My Friend Derek’s

"My Friend Derek’s helped set the standard for Detroit-style pizza in Seattle for years as a pop-up—and that reputation holds up with its Tangletown counter restaurant. The sturdy-but-light crust on each pie leaves a satisfying crunch, gooey cheese deserves its own solo album, and the thick red sauce has such a pleasant garlic nuttiness, we don’t even mind when it leaves stains all over our shirts. The fact you can sit down to enjoy all that on the premises is a bonus—and we love that they serve slices now, too. photo credit: Nate Watters photo credit: Nate Watters photo credit: Nate Watters The restaurant is small with a frenetic old school pizzeria energy. An open kitchen lets you see all the pie-slinging action taking place, and refrigerator magnets spell out the daily specials in the style of a kindergarten classroom. Here, groups awaiting their orders happily crowd around a handful of tables, or camp out on the sidewalk patio. Get there before 5pm to avoid long lines. But even if you miss that window, you can sip glasses of natural wine, beer, and cider to pass the time. Food Rundown photo credit: Nate Watters Plain Jane This is My Friend Derek’s most basic pie, but with such sublime basics, there’s almost no need for toppings, and it’s a must-order for those still new to the Detroit-style game. photo credit: Nate Watters Specialty Pies The one constant on the menu is the terrific Derek’s Fav with castelvetrano olives that give briny balance to smoky pepperoni cups. Also, look out for the wonderful white pizza when available, swimming with creamy ricotta, tasty artichokes, and pops of jalapeños. photo credit: Nate Watters Slices This is a game-changer for My Friend Derek’s. No need to commit to a full-fledged pie, when even one square of the filling pizza is enough for a meal. Options rotate, but it’s hard to go wrong with any topping—and ask for a corner while you’re at it. photo credit: Nate Watters Salads The Fishy Caesar has thinly shaved cheese piled high, chunky anchovies, and whimsical (if unnecessary) Goldfish crackers. It’s a solid salad to snack on while waiting for a pie, just nothing revolutionary. The Greek-ish salad is also fine, but the “-ish” does a lot of work—it’s a plate of vaguely Mediterranean ingredients with vinegary dressing." - Gabe Guarente

"This longtime pop-up helped set the standard for Detroit-style pizza in Seattle—and that reputation holds up with its new Tangletown counter restaurant. Here, they serve the same quality rectangle pies as before with a perfectly salted crust, gooey cheese, and thick tomato sauce we wouldn’t mind eating on its own. Only now, you can eat that pizza right out of the oven while enjoying glasses of natural wine, cider, and beer. Waits can be long for walk-in orders at the moment, while the menu and hours are limited. But we’re still happy that the roving operation has finally found a home." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente, aimee rizzo, aimee rizzo, aimee rizzo, aimee rizzo, gabe guarente, aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, aimee rizzo, aimee rizzo, aimee rizzo, aimee rizzo, aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley

"We’ve been talking about this former pop-up getting its own permanent location for what feels like forever—but it’s finally happened. My Friend Derek’s now has a full-fledged restaurant in Tangletown where you can order Detroit-style pies Wednesday through Friday (for now) for takeout or dine-in." - kayla sager riley, aimee rizzo, gabe guarente

"This pizzeria is keeping it simple, a least for now — as of February, the toppings are limited to pepperoni, olives, and a few other classics; there’s only one salad (a “fishy Ceaser”) and sides? What sides? It doesn’t matter when the basics are so good. The crispy, crackly, Detroit-style crust is an ideal vehicle for the rich, slightly spicy sauce, and we’d eat it even sans toppings. Expect to wait for walk-in orders and for their to be a rush pretty much all the time, since My Friend Derek’s was a hugely successful pop-up before getting this Tangletown brick-and-mortar." - Harry Cheadle

"A highly anticipated Detroit-style pizzeria that opened in the former MKT space." - Harry Cheadle