Pizza Travels: Omaha, Nebraska

When I travel, I often ask hotel staff where the best pizza in town is. If someone first names off Domino’s or Pizza Hut as a top choice, I know I’m in for a horrible stay. In contrast, if someone names a local family run place, it sparks my curiosity. When the recommendation is followed up with, “It’s good if you like New York style”, it lets me know the person seemingly knows pizza and is recommending a place that is probably worth checking out.

If you read my posts, you know I’m partial to a good New York style pizza. In the case of this Omaha visit, when I asked hotel staff where the best pizza was, a few people behind the counter all yelled, “Don Carmelo’s” at the same time, without hesitation. And yes, they really said the comment about New York style pizza. As such, I knew it was where I was going for dinner.

Don Carmelo’s claims to be Omaha’s “first and finest New York style pizza”, having opened in 1958. I’m not well versed in Omaha pizza history, and I haven’t had every pizza in Omaha, but being around that long is surely a sign they are doing something right.

Walking in, the place was like what you want a pizza place to be. Subtle Italian decor with a scent of warm Italian spices that make your taste buds drool in anticipation, hoping the pizza is a good as it smells.

For whatever reason, it took them a long time to make the pizza. I guess it was a busy night or something. It was a little frustrating at the time, but once I got the pizza, the wait no longer mattered because my worries about the recommendations and how it would taste were gone as soon as I opened the box.

The only thing I can say is their pizza is pretty darn good. New York style is simple in concept, but it’s hard to get the right combination of everything coming together to make it just right. I often say you will never get a true New York style pizza outside of New York City, but this place comes pretty close. To say you’re enjoying excellent New York style pizza in Nebraska should be considered a pretty good compliment.

As much as I want to try other pizzas in Omaha if I end up there again, it will be hard not to go back to Don Carmelo’s. If you end up in Omaha, I highly recommend you check it out.

~ Marty ~

** I visited the Omaha location located at 10821 Prairie Brook Road, but there is also another location in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

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