Pizza

Antoon’s Pizza 247 Atwood St. (412) 687-5446 $ No Panther Funds

At Antoon’s, the… Antoon’s Pizza 247 Atwood St. (412) 687-5446 $ No Panther Funds

At Antoon’s, the process is oh-so-simple. There’s no seating, no waiters or waitresses and limited standing room around the counter.

But a large pizza is only $4.90, and it comes in a box decorated with themes of American patriotism. Toppings include the regular pizza fare — olives, peppers and anchovies — as well as pineapple, bacon, chicken and feta cheese. Toppings vary in price depending on size, but never exceed $1.25.

Antoon’s also sells sandwiches, calzones, wings and hoagies such as the Super Philly, Bacon Steak, Three Cheese or Vegetarian Combo.

The priciest thing on the menu is the chicken ranch pizza at $11.95, but most items are less than $5. And 8-inch hoagies are never more than $4.50. — Eric Lidji

Pizza Bellagio 315 N. Craig St. (412) 688-8448 $$ No Panther Funds

Pizza Bellagio fights the $5-a-pie standard in Oakland by offering a sophisticated selection of specialty pizzas. From the Greek Pie to the Hawaiian Pie, Vegetable Pie to the Bellagio’s Meat Lover’s Pie, 15 configurations are available for those who don’t want to bicker over toppings.

Aside from the pizza, Bellagio offers 20 varieties of hoagies, several pasta dishes, salads, wedgies, calzones, gyros and your standard assortment of fried appetizers. You can have cheesecake for dessert — the flavors change daily — or try the Bellagio Sweet Rings, a fresh take on funnel cake.

Delivery is free for orders of more than $7, but its N. Craig St. location happens to sit next door to a beer distributor. How convenient! — T.J. Condon

Fox’s Pizza Den 3526 Blvd. Of The Allies (412) 621-3090 $ Panther Funds

A true South Oakland gentleman or lady knows quality. He or she appreciates the finer things in life. They are distinguished, refined and of the most honorable class of man. Many claim to be of South Oakland. They throw their “parties,” beat their chests and scarf down on whatever bland circular disc they can find.

But a true South Oakland resident doesn’t compromise his pizza. He wants the best. He wants the tastiest. And he wants it cheap.

That’s where Fox’s Pizza Den comes in. Operating from a strategic location on the Boulevard of the Allies, Fox’s gives great pizza at even better prices to students willing to live more than a block from campus.

They’ve got daily specials and are open until 10 p.m. on Sundays, 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and midnight Thursday through Saturday.

If you don’t feel like leaving home, it will cost you $2 for the delivery fee. For the best deal that side of the Boulevard, try the pick-up special on Mondays and Tuesdays. A large pizza with one topping is only $6.99. — Adam Fleming

Larry ‘ Carol’s 410 Semple St. (412) 687-1189 $ Panther Funds

For good pizza at a good price, there’s no place better to go than Larry ‘ Carol’s. A regular large pie is just $9.50, and for those with exotic appetites, there are selections such as Mexican-style or seafood pizzas. Larry ‘ Carol’s also offers an assortment of salads, wedgies, calzones and hoagies.

Larry ‘ Carol’s is open until 2 a.m. during the week and until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, so if you have the late-night munchies, you know where to go. They offer free delivery on all orders of $5 or more, so you don’t even have to leave your home. — Karen Bielak

Little Nipper’s Pizza II 216 Craig St. (412) 683-3777 $ No Panther Funds

For a great after-party snack or meal, few things compare to a pizza from Little Nipper’s. Give them a call first chance you get, for either pickup or delivery. There are a few tables outside of the shop, but it’s not a true sit-down restaurant. On Fridays and Saturdays, Little Nipper’s stays open until 2 a.m., but normally it closes at midnight.

Try a Family Special (one large pizza, any hoagie, breadsticks and a 2-liter Pepsi) for only $17.99. It’s easily one of the best large meal deals in Oakland pizza. — Adam Fleming

Milano Pizzeria 1304 Fifth Ave. (412) 281-8181 $ No Panther Funds

It’s 11:30 a.m. on a Wednesday, and Milano Pizzeria is experiencing Super-Bowl-Sunday levels of business. Doctors and nurses from UPMC, parents from Children’s Hospital, poor, hungry Pitt students and people who just want a really, really good piece of pizza crowd into the tiny counter area, clamoring for fat, square slices of Sicilian-style pizza, crusty Italian hoagies and tremendous slices of spinach-and-feta pizza.

Every booth in the place is filled with people devouring hot hoagies and bowls of soup. Although it’s without beans right now, the shiny espresso machine is prepped and ready to steam a cup cappuccino. The long, skinny restaurant is the quintessential neighborhood pizza place: Red-white-and-green, Tiffany-style lamps hang over every booth, and everyone is enjoying the tasty, Italian food. — Clare Perretta

Papa John’s Pizza 4643 Baum Blvd. (412) 682-7272 $ Panther Funds

You can’t eat in, but whether you opt for delivery or go for takeout, this Papa John’s franchise is oh-so-good.

And it might cost more than the cheapest pizza Oakland has to offer, but it’s also three times as thick. And you get garlic sauce to boot.

Papa John’s pizza — in original or thin crust — can be covered in anything from anchovies to banana peppers. The breadsticks are good, but become even better when dipped in Papa John’s cheese, garlic, pizza or ranch dipping sauces. Even if you detest pizza, Papa can whip something up: chicken strips come with Buffalo, barbecue, or honey-mustard sauce. Like most pizza places, Papa takes orders by phone, but if you’re too timid to call, the store also accepts orders over the Internet. — Dave Hartman

Pesaro’s Pizza 4635 Centre Ave. (412) 621-7744 $ No Panther Funds

North Oakland’s answer to South Oakland’s inexpensive pizza trend, Pesaro’s offers great prices and free delivery.

With a large one-topping pizza for $5.99, or the extra-large one-topping for only $2 more, Pesaro’s fits into the average students Friday night pizza budget.

There is no place to eat in the restaurant though, so students are better off calling for delivery or swinging by to pick up their own pie on the way home.

They also offer an array of traditional pizza shop finery, including hoagies, calzones, salads and strombolis. Top the meal off with a slice of their New York Cheesecake or Chocolate Decadence. — Tim Stienstraw

Pizza Prima 190 N. Craig St. (412) 687-6464 $ No Panther Funds

Oakland seems to have a plethora of pizza shops, each serving more than just pizza. Pizza Prima, located on North Craig Street, is no exception. If you aren’t in the mood for a slice of pizza, hoagies, salads, appetizers, calzones, and gyros are on the reasonably priced menu.

A side salad and garlic bread are served with the spaghetti and rigatoni dinners. Not hungry for a whole pizza? You can always get it by the slice for $1.50. — Katie Mavrich

Pizza Roma 233 Atwood St. (412) 621-9129 $ No Panther Funds

It’s difficult for a pizza place to stand out around here, as Oakland is home to quite a few. However, Pizza Roma — formerly known as Sorrento’s — manages to distinguish itself by offering inexpensive pies that taste closer to homemade than you’re used to. We’re not talking about pizzas that are slapped together; we’re talking family-owned and — operated; we’re talking made with care. Choose from four different styles: traditional, white, Sicilian and Chicago pan. Take your pick; they’re all winners.

In addition to pizza, the restaurant also has a full menu of Italian favorites, including hoagies, calzones and a variety of pasta dishes. You can eat there, carry out or take advantage of their free delivery. Sorrento’s is fast, cheap and better than you might expect. Write that number down. — Chad Eberle

Say Cheese! Pizza Co. 3507 Cable Place (412) 687-0606 $ Panther Funds

With the hectic schedule that comes with being a college student, it seems like that late-night pizza orders are more than inevitable. The problem comes when you are tired of the typical pizza delivery places.

Say Cheese! Pizza Co., located at 3507 Cable Place near the end of Semple Street in South Oakland, offers a taste that is hard to find at typical pizza places. Try one of their starters, where they offer anything from wings, shrimp in a basket, or the popular Say Cheese! Sticks, to name a few.

Also offered are a variety of options from deep-dish pizza to their specialty pizzas and a number of different hot hoagies and sandwiches, and a variety of salads to choose from. Or you can try one of their wedgies, a sandwich that is basically a pizza folded over.

You don’t even need to venture into South Oakland to enjoy this great Italian experience; Say Cheese! offers fast, free delivery that will make you smile. — Brian Palmer

Sciulli’s Pizza 3404 Fifth Ave. (412) 687-9287 $$ No Panther Funds

Few places find such friendly reception in the hearts of students as the neighborhood pizza joint. For students who frequent Fifth Avenue, Sciulli’s specializes in pizza distribution, a valuable community service.

Whether you crave pepperoni, cheese, onions or anchovies, the good folks at Sciulli’s are anxious to fill your respective voids, and they do it by stuffing them full of delicious Italian food. The dining area is clean, the prices are reasonable, and the food would satisfy even the most critical ninja turtles. — Eric Miller

Vocelli’s 3608 Fifth Ave. (412) 687-4666 $ Panther Funds

It’s midnight, you’ve been studying for the last three hours, and the end is nowhere in sight. To make matters worse, now you’re hungry.

What do you do? None of the school’s cafeterias is open, and there isn’t enough time to leave the room to get something to eat.

Not a problem: Vocelli’s is open late, and it will deliver your food for free. And if pizza isn’t what you’re craving, there are plenty of sides to choose from. There are wings, with the choice of barbecue, Buffalo or garlic sauce.

If you’re looking for something a little healthier, order a garden, chef or chicken salad. Each type is made fresh daily and comes with Italian, bleu cheese or ranch dressing.

For those ordering for a large group of people, there are also combo specials. And just recently added to the menu are Vocelli’s gourmet pizzas, such as the Philly steak and spring veggie pizzas. — Joe Marchilena