It's no secret I'm on board the Pizza Place bandwagon. Exhibit A and Exhibit B. But, there's a third contender in the mix now, The ORIGINAL Pizza Place, which is located at the mall in Vienna. What's the deal here?

The Original Pizza Place was founded in the Grand Central Mall in 1976 by our current owner, Michael Ruscitto and his Uncle, Franco Scotto-Rinaldi. After expanding their ownership to 5 partners, they opened four more stores in a period of 15 years- two in Parkersburg, WV (across from Parkersburg High School and across from Parkersburg South High School), in Bridgeport, WV, and in Myrtle Beach, SC. In the late 1990’s, the partnership disbanded and each took their own stores. Mike currently owns and manages The Original Pizza Place in the Grand Central Mall, and has recently opened the newest location, in downtown Marietta, Ohio. The Original Pizza Place was voted Readers' Choice "BEST PIZZA" in Marietta, Ohio's Marietta Times and Parkersburg, WV's News and Sentinel in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

I see. So, there was a split. Regardless, it's the same kind of pizza, with thick Sicilian slabs that Im into. I ordered two slices, and I think it may be a touch greasier than the previous two locations. and, it still has the stack-a-zillion-pepperonis-on-top-of-each-other problem. BUT IT'S STILL GOOD. A nice little spice to the sauce and mozzarella just draped over a crisp crust. I need more Sicilian pizza in my life, STAT.

Grade: A