Best Pizza Pie on the Northshore

Within the past decade there have been many popular and local pizza joint chains popping up along the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. These restaurants include Isabella's Pizzeria, the Italian Pie, and the Mellow Mushroom. These recently local pizza sensations have been popular among hungry teens and local families for their family atmosphere, traditional menu items, and convenient locations.

These pizzerias have been successful in the Northshore area in recent years, but there is one pizza joint known to many locals to be the most unique since 1976.

The Pizza Man restaurant, in Covington, LA, is the Nothshore's oldest independent Pizza Parlor that stands out among the popular local chains of pizzerias in the area. Even though the Pizza Man has been in longer existence than myself, the atmosphere has not seemed to have changed since the year this pizzeria was established. Inside the restaurant, decorated pizza boxes line the walls along the ceiling of the restaurant with original cartoon drawings of the pizza man character making references to local and popular culture. With almost every visit to the Pizza Man, "Puff The Magic Dragon" can be heard playing from the old jukebox. Unlike other pizza joints in the area, the preparation of the pizza at the Pizza man can be witnessed by its customers through a window that reveals the kitchen. At the time when I was a child and to this very day, kids line up along the kitchen window to see red gravy drizzled upon pizza dough into the shape of a smiley face and dry dough thrown at the window by the "pizza man" himself.

Not only is the atmosphere at Pizza Man unique and different from other local pizza chains, the pizza served there is like no other in the area. The crust of Pizza Man pizzas are very thin and eating one of the pies sometimes require a fork on knife. My favorite specialty pizza at the Pizza Man is "The Pizza Palace." The Palace, as the specialty pie is called for short, is heavily topped with mozzarella, thinly sliced pepperoni, Italian sausage, blanched green peppers, home-made meatball, and onions. The eating of a Pizza Palace pizza is a rich pizza experience so good that you'll forget you're eating a pizza. There is probably more toppings, sauce, and cheese than there is pizza dough in a Palace pizza. This pie is also available with a sprinkling of garlic and it can not be compared to any other pizza made in the Northshore or any other pizza I have eaten in my life time. The Palace pizza should be enjoyed with Pizza Man's large Italian tossed salad that is big enough to feed a family of four, and a cold frosted glass mug of local Abita Amber beer from an ice-cold keg.

The Pizza Man is a local hole-in-the-wall legend of Covington, where I have made many fond childhood memories. It is a perfect place to take your kids for a family dinner. Pizza Man is located on 1248 Collins Blvd. and is open 7 nights a week.



The Pizza Palace pizza and a small cheese pizza next to it.


The kitchen window with children looking in with the pizza man inside making pizzas.


The large Italian salad in dim lighting.


Abita Amber in the frosted mug.


Decorated pizza box.


Pizza Man menu.

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