Newark's dining map runs on pizza, and this list respects that math while making room for the wine tasting room, the breakfast counter, and the hot chicken shop that broke the pattern. These are the twelve worth knowing in Licking County's county seat, ranked on what actually shows up on the plate.
№ 01
Louie's Pizza
Newark $$
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Fifty-five years of the same thin crust is the pitch, and Newark keeps taking it. The NY-style pizza here holds a crunchy bite under fresh toppings, cheese and pepperoni both, and the recipe has not drifted. It is a takeout order first, built for people who want their pizza to taste the same way it did last time.
What to orderNY-style thin crust pizza, cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza
№ 02
Christy’s Pizza
Newark $$
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Christy's cuts its pizza into squares, the local convention, and backs it with garlic bread and a salad that stays fresh rather than an afterthought. The crust runs thin and crunchy without going cracker-dry. It is a family dinner room more than a special occasion, priced and paced for a weeknight.
What to orderpizza, salad, garlic bread
№ 03
Don & Sue's Pizza Plus
Newark $
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The pepperoni and banana pepper pizza is the order to know at Don & Sue's, sauce-forward and consistently fresh. The menu widens out from there into calzones, subs, burgers, and salads, and the room reads as laid back rather than fast-casual rushed. A neighborhood pizza night pick, priced to match.
What to orderpepperoni and banana pepper pizza, calzone, sub
№ 04
Buckeye Winery
Newark $$
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Buckeye Winery pours a wide range of house wines, including a cotton candy wine that tastes exactly as advertised, alongside a charcuterie board built for sharing. The patio takes dogs, live music plays, and the room stays small enough to feel unhurried. An afternoon tasting stop, not a full dinner destination.
What to ordercotton candy wine, house wine selections, charcuterie board
№ 05
Debra's Pizza
Newark $
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Debra's built its reputation on fresh ingredients and a sauce recipe with local roots, though the current version has drawn some comparison to what came before under a different name. Pizza remains the draw, backed by garlic bread and salad, and pickup runs quick and friendly for a weeknight order.
What to orderpizza, garlic bread, salad
№ 06
Bavellie's Pizzeria
Newark
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The Supreme pizza is the strong order at Bavellie's, with a crust that holds up under toppings. Buffalo wings and a chicken parm sub round out the menu, though the wings draw a more mixed verdict than the pizza does. A DoorDash-friendly takeout spot with a loyal weekly following.
What to orderSupreme pizza, Buffalo wings, Chicken Parm sub
№ 07
Dirko's Pizza
Newark
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Dirko's Kitchen Sink Pizza arrives heavy enough to notice by the weight of the box, and the stromboli and mac n' cheese bites back it up as hearty, crowd-feeding food. Pasta and family meals extend the menu further. Built for group hunger, not a quiet solo dinner.
What to orderstromboli, Kitchen Sink Pizza, mac n' cheese bites
№ 08
Morning Harvest Cafe
Newark
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Pancakes and French toast come with real maple syrup at Morning Harvest Cafe, and much of the plate traces back to Licking County farms. Service moves quickly and orders arrive correct, in a room with a warm, unhurried feel. A weekend breakfast stop built around ingredients rather than novelty.
What to orderpancakes with real maple syrup, French toast, eggs
№ 09
Too Talls Pizza
Newark $
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Too Talls runs out of a small storefront but turns out a supreme value on cheese, pepperoni, and supreme pizzas alike, favored for office lunches and quick pickups. The pizza can run doughy with light sauce on an off day, but the value and friendliness keep people ordering again.
What to ordercheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, supreme pizza
№ 10
Big John's Dining and Catering
Newark
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The Reuben, split in half or whole, and French fries with gravy anchor Big John's diner menu, alongside a full breakfast plate. It runs as a mom-and-pop room with attentive, friendly staff, the kind of place regulars return to for breakfast specifically. Casual, unhurried, and dependable.
What to orderReuben sandwich, French fries with gravy, breakfast
№ 11
Jojo's Hot Chicken
Newark
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The Hot Honey Chicken Sliders are the reason to visit Jojo's, crispy and balanced between sweet and spicy, with backers comparing them favorably to Nashville's hot chicken scene. Wings run more ordinary and the chicken quesadilla lands as decent rather than standout. A quick lunch or casual dinner order, not a wing-first stop.
What to orderHot Honey Chicken Sliders, Chicken Wings, Chicken Quesadilla
№ 12
Marco's Pizza
Newark $$
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Marco's traditional-style pizza reads as a legitimate alternative to fast-food chains, fast, friendly, and reasonably priced. Boneless chicken rounds out the menu, though it runs spicier than the name suggests, worth checking before ordering for a picky eater. A dependable quick meal, not a destination pizza night.
What to ordertraditional-style pizza, boneless chicken, salad
Frequently asked
What is the best pizza restaurant near me in Newark, Ohio?
Newark has an unusually deep bench of independent pizza shops. Louie's Pizza has run the same NY-style thin crust recipe for decades, Don & Sue's Pizza Plus is known for its pepperoni and banana pepper pie, and Christy's Pizza and Debra's Pizza both hold strong local followings. Each restaurant's Insider Score reflects the volume and consistency of real customer feedback, and no restaurant pays to be listed.
Where can I get breakfast in Newark, Ohio?
Morning Harvest Cafe is the strongest breakfast option on this list, known for pancakes and French toast made with real maple syrup and ingredients sourced from Licking County. Big John's Dining and Catering is the other solid choice, a diner-style room known for its Reuben and French fries with gravy alongside a full breakfast menu.
Is Buckeye Winery good for a casual outing in Newark?
Yes. Buckeye Winery pours a wide range of house wines, including a notable cotton candy wine, alongside a charcuterie board, and its patio welcomes dogs and hosts live music. It works well for an afternoon tasting with friends rather than a full dinner.
What is the highest rated hot chicken spot in Newark?
Jojo's Hot Chicken is the only hot chicken specialist on this list, best known for its Hot Honey Chicken Sliders. Its Insider Score reflects real customer feedback on the record, and as with every restaurant here, no restaurant paid for placement or a better ranking.
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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.
