I know this headline is going to ruffle some deep-dish-loving feathers, but I stand by it: Meister’s Bar in Columbus, Ohio serves a better deep dish pizza than anywhere in Chicago. There, I said it. And no, I’m not trying to be edgy. I’m just telling the truth.
I promise.
Tucked away on Chambers Road, Meister’s is a dive bar in every glorious, gritty sense of the word. I used to live just north of it off Chambers Rd, and let me tell you, this place became an instant staple. It’s dark, loud, weirdly welcoming, and proudly unpretentious. The kind of bar where no one’s trying to impress anyone, but everyone’s having a better time than you are.
The walls and ceiling are coated in graffiti’d dollar bills, a nod to their legendary $1 can nights every Thursday. (Yes, still a thing. Yes, you should go.) The rest of the decor is an eclectic fever dream — think signed photos of Buddy Holly, glowing beer signs, the coolest rotating Budweiser Clydesdale snow globe light thingy, and just enough grit to keep it real. It’s like if your grandpa’s basement had a baby with a punk rock club.
Does that illuminate anything for you?
The Real Reason We’re Here: The Deep Dish
I know Chicago has the legacy. The icons. The tourism machine. But I’ve eaten at Lou Malnati’s. I’ve done Giordano’s. And while those are solid in their own right (Giordano’s has the edge, in my opinion), they don’t hold a candle to the cheesy, saucy, crusty masterpiece that is Meister’s deep dish.
We’re talking about spicy marinara that actually has flavor, melty cheese that stretches like it’s auditioning for a pizza commercial, and a crust that somehow manages to be buttery, crisp, and addictive without being too greasy or dense. You’ll need a fork, knife, and maybe (definitely) a nap afterward — but it’s worth every messy bite.
Pair that with a $1 Natty Light, Hamm’s, Busch, Stroh’s (pick your poison), and you’ve got a meal that’s part nostalgia, part culinary awakening. Throw in a few rounds on the pool table, maybe a trip to the awesome pinball machine or Golden Tee, and you’ll start to wonder why you don’t spend more time here.
Good luck finishing more than 1.5 slices, by the way. These things are dense. Like, gravity-defying dense. You’ll come in talking a big game and leave holding a to-go box and a renewed sense of humility.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line? Meister’s is the kind of place you almost don’t want to tell people about — but also can’t shut up about. The dive bar vibes are immaculate, the pizza is next-level, and the beer is literally cheaper than water.
So go ahead, Chicago. Keep your tourists and overpriced pies. We’ve got Meister’s — and we’re not sharing.
📍Meister’s Bar | 1168 Chambers Rd, Columbus, OH 43212