Lancaster sits at the outer edge of Central Ohio dining, well past the Outerbelt, and its pizza scene runs on family-owned rooms rather than the party-cut houses closer to Columbus. These six spots cover stromboli, gluten-free crusts, and tap beer alongside the pie, with carryout doing a lot of the work.
№ 01
Nick's Restaurant & Pizza
Lancaster $
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Stromboli built around a seven-inch roll of dough is the order to know here, alongside calzones and a straightforward pizza menu. The room runs on friendly, attentive table service and a quick kitchen, the kind of place that gets called on for hot delivery on a weeknight without complaint. A dependable, low-key choice for a family meal in Lancaster.
What to orderStromboli, Pizza, Calzones
№ 02
Pizza Crossing Lancaster
Lancaster $$
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A cheese or pepperoni pie is the standard order at this longtime Lancaster stop, one that families return to for Friday night dinners out of habit as much as loyalty. Consistency has been the sticking point lately: some nights the pizza lands exactly right, others it falls short. Still a default pick for casual, kid-friendly dinners.
What to orderpizza, cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza
№ 03
Cristy's Pizza Lancaster East
Lancaster $$
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Pizza, salad, and breadsticks make up the core order at this east Lancaster location, built as an alternative for families tired of the national chains. The pizza itself keeps drawing repeat customers over the years, though service and small details like salad dressing have gotten less reliable recently. Worth ordering for the pizza; manage expectations on the extras.
What to orderPizza, Salad, Breadsticks
№ 04
Sugar Bears Pizzeria
Lancaster $
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Sweeter sauce is the signature here, the detail regulars mention first about this family-owned Lancaster pizzeria built for carryout. Garlic bread and salad round out the order. A change in ownership a year back shifted the taste for some longtime customers, so results have varied, but loyalists still call it the best pizza carryout in town.
What to orderPizza, Garlic Bread, Salad
№ 05
Pink Cricket Restaurant
Lancaster $
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Beer on tap alongside made-to-order pizza sets this small, diner-style room apart from Lancaster's other carryout-heavy spots. Seating is first-come in a booth-lined dining room, and the kitchen builds each pie fresh rather than working from a pre-made stock. A straightforward stop for pizza and a draft beer without pretense.
What to orderPizza, Beer
№ 06
Crenos Pizza
Lancaster
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The BLT pizza is the draw worth seeking out, plus gluten-free crusts offered in both ten-inch and fourteen-inch sizes, a real accommodation most Lancaster pizzerias skip. Wings and a crisp salad round out the order, with friendly counter service and easy parking. Quality has been more consistent at some locations than others, so results can vary by visit.
What to orderBLT Pizza, Gluten Free Pizza, Wings
Frequently asked
What is the best pizza near me in Lancaster, Ohio?
It depends on what you want. Nick's Restaurant & Pizza and Pizza Crossing are solid defaults for a classic pie and stromboli, Sugar Bears is the carryout pick for sweeter sauce, and Crenos stands out for gluten-free crust options. Each restaurant here is ranked by its Insider Score, which reflects the pattern across its public review record, not a paid placement.
Does any restaurant pay to be listed in this guide?
No. No restaurant pays for placement or ranking on this list. Every entry is chosen and ordered using its Insider Score, which is built from the public review record.
Is there gluten-free pizza available in Lancaster?
Yes. Crenos Pizza offers gluten-free crust in two sizes, ten-inch and fourteen-inch, alongside its regular menu and wings.
Which Lancaster pizza place is best for families?
Nick's Restaurant & Pizza, Pizza Crossing, Cristy's Pizza, and Sugar Bears Pizzeria are all built around family-friendly, casual dining, with carryout and quick table service as the common thread across the group.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Amina Warsame
Staff Writer · Top of Columbus
Amina Warsame is a Staff Writer at Top of Columbus. Born in Mogadishu and raised in Northland, she grew up between her mother's kitchen and the grocery-cafes of the Somali malls. She writes the guides, sweeps the whole Outerbelt, and covers the Somali and East African tables as the beat she knows best.
