pizza dispensary? Who nose? knows? no's? You'll just have to find out for yourself whether or not you like their pizza. I, and many others don't. Yet, many people do. That's what makes America great, ain't it?

Would assign a better rating but price of pizza outweighs friendly service and decent (but not outstanding) tasting thin crust pizza. Honestly I was shocked at price of pizza....virtually doubled since I was there a few years ago.

Great pizza, friendly service, a local treat every time! It's the kinda food that brings nostalgic memories with every bite! As a young man my boss would get a pizza with anchovies on it and it was the only place I ever tried it but I liked it. Try a slice it's tasty

Thankfully when we walked in, we only had a couple minutes to wait for a table. We have heard that the line gets so long the wait could be up to an hour. Menu is a thin crust pizza and your choice of only 5 different toppings. We did half with pepperoni and sausage and the other half had pepperoni, sausage, and green pepper. Tasted good. Our table was next to the open kitchen and it was very entertaining watching the assembly line making the pies. Great experience.

This is a place for crusty folks who still wish "I Love Lucy" was on television and Eisenhower was in the White House. 1. Bring cash, they do not take credit cards. (Yes really, and it's 2017) 2. They cater completely to locals, so don't expect friendliness if you're a tourist. 3. They have a back entrance which they have decided will serve as the line to get in. They revel in having a line. It's never occurred to them to improve the experience of their customers by altering the entrance (there are stairs anywhere you want to come in, and it's confusing). Instead, they'd rather brag about being so "busy" that people queue up for their food. 4. The building hasn't seen a can of paint since Sputnik was orbiting the Earth. 5. Only five items are available for your pizza and there is nothing else on the menu. Nothing. Not breadsticks, not bread, not a roll, especially not pasta or another alternative. If you want something for the kids, you're out of luck. And don't ask them for anything else because you'll get an icy stare and a rolling pin waved at your head. 6. This "best pizza in Michigan" is served on paper plates with plastic forks. I'm not kidding. 7. I witnessed a member of the kitchen staff picking his ear and subsequently using that same hand to work with food materials. These folks have no clue. They probably call that the "secret sauce." As for the pizza, it's good --- not great --- but good. That's the only reason they deserve 1 star. But you'll have to navigate a "Soup Nazi" dining experience to get to it. For me, it's not worth it, but for many who are over the age of 65 or enjoy being uncomfortable and inconveniences, they love it. They almost seem happy to struggle to order and eat their food. If we're being honest, the "tradition" of this place isn't an effort to preserve a part of the past. It's the owners being too cheap to evolve. The building looks like a house that's been neglected. The kitchen is untidy. The staff is crotchety. The people who love this place are the same people who sit on an uncomfortable couch that has a spring poking into their ass because "that's where I've always sat."

Amazing pizza in a homestyle atmosphere. I used to go here when I was young. In the 80s with my god parents,I use to spend the summers in Grand Haven

If you love screaming diarrhea, this is the place for you. Ate here 3 times, same result.

I travel extensively throughout the US for business. With that, I make a point to seek out the best pizza wherever I am at. It was quite a surprise when I found the BEST pizza that I've EVER had in Grand Haven, Michigan. Fricanos has kept it very simple - only pizza and one size with a small list of toppings. My family finished our usual amount of pizza and it was so amazing that I immediately ordered another. The server was super nice as well. This is a must stop shop for pizza aficionados. You will not be disappointed.

I have mixed feelings about Fricano's. I feel like there is a lot of hype. I had high expectations, and I left feeling disappointed. Fricano's décor/feel is like that "grandma's basement" vintage chic, resembling the 70s and 80s. We went in for an early dinner and everyone there besides us was a retiree, which contributed to the grandma vibes. Plus they only accept cash + checks. Who takes checks anymore? However, I don't necessarily take issue with any of that. I just feel the menu is too limited. -I can respect a short & sweet menu, but it really irks me when a pizza place doesn't offer some sort of breadsticks, garlic bread, etc. Fricano's has nothing. No salad or sides. It's just pizza. -The toppings are extremely limited (just a few choices) and aren't customizable. You can get just one single topping. Good if you're a cheese or pepperoni pizza only type of person, I guess. -The pizzas are about 12" and have very thin crust. I'm not a big fan of thin crust in general, but when you combine that with no bread or sides, it's not a very filling meal and you have to order a separate pizza for each adult in your party.

I grew up loving this pizza, and I always have it when back in the area, which is several times a year. The pies are simple and one thing I noticed is that every once in a while the quality of the ingredients can be poor. My last visit the pizza was pretty bad. Light on the sauce and the cheese seemed like a fake processed product and there was very little of it. The pizza had a shiny plastic glaze to it after it cooled a little. I know in the old days the cheese was heavy on romano, giving the pizza a great zesty flavor. Todays tasted like an exercise in keeping ingredient costs down and it failed miserably. Everyone in my group agreed they would rather pay a few bucks more for the "Real Frincanos". Some said the Muskegon location still makes the "Authentic Fricanos". So I won't be ordering again until things improve.

Our favorite place to eat Pizza in Mi! We live on the other side of the state but come here as often as we can. Staff is always friendly! Pizza is always great.

I grew up eating here and I like how little it has changed. Still local, still a wait, still cash only, still simple, still amazing. Don't like it? Go to a crappy chain restaurant:)

We LOVE this pizza. Unfortunately not following covid guidelines. Masks mostly around their neck or chin. See ya later...maybe after covid.

Fast, easy, and good pizza. They keep it simple with minimal options which sometimes can be nice! We loved the atmosphere and the history. We will definitely be back!

This place makes one thing and one thing only: thin-crust pizza. It's a bit greasy, but still good. They only offer 5 toppings - so you better like one of them : Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Mushroom, Green Pepper, and Anchovies. It's not very filling, so if you have more than 3 people with you, I would order 2. Pizza is the only thing they offer on the menu, so don't expect to get any sides like breadsticks or salad. My friend made the mistake of asking for an appetizer and the waitress pointed to the bags of Doritos hanging on the wall. The atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired, so don't expect much. Old fashioned place that hasn't been updated in a long time.

First things first. They ONLY serve pizza. They ONLY accept cash and check. The pizza is only served one style. Super thin. And there are only a few toppings; pepperoni, sausage, green pepper, mushrooms, anchovys. The pizza is good, but I like a little more variety. Salad? Garlic bread? This would be a 4 star review, but I sat and watched a girl who worked there. She sat down to eat then got up and handled the pizza, cutting them. Then she sat down and ate more and got up to cut more pizza. All without washing her hands. Now, I am no food safety expert, but I'm pretty sure that isn't cool. At least in my book, it's not!

A very average pizza, good flavor but overall left more to be desired. This thin crust was a tad too soggy. Limited menu items, lacked topping variety. We arrived for pickup and they only accepted cash or check, BEWARE! Would I eat again. Perhaps. Maybe.

Found this place via Yelp. Gotta say, driving over there, thought maybe we were in the wrong part of town - but kept going. Glad we did - pizza was the *best*. It took me 2 days to stop thinking about how yummy it was. I was ordering from a mobile device - so was winging the order - no menu, no experience with them. Asked for our normal order, and was told they don't have olives. So apparantly they have a somewhat limited list of toppings. Ordered good old pepperoni, with extra sauce. Was admittedly sceptical. Picked it up, ate it and wow! There was a great flavour of paremesan and the slightly burnt edge of the extremely thin pizza was the perfect compliment. Everyone loved it. Suggestion - double your order. (If you usually order 1x 13", order 2 here.) I didn't go inside. Hubby thought interior was "interesting" and said he wished we had gone in to eat.... hmm... So next time we're in Grand Haven, that will be what we do, just to check out the culture of the establishment. I suspect it's a bit "rustic" based on the outside. Recommend: Yes Return: Yes