Perfect Pizza Restaurant: Thirsty Pagan

For half a century, Sammy’s Pizza dominated the local Italian pie scene with its trademark thin crust and tasty sauce. Pizza Lucé came along in 2001 and shook things up with unusual toppings and a funky vibe. These days, however, Thirsty Pagan Brewing has won over pizza connoisseurs in the Twin Ports with its deep-dish pies, loaded with Wisconsin cheese. The TPB was the clear winner in PDD’s best pizza restaurant poll.

Thirsty-Pagan-Best-Pizza
(Thirsty Pagan owner Steve Knauss)

It was in 2006 that Susan and Steve Knauss bought Twin Ports Brewing, located in the old Russell Creamery building at 1623 Broadway Ave. in Superior, and changed the name to Thirsty Pagan Brewing — transforming it from a tiny brew pub into a restaurant with killer ‘za, daily live music and nine brews on tap.

The TPB does not have a stunning array of toppings or lengthy menu with numerous combinations, it just excels at very traditional flavors. The Derailed — with sausage, pepperoni, salami, ham, black olives, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, spinach, garlic and pepperoncini — is always a favorite, along with five other specialty options, but diners can also pick and choose toppings and customize however they like.

Thirsty Pagan won the best pizza restaurant voting with a commanding 46 percent. Honorable mentions go to Pizza Lucé (25 percent) and Sammy’s (18 percent).

PDD Awards Index

7 thoughts on “Perfect Pizza Restaurant: Thirsty Pagan”

  3. toyota200x

    Steve is an amazing guy. Great personality and very generous towards COGGS mountain bike club.

    TP is definitely my favorite pizza. Mediterranean Pizza (Feta, spinach, garlic & sun-dried tomatoes) yum!

    There is also specialty pizzas that are only available for 2 weeks or so. Most are very creative (squash pizza, ruben, etc.)

  5. piker

    The Thirsty Pagan is cozy. My girlfriend considers it one of her favorite places in town too. We’ve had consistently good service there.

    Also, they have beer.

  7. Paul Lundgren

    Russell's Creamery Superior

    The Superior Public Library shared this old image on Facebook.

    In January of 1910, Alphonse Dauplaise was awarded the construction contract for the new Russell Creamery building which was to be located at the corner of Broadway Street and Ogden Avenue. The building, constructed of brick and stone, would run 50 feet on Broadway and extend all the way back to the alley on Ogden. By May of that year, the building had been completed and Russell’s moved into its new home. In December of 1911, the company sponsored a contest to name a new brand of butter that it was marketing. Mrs. Peter Casey came up with the name “Premo” and received 20 pounds of butter as winner of the contest. The building is now home to Thirsty Pagan Brewing.

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