And while the mills are still there, they house industry of a much different ilk these days; the small businesses, upscale housing, and various dining options cropping up around the area are helping to further Saco’s efforts to revitalize the city.
While not exactly a bustling hub of culinary greatness—yet—Saco certainly has dining options, including a fair few pizza establishments for your perusal.
Map Of Saco Pizza Restaurants
The map below shows the locations of every restaurant mentioned in this post:
Pizza by Michael
Since 1966, this family-owned corner pizza shop has been pleasing pizza lovers’ palates with their original recipes. Other than a few sandwiches, Michael’s menu is all about the pizza—and with 18 toppings to choose from, your combination options are vast.
There are also five specialty pies available—I recommend Michael’s Special—and all of their pizzas come in either small (10”) or jumbo (16”) size. Michael’s also offers both dine-in and take-out, and while the food here is fantastic no matter where you eat it, I have a gentle suggestion: If you are looking for ambiance, table service, or alcohol, opt to bring your feast home, instead.
Location: 12 Common St, Saco, ME 04072
Website: Michael’s Pizza
Ricetta’s of Saco
An award-winning (among other accolades, they were named as one of USA Today’s top 50 pizzerias in the country) brick oven restaurant, Ricetta’s (Italian for “recipe”) first opened in South Portland in 1989; they opened the doors to their cozy, pub-style Saco location in 2019.
And while they serve up a full offering of mouthwatering Italian fare, Ricetta’s pizza menu is a true culinary showstopper. The specialty pie section is where I immediately go for my decision, but their “Create Your Own” section is always tempting if you’re the type that doesn’t become easily overwhelmed by options (like me).
10 kinds of cheese, 4 sauce flavors, 11 types of meat, 24 different vegetables, and 2 seafood choices provide a veritable bounty of possible combinations…but I still go back to the Hot Capicola pie, time and again: Tomatoes, garlic, capicola, mozzarella, and goat cheese, with a hot honey drizzle and sprinkle of basil.
Location: 512 Main St, Saco, ME 04072
Website: Ricetta’s of Saco
Saco House of Pizza
It seems that every town has one—the quintessential “House of Pizza” joint—and Saco’s doesn’t disappoint. Complete with bright orange booth seating, a black-and-white checkered floor, and sports on the TV over the busy counter, the Saco House of Pizza has the iconic look down pat, as well as the pizza. And whether you order from their regular pizza menu or their “not-so-ordinary” pie list, there is no way you’re leaving here hungry.
The latter section is dubbed “Classic Gourmet” and features 8 tantalizing options to choose from—but almost always go with their Philly Steak and Cheese Pizza: fresh, house-made dough, American cheese sauce (in place of red sauce), shaved steak, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and topped with a cheddar/mozzarella cheese blend.
Location: 163 Main St, Saco, ME 04072
Website: Saco House of Pizza
Bradley Street Deli
Hiding in plain sight, the Bradley Street Deli appears to be a mere roadside convenience store—but tucked away inside is a hidden gem for pizza take-out.
Their pies are ridiculously affordable and remarkably fresh, and their menu (found in “Photos” on their Facebook page in the link below) also includes breakfast items, hot and cold sandwiches, dinner baskets, burgers, and salads.
Opt to create your own pizza, or you could always choose one of their 10 specialty pies (like I do). Why not give the Macaroni and Cheese pizza a try for magical, starch-on-starch, cheesy joy?
Location: 152 Bradley St, Saco, ME 04072
Website: Bradley Street Deli
Della Terra Pizza of the Earth
Having just opened this, their 16th location, in mid-March of 2022, Della Terra hasn’t had much time to make a name for themselves yet. But everything I’ve seen points to good things for this unassuming little shop, looking for all the world like a nondescript, white residence huddled on a corner.
And while they do have some dine-in seating (20 seats), you may not want to rely on availability, due to Della Terra’s quickly rising popularity; they recommend planning ahead for take-out and calling in your orders as early as possible (like, days in advance).
Their menu (which can be found on their Instagram page, link below) is bare-bones simple and includes both traditional New York- and Sicilian-style pies. Their list of toppings includes creative options like a hot honey, sriracha, or Ranch swirl, and Della Terra also offers three specialty pies, one of which I highly recommend (surprise, surprise)—Andrea’s Special: a 16” New York-style pie topped with breaded chicken, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and a balsamic glaze.
Location: 213 North St, Saco, ME 04072
Website: Della Terra Pizza
OTTO
With 9 Maine locations and 11 in Massachusetts, OTTO was born in Portland back in 2009…and is considered by many to be the pinnacle of all things pizza in our fine state, despite being a chain.
Always “striving to elevate the pizza experience,” the folks at OTTO do a fine job of just that, IMHO. Their house-made dough is always fresh—never frozen—and they now even have a dedicated dough manufacturing factory.
The chefs at OTTO use as many locally sourced ingredients as possible, and all that freshness is evident in the flavor and quality of their pies. The menu is pretty much all about the pizza, with a couple of appetizers, salads, and desserts being your only other options. But let’s face it: When you come here, you’re here for the pizza, right? So, perhaps allow me to persuade you to give the Sriracha Chicken and Avocado pie a try?
Location: 779 Portland Rd, Saco, ME 04072
Website: OTTO
I don’t like to leave any stone unturned, so please humor me and allow me to mention a couple of popular franchise spots in Saco. Located at 469 Main Street, Amato’s offers a well-rounded menu of consistent, classic Italian cuisine, including three sizes of their Original Crust pies (I’ve heard their Grilled Chicken Alfredo pizza is a party for your taste buds).
And Little Caesar’s, on 532 Main Street, offers both classic large round pizzas (the Veggie is delicious) as well as Detroit-style deep-dish pies (deep dish sausage pizza? Well, YEAH).
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